TL;DR: REthinking things is a strategy that can be applied to shape our perception of reality, which is critical to our mental and emotional well-being. This post shares 3 practical approaches to guide you to rethink better: Dream and explore. Take risks. Change your mind. We can shape our thoughts about the course of events in life into anything we … Read More
LEAD with HOPE: P is for PASSION, PURPOSE, and PERSISTENCE
TL;DR: Grit is an individual’s perseverance of effort and passion towards a goal. Share our stories of adversity with others to help them deal with theirs. Personal adversity can fulfill a purpose. One can help others define what they value, and set priorities and goals to realize their full potential. We demonstrate perseverance when we never give up. Obstacles of … Read More
Reflections on Teaching & Learning
TL;DR: This post shares reflections on teaching and learning through a career in K-12 education. Poverty impacts a student’s ability to perform at school. School staff ultimately determines opportunity to learn. Formative assessment is the silver bullet. Provide opportunities for students to inquire. It’s no longer important to focus on what the teachers can do with the content. The goal … Read More
Thinking Better ALL Day Long
TL;DR: Thinking better all day long involves commitment, word choice, and reflection. Consider the power of I AM statements. Paying attention to your word choice is a major piece of the thinking better puzzle. When it comes to thinking better, it’s important to remember that this is a process. A process that we get to practice each day. The previous … Read More
In Defense of the Dog and Pony Show
TL;DR: Evaluators can use teacher observations as an opportunity for growth. They can explore what is right about their teaching and where their talents lie. Evaluators can take the excellent skills demonstrated in the best foot forward lessons and channel the discussions to help them hit that high bar more often. Let’s use our imperfect system to benefit our teachers … Read More