TL;DR: Advance teacher-leadership by transforming yourself, mentoring, identifying needs, clearing obstacles and distractions, and focusing on self-care. NOW is the time for mentors and school leaders to challenge self-doubt, soothe despair, and invest in our teacher-leaders. The COVID-19 crisis has proven that extraordinary change can happen in a short period of time. Nearly every aspect of educational practice—planning, teaching and … Read More
Educator Support Networks
TL;DR: Making connections with and learning from other educators helps lead to growth. Educator support systems are a fundamental part of growth. Make sure to ask for help or seek it out when you need it. As a full-time teacher, a mother of two boys and one more on the way, and a doctoral student preparing for the final defense … Read More
The Courage to Change Your Mind
TL;DR: Teachers of argument should encourage students to lean out of their comfort zone and explore different points of view. Listening to things we don’t readily agree with actually helps us become more informed about our own values and ideas. Several strategies like believing/doubting, belief continuums, and confirmation bias assessment help students become better at argument writing and speaking. Have … Read More
Students Want Adults Who Care
TL;DR: Students don’t want adults who dispense information. They want adults who care. Create thought-provoking learning experiences for students and avoid lecture-style teaching. Make learning relevant for students by connecting what they are learning to the real-world. If building relationships with students is difficult for you, start by talking to students about their lives. I sat speechless in a grade-level … Read More
The Empathetic Teacher
TL;DR: Our learners’ behavior is an important form of communication. Consider and revise your responses to student behavior to be more empathetic. Don’t assume how a learner is feeling; ask them directly. Validate your students’ feelings to ensure they feel heard and understood. During my first year teaching, I spent countless hours learning, planning, and creating. I loved every second … Read More
