TL;DR: Scandals exist in schools. Teachers and administrators must analyze their schools to see if they exist or have the potential to develop. There are 5 scandals in education: low expectations, lack of instructional leadership, culture does not emphasize formative assessment, curriculum alignment is left to chance, and students are not required to think. Throughout history, scandals have been documented. … Read More
Teaching During a Pandemic: Feeling Lost (Part 1)
TL;DR: When the pandemic started, educators around the globe were thrown into unchartered territory. Educators had to quickly learn how to adapt lessons to be online, and students had to adapt to the use of new technology as well. My Purpose My purpose in blogging is to work through and process thoughts, happenings, and feelings throughout my teaching career. I’m … Read More
Teaching Towards Diversity
TL;DR: Embrace diversity in the world by accepting differences that make us unique. Teach about diversity so that everyone learns to accept and embrace it. Can we represent every single student in a given year in our lessons? We say yes, absolutely! This post shares 3 picture books that you can use in your classroom. Why is it important for … Read More
Learn HOW to Differentiate in Teaching
TL;DR: Rather than modify assignments to differentiate instruction, change how we teach to ensure students understand the material. Not all students learn in the same way. We need to recognize when to change how we teach the lesson. We need to know our students and support them. With differentiated instruction, it is possible to meet the learning styles of all students. … Read More
Transformational Six: Ignite Student Understanding
TL;DR: It is crucial for instructional leaders to put the focus on student understanding. Ignite student understanding by developing common formative assessments, analyzing current levels of achievement, setting achievement goals, and sharing strategies. Igniting student understanding will happen when teacher teams create lessons to address the needs of learners. Instructional leaders focus on student understanding. Schmoker (2005) wrote, “It starts … Read More