TL;DR: Interdisciplinary units deepen students’ learning experiences. Have teachers decide what they want to focus on for an interdisciplinary unit. Hold a planning meeting to talk about the unit and co-plan. Plan on meeting throughout the unit with other teachers to see how it’s going and tweak things. Allow teachers to teach what they’re excited about. Celebrate your successes! Interdisciplinary … Read More
Be Prepared for Last-Minute Changes!
TL;DR: Educators are always adjusting to changes to meet the needs of those they are serving. Support others by asking prompting questions and extending grace. As educators, we’ve learned to be on our feet in case of last-minute changes. Two years ago, we learned to adjust when there were students out for Covid or quarantines. We had to adjust to … Read More
The Power of a Pen
TL;DR: A pen teaches students that mistakes are learning opportunities. It gives students time to pause and think before they write. It empowers students by providing them with skills they can use throughout their lives. Every December, I gave a present to my students. Yes, I taught middle school. Yes, I had over 100 students each year. And yes, it … Read More
Stay Connected This WINTER!
TL;DR: This winter, take time for yourself and stay connected with others! Celebrate and embrace the diversity and differences we have as human beings. All teachers know that as we work hard, it is so important for us to take a break from work so we come back refreshed after enjoying some downtime. Our winter break may consist of Christmas … Read More
Leading With Questions
TL;DR: Many meetings are not so much a dialogue as a monologue. When you plan a meeting, ask yourself what the purpose is. Lead with questions and know the right questions to ask. Do teachers have a seat at a meeting or a seat and a voice? Moving from Monologues to Dialogues Questions provide the opportunity for dialogue. Unfortunately, many … Read More