In This Post: Tips to always be ready for a principal observation! The three important questions your principal (or anyone) wants answered in a classroom visit. The importance of regular procedures for your classroom and your students. Ways to help students be aware of their learning goals, assessment, and procedures. That moment when… It’s last period, you’re fighting off a … Read More
Cue the Encore: When Things Don’t Go the Way You Planned
In This Post: Bouncing back from an unsuccessful lesson, in real time! Tips and strategies to turn a lesson around due to broken items and student pacing. An idea to head off misconceptions before they occur. If you’ve been in the classroom 1 year or 30 years, I’m sure you’ve had a lesson plan completely flop. Or you’ve had a … Read More
Dear Desk, It’s Not You, It’s Me: Promoting Student Agency
In This Post: After removing a desk from our learning space, my students reacted with excitement. My realization was that I was too focused on how I saw things, and not on how THEY see them. This lead to 5 pedagogical shifts to promote student agency. In a lonely corner of an elementary classroom stood an oversized wooden desk. Its … Read More
5 Ways to DESTROY Intrinsic Motivation in your Students
In this post: Intrinsic motivation is a powerful tool. Intrinsically motivated students are typically more able to overcome challenges Here are a few ways you can destroy intrinsic motivation in your classroom: Not providing students with ownership Not removing fear from your classroom Not being authentic Not building relationships Not focusing on learning Intrinsic motivation is a powerful tool that, … Read More
3 Ways to Focus on the “Why” Instead of the “What” – Building Deeper Meaning in Learning
In this post: How to move from “What” to “Why” Dive into DoK to deepen the learning Just ask! The power of asking your students “Why” Don’t rob students of the chance to discover and go deeper Ban “What” From Your Classroom Education has long been far too focused on the acquisition of information and learning how to follow algorithms … Read More