In this Post: Decide to like the dog… even when it’s challenging! Scaffold training to support their needs Celebrate Positive Steps! Learn to Spiral Provide specific and meaningful feedback Lesson 1: Decide to Like the Dog The day after school let out, we drove from Seattle to Boise to pick up our new Wesslpointer puppy, Echo. I dreamed, schemed, and … Read More
Busting Two Myths About Restorative Practices
In this Post : Myth #1: Restorative Practices Take Away from Academics The circle, sometimes known as a class meeting, maybe the most well-known restorative practice, can be implemented quickly and used proactively to build the people-first classroom culture Myth #2: Implementing Restorative Practices is Overwhelming Starting small, revising and improving my skills, and generating success with students provided me … Read More
Four Teaching Lessons I learned from Russell
In This Post: A random conversation with a stranger taught me some very important teaching (and life) lessons. Learn to be mindful in every conversation, or risk missing important lessons. Never estimate your students. Love what you do. Become a lifelong learner. Meet Russell. I met him as I strolled along the boardwalk one morning on my family vacation in … Read More
Visiting Other Teachers’ Classrooms: Seeing Life on the Other Side
In this post: Often, teachers become experts at their respective age levels, with little to no experience at others. This leads to an unintended consequence of our profession. Stepping out of their daily work environments and seeing what teaching and learning looks like at another grade level can help change perceptions. Some teachers think of themselves as elementary, while others … Read More
It’s A Remix! Remixing Teaching to Give Learning More Life
In This Post: A remix is an adaptation of a song or piece of art. A remix can give a song more life. Could remixing in our classroom give education more life? Could remixing our teaching give learning more life? Last year, I was lucky enough to speak to the staff of SD113A during Opening Institute Day. Here is how … Read More