TL;DR: Reminders for prioritizing your self-care over the summer. Focusing on what you need as a person and as an educator. Depending on where you teach, you’re probably in the midst of your summer break. In case no one has told you: make sure to take time for yourself. Whatever form of self-care you decide this summer, I want you … Read More
An Open Letter from the Teach Better Team – #TeachBetter20
If you’re reading this, first and foremost know that you are awesome. You are why we do what we do. You are what BETTER is all about. When I think back to the end of the 2019 Teach Better Conference, I cannot help but smile. And I mean, like, ear to ear, make your cheeks hurt, full on smiling! Legit … Read More
New Leader, New School
TL;DR: The impact school leaders have on the entire school community. Troubling impacts of new leaders and inconsistency in leadership positions. A possible solution to the high turnover and trouble it causes. Each school has a unique culture of teachers and leaders who work to create a relationship of trust. When a leader changes, it can completely disrupt the culture … Read More
Using Surveys to Get to Know Your Students
TL;DR: Using a survey to get to know students in the first weeks of school. Partnering with parents through the use of a survey. No matter what the beginning of the school year looks like, one thing is certain: we need to make a plan to get to know our students. Getting to know our students in the first weeks … Read More
Grading SAMR Model
TL;DR: Grading is undergoing changes, and many schools or districts need guidance. A comprehensive overview of the grading SAMR model, created by Erik Youngman. Grading should be fair, accurate, meaningful, and clearly communicated. I created the “Grading SAMR Model” to provide a framework for defining indicators within four distinct dimensions. They can be compared, separately or simultaneously, to guide grading … Read More