The Frustration of Being Underchallenged

Teach Better TeamBlog, Differentiate Better, Engage Better, Lesson Plan Better

TL;DR: Gifted students are often under-challenged. Under-challenged students are not given the same opportunities to learn and grow. There are ways to serve our gifted population that are beyond differentiation. Todd’s Gifted Rants: The Frustration of Being Underchallenged You know how to speak English very fluently. It comes very naturally to you, and you find it quite easy to speak. … Read More

Testing Season: Multilingual Learners

Carly SpinaBlog, Connect Better, Differentiate Better, Engage Better

TL;DR: October and February are months when staff morale tends to dip. February also often brings about the testing season. Multilingual students are often tested even more than the rest of the students. Try to make your class a creative, fun, and inspiring place to be during testing season. The Armpits of the School Year Every January, I tend to … Read More

Reflect to #TechBetter

Debbie TannenbaumBlog, Connect Better, Differentiate Better, Engage Better, Grade Better, Innovate Better, Lesson Plan Better

TL;DR: Students need to know the expectations and deserve feedback to help them improve and grow. #TechBetter with an “edurubricon,” which involves numbering the skills and including icons to create an easy visual for students to follow along. Happy New Year! I hope as we begin 2022, all of you will use the ways that we have discussed to #techbetter. … Read More

Connecting Our EL Students Across the Community

Andrea BitnerBlog, Connect Better, Differentiate Better, Engage Better, Lead Better

TL;DR: EL students can feel very isolated and overwhelmed in school. Bringing EL students together can help them feel less alone. As educators, we need to find ways to give them a sense of community. Connect the dots to see the bigger picture when connecting our EL students across the country. Connecting Our EL Students Across the Community: Flying Solo … Read More

4 Tips for Classroom Management

Kari PitstickBlog, Connect Better, Differentiate Better, Engage Better, Lesson Plan Better, Manage Better, Reflect Better

TL;DR: Routines and structures are key to strong classroom management. Consider your first 5 minutes of class and intentionally decide how you will spend that time. What works one day might not work the next; what works for one class may not work for another. Classroom management will always be a work in progress; not every single day will go … Read More