This Might Get Ugly… I’m going to start by fully understanding the vulgar gestures you may want to make towards your computer screen or the nasty emails you might write to me after reading this, but I think it needs to be said. But I believe that, by the end of this, you will at least partially agree. First, let me admit. … Read More
Is It Homework or Busy Work?
It’s The Age Old Debate. Depending on which camp you belong to, you are either starting to get fired up about students needing practice at home, OR you are thinking “down with homework!” To be honest, I see the merit of both arguments and there is a lot of research out there that supports practice and also says additional work … Read More
Teacher Evaluations and Why They Don’t Matter in Your Classroom
Is your classroom evaluation the “Greatest Show On Earth?” While working with many schools and districts I often discuss the evaluation process with both principals and their administration, as well as their teachers. It’s always a somewhat touchy subject, but I’ve never been able to figure out why. Why the current system is lacking. While I fully understand that you … Read More
3 Ways To Know If Your Professional Development Is Worth It
How much impact did your last PD have on your staff? Regardless of whether it’s the beginning of your school year, the middle of a semester, or your staff is about to leave for the summer, you have probably invested a lot of time and energy into finding, paying for, and providing professional development for teachers in your district, in … Read More
How to Make Professional Development Worthwhile for Teachers: 3 Things to Remember
As I sit here and write this blog, I am at a district mandated professional development (PD) day… Yup…you guessed it, more downtime than productivity or learning. I am currently residing in the equivalent of adult babysitting. For professional development to be worthwhile for a teacher it needs to provide them with value. In order to increase that value and eventually … Read More