Curriculum Design: Are We Creating a Draft or a Masterpiece?

Steven WeberBlog, Lead Better, Lesson Plan Better, Manage Better, Reflect Better

TL;DR: Effective curriculum design teams don’t view their work as a masterpiece but as a draft. Having a draft allows room for reflection, feedback, and modifications to improve the curriculum. Curriculum design teams are often torn between creating a draft document or a masterpiece.  Teacher leaders are typically perfectionists, and they strive to create a masterpiece before sharing the curriculum … Read More

Serving on State and Regional Education Organizations

Dana GoodierBlog, Lead Better, Manage Better

TL;DR: Serving on the board of directors for a state or regional organization is a great way to give back. When organizing a conference, consider who your keynote speaker will be. You will also need to book exhibitors and sponsors. Make sure participants get what they need and know where to go. Ensure that session speakers have everything they need … Read More

Co-Teaching Is Tough

Meghan PahlkeBlog, Connect Better, Lead Better, Manage Better, Reflect Better

TL;DR: A strong co-teaching relationship involves both teachers using their expertise to co-plan, co-teach, and co-assess as equals. Make sure to consistently reflect on your co-teaching relationships and practices. Give both your co-teacher and yourself grace. Co-teaching is tough, whether you have been co-teaching for one semester, one year, or years. Yes, the cliche sayings that a co-teaching relationship is … Read More

Learnability: Consumption, Creation, and Contribution

Steven WeberBlog, Differentiate Better, Engage Better, Innovate Better, Lesson Plan Better, Manage Better, Reflect Better

TL;DR: Learnability may be at the top of the list of skills high school graduates need. Consider what every student should know and be able to do when developing curriculum and standards. Be careful not to just cover the unit plan or standards without considering the student evidence that demonstrates learning. It is important that students are provided opportunities to … Read More

Introducing Children to Mindfulness

Ipek WilliamsonBlog, Connect Better, Engage Better, Manage Better, Self Care Better

TL;DR: It is important to teach young children how to meditate and practice mindfulness at a very early age. This gives them a head start in becoming a positive, joyful, and compassionate person. Here are two mindfulness practices to try with young children: Belly Buddies and Spidey Senses. See below for links. We want our children to be physically and … Read More