TL;DR: The end of the school year can be chaotic, but it’s also an excellent opportunity to foster camaraderie in co-teaching relationships. Co-teachers should find authentic ways to showcase their unique personalities as a team, whether through matching outfits or shared actions based on common interests. Strategies for building camaraderie include leveraging commonalities for positive shared actions, demonstrating positive interactions … Read More
Classroom Climate Toolbox
TL;DR: Consider the importance of establishing a classroom climate that is warm. This post shares lesson ideas you can try to establish and incorporate into your own routines. It is important to consider student voice when building climate. To make climate a first priority in teaching, there are 3 items to include in your teacher toolbox. (1) Build empathetic relationships. … Read More
3 Strategies to Boost Students’ Speaking and Writing Skills
TL;DR: Substitution tables are a helpful tool for students to practice using different words and expressions. They also help improve their vocabulary and confidence in English communication. Pre-teaching lexical bundles and collocations aids vocabulary and fluency development. They familiarize students with common word groups and natural phrase combinations. Assigning timed speaking and writing activities encourages clear and efficient expression. This … Read More
The Gods of Education. Are They Worth It?
TL;DR: Schools, like cathedrals, have gods that they worship, which shape their values, priorities, and practices. The gods of education can be both burdensome and dangerous, demanding sacrifices and affecting the unintended consequences of serving them. Identifying the gods in education allows for a critical examination of their impact and whether they are worth prioritizing, as they are tools that … Read More
Show 123: Systems from School Board Down to the Teacher All Focused on Learning
AJ Crabill is uniquely positioned to support school districts from the school board to the student. He is focused on creating systems that focus all school employees on improving student learning. It is so focused they measure all of their time from school board meetings to a principal’s calendar. Teachers support students, principals support teachers, upper administration supports principals, and … Read More