TL;DR: School systems should all have the same end goal for students. In order to achieve this goal, schools need to be aligned on what they are teaching and how they are preparing their students. School systems are designed for multiple purposes, including but not limited to a) Opportunity to Learn, b) Student Growth, c) Develop Lifelong Learners, d) Teach … Read More
Graphic Organizers
TL;DR: Graphic organizers can increase creativity and can serve as a mastery checkpoint. Graphic organizers can increase understanding of complicated concepts and are fun to make! I love using graphic organizers in my classroom. The structure and organization provided by a well-crafted graphic organizer can make complicated concepts appear simple. This is important when teaching about science topics that can seem … Read More
What Should Students Know and Be Able to Do?
TL;DR: Certain skills are necessary for students to be successful beyond high school. Many schools no longer address these skills because of their focus on standards and mandated tests. Backward design helps prepare K-12 students for the future. “As societies become more complex in structure and resources, the need of formal or intentional teaching and learning increases. As formal teaching … Read More
Teaching Versus Teachering: Extra Duties of Teachers
TL;DR: Teaching involves standards, a curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Students and teachers co-create the learning experience together. As teachers, what do we do beyond teaching? How can you impact greater change? Teaching Versus Teachering: Extra Duties of Teachers Not too long ago, I was listening to one of my favourite podcasts, The Chey and Pav Show. This show features Chey … Read More
7 Investing Lessons Worth Applying to Education
TL;DR: Educators can learn from other careers, such as finance, to navigate challenging times. Celebrate small successes and realize that everything is connected. Success in one area will flow into others. Focus on using research-based practices within your classroom. Don’t wait to try something new. Use data to inform what you’re doing within your classroom. Learn from finance. Educators are … Read More