Blog Overview Spring break is the time of the school year when we need to relax and prepare for the end of the year all at the same time! This school year is one like we’ve never before experienced in our careers—no matter how long you have been in education. Are you looking for tips for making time for yourself … Read More
Ham It Up to Build Relationships with Your Students
TL;DR: Build relationships with students by not being afraid to look goofy or silly in front of them. Some strategies to build relationships with students include using movie quotes or current popular songs, telling jokes, dancing, and more. When I graduated from college, I did not know what I was going to do. To be honest, I wanted to be … Read More
The Courage to Change Your Mind
TL;DR: Teachers of argument should encourage students to lean out of their comfort zone and explore different points of view. Listening to things we don’t readily agree with actually helps us become more informed about our own values and ideas. Several strategies like believing/doubting, belief continuums, and confirmation bias assessment help students become better at argument writing and speaking. Have … Read More
Students Want Adults Who Care
TL;DR: Students don’t want adults who dispense information. They want adults who care. Create thought-provoking learning experiences for students and avoid lecture-style teaching. Make learning relevant for students by connecting what they are learning to the real-world. If building relationships with students is difficult for you, start by talking to students about their lives. I sat speechless in a grade-level … Read More
Career and Technical Education Starts in Elementary School!
TL;DR: Career and Technical Education (CTE) should start in elementary school. Create clubs that connect students to interests they already know they have. But more importantly, clubs that connect students to interests they don’t know they have yet. I just had the distinct honor and privilege of being a guest on a great new podcast called BridgEd. It is hosted … Read More