TL;DR: Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22nd. When considering outdoor education, it is important to think about safety, seating, and work surfaces. Earth Day happens every year on April 22 to commemorate the modern environmental movement that began in 1970. Until then there was no EPA, no Clean Air or Water Act. The first Earth Day was actually … Read More
Student Conferencing with a Focus on the Focus
Student Conferencing with a Focus on the Focus Video Highlights: Use “we” instead of “you” during student conferences. Celebrate growth rather than “got it” moments. When it comes to student conferencing, don’t judge, just support. See the full series here! [scroll down to keep reading] About Dave Schmittou Entering his twenty-first year in education, Dave has earned a reputation … 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
Effective Tools for End-of-Year Student Conferencing
TL;DR: Make sure to purposefully include time for student conferencing in your plans. During a conference, the student is able to monitor their progress and get clarification about assignments. The teacher is able to guide the student to use individualized study strategies. They can also monitor the students’ progress and help them set attainable goals. As we go into the … Read More
5 Thought-Provoking Questions About Assessment
TL;DR: Teaching and learning should be framed around a desired set of learning targets. Identify how teachers will measure student understanding. The classroom should be a safe place where students are receiving feedback from their teacher, peers, and own reflections. 4 key reflection questions to consider before and after a unit are shared. Find ways to celebrate small wins in … Read More