TL;DR: Despite all of the obstacles educators face this year, they are still standing. Teachers are seeing the opportunities that lie among all of the challenges. School leaders should provide teachers with flexibility, support, grace, and encouragement. Now is the time to celebrate our teachers and support them in everything they do. Don’t you know I’m still standing better than … Read More
Facilitating Small Group Instruction to Meet Student Needs
TL;DR: Small group instruction and one-on-one conferences are possible this year. Five tips to make these types of instruction happen – whether you’re fully virtual or hybrid. In my classroom, like many others, small group instruction is a cornerstone of our structure. In fact, a majority of the teaching I do is done in a small group model. I work … Read More
Three Cheers for Beep Baseball
TL;DR: The game Beep Baseball is geared towards individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Beep Baseball is played with a 16-inch softball equipped with electronics that allow the ball to beep. The goal of the game is for the pitcher to get the batter to connect with the ball, not strike out the player. An interview with Dan Kelley, … Read More
Psychological First Aid: Needed Now More Than Ever
TL;DR: Psychological first aid addresses immediate needs and teaches coping skills, and is just as important as physical first aid. If you notice someone in distress, look, listen, and link are the three steps to follow. Tips for sleeping well and reducing anger are shared. Many of us have taken some kind of first aid class growing up, whether it … Read More
Finding the Slack to Unlock Upstream Thinking
TL;DR: Reflecting on a book study of Upstream: How to Solve Problems Before They Happen by Dan Heath, and the educational impacts of the book. Upstream thinking involves addressing problems before they even begin. When we focus all of our attention and energy on the problems right in front of us, our ability to plan and organize is diminished. Instead … Read More