TL;DR: All students benefit from being read to. All content areas can find engaging books to read. Connecting the book to your content makes your subject area AND reading fun! I am a former middle school science teacher. I taught 8th-grade physical science and earth science. Even though I was not an ELA teacher, I read to my students almost … Read More
The 3 C’s of Curriculum Leadership
TL;DR: Our world is changing and we need to stay relevant. Curriculum leaders help us narrow our focus. School leaders should be able to curate resources to help with various situations. Allow student choice. Make sure to have common formative assessments. Our Changing World The world is changing and the rapid pace of change is impacting teaching and learning. A … Read More
The Uncomfortable Truth About School
TL;DR: Students forget most of what they “learn” in school. Acknowledging this gives us the freedom to focus on powerful learning experiences. Wrestling with the impermanence of some school “learning” challenges our core values as educators. What is Learning, Really? Educational thought leader Will Richardson loves to invite teachers to share their definitions of learning. His observation: most of us … Read More
Cutting Through Generational BS (Belief Systems)
TL;DR: Sometimes we do things because it is all we know rather than what is best or necessary. We all come with different belief systems that influence us. Take time to reflect on belief systems and how they may be impacting you and your school community. There was a mother that was teaching her young daughter the family secret to … Read More
Using Tech to Connect
TL;DR: It’s so great to be together in person with students. How can we use tech to support in-person learning? Consider using audio journals. Turn research papers into podcasts! Back to School It’s great to be back to school in person. There’s magic in a classroom, an excitement that grows when students and teachers are in the same place at … Read More