TL;DR: Common concerns involving district initiative implementation include initiative fatigue, lack of time, failure to communicate, and lack of results. Supporting teaching and learning requires a thoughtful planning stage followed by a thorough implementation process. To find success with district initiative implementation, go slow to see long-term results. One of the main barriers to student understanding and school transformation is … Read More
Edujargon
TL;DR: Some examples of edujargon include backwards design, common formative assessment, data walls, essential questions, personalized learning, scaffolding, social emotional learning, whole child, and more. Buzzwords or edujargon can support a school’s continuous improvement plan, but there must be consistent implementation. This post includes six questions to help educators avoid the edujargon trap. Faculty meetings, principal newsletters, conversations with colleagues, … Read More
5 Shifts For Instructional Leaders
TL;DR: Instructional leaders can support teaching and learning by shifting the emphasis from grades to student understanding. Shift from an emphasis on academic content only to teaching both employability skills and academic content. Shift from assumptions to data analysis, from compliance to contribution, and from individual leadership to multiplying leaders. Instructional leaders are faced with change on a weekly basis. … Read More
School Restructuring and Transformation
TL;DR: It is time to begin conversations about school restructuring and transformation. We need to bring everyone to the table to begin conversations about reinventing what schools should look like. Teachers and students deserve it. School Restructuring and Transformation You are given the task of reinventing or restructuring what schools look like. Would the result mirror our schools’ current reality? … Read More
Curriculum Design: Maximizing Student Understanding
TL;DR: Curriculum design teams should begin with the end in mind. Empower curriculum design teams by providing time for them to become crystal clear about the standards before debating essential skills, key concepts, content, or assignments. When a district team identifies transfer goals, it will support teachers across schools. Formative assessments will support decisions about teaching and learning. Make sure … Read More
