Addressing the Different Educational Needs of Our Students

Colissa JordanBlog, Connect Better

TL;DR: Educators must address the different educational needs of our students by setting high expectations, building relationships, desiring and implementing change, understanding our own biases, and choosing to connect. Teachers, administrators, and parents should establish and maintain supportive roles in this process of learning. Share your expectations with students by using I can statements.  At the beginning of this school … Read More

Building Community through Morning Meeting

Maggie GiffordBlog, Connect Better, Engage Better

TL;DR: Morning meeting is a time for students to gather, discuss the day’s events and lessons, and anything else on their minds. Morning meeting is a strategy for building community in a classroom. Each morning meeting is facilitated by the teacher, but is student-driven. At precisely 9:25 on Monday morning, the doorbell rings.  Students put away their materials, quickly move … Read More

Education’s Elephant in the Room

Teach Better TeamBlog, Connect Better, Lead Better

TL;DR: Silencing education’s elephant in the room by bringing attention to the responsibility of male leaders. The responsibilities of male leaders in a female dominated profession include initiating necessary conversations, being upfront, asking questions, listening, and summarizing points made in conversation to validate the other person. I grew up the youngest of four and the only girl. My mother tried … Read More

Finding the Slack to Unlock Upstream Thinking

Teach Better TeamBlog, Connect Better, Lead Better

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

The Dream Team: Finding Your People In Education

Amanda BolonBlog, Connect Better, Lead Better, Teach Happier

TL;DR: 10 tips to finding your people in education, including doing what is best for students, taking risks, being positive, planning and following through, and respecting others’ ideas. Having the support of colleagues can help encourage you to take more risks. The absolute last thing that someone wants is be involuntarily moved to a new grade level. Trust me, I … Read More