Strategies to Increase Critical Thinking Skills in students

Matthew JosephBlog, Engage Better, Lesson Plan Better, Personalize Student Learning Better

In This Post: The importance of helping students increase critical thinking skills. Ways to promote the essential skills needed to analyze and evaluate. Strategies to incorporate critical thinking into your instruction. We ask our teachers to be “future-ready” or say that we are teaching “for jobs that don’t exist yet.” These are powerful statements. At the same time, they give … Read More

Cue the Encore: When Things Don’t Go the Way You Planned

Jeremy RinkelBlog, Lesson Plan Better, Manage Better, Mastery Done Better

In This Post: Bouncing back from an unsuccessful lesson, in real time! Tips and strategies to turn a lesson around due to broken items and student pacing. An idea to head off misconceptions before they occur. If you’ve been in the classroom 1 year or 30 years, I’m sure you’ve had a lesson plan completely flop. Or you’ve had a … Read More

6 Effective Communication Strategies for Mentoring Student Teachers (Video)

Jeff GargasBlog, Lead Better, Video(s)

Video Highlights: Rae Hughart shares the who, what, where, when, why, and how of effective communication. We are always striving to build better relationships so we can better communicate. Make sure you are as clear as possible. Look at who’s involved. Plan for the “when.” When does it make the most sense? What’s your focus? What are you talking about? … Read More

Before You Know How, You Have to Know Why

Teach Better TeamBlog, Engage Better, Lesson Plan Better, Manage Better, Personalize Student Learning Better

In This Post: The importance of determining your purpose in education. How discovering your why can change your practice and have greater impact on your students. The impact of leading with purpose, especially on students with anxiety. Educational leadership and modeling your why. From our professional lives to our personal lives, there are so many things that we find ourselves … Read More

3 Questioning Strategies For Student Teachers

Rae HughartBlog, Engage Better, Lead Better

In This Post: Teacher mentors have a responsibility to facilitate reflective discussions. Consider utilizing Webb’s DOK to scaffold your reflective questioning. Questions to consider asking related to curriculum. Questions to consider asking related to creativity. Questions to consider asking related to connections. Questioning is an essential element of learning. Mentors have a responsibility – an obligation – to facilitate reflective … Read More