TL;DR: Follow the journey of Michelle as she discovered the Grid Method. Read five reasons why using the Grid Method is so effective: (1) standards-based (2) strategic and timely assessments (3) varied assessment (4) students work at own pace (5) enrichment opportunities. I recently saw a teacher meme that showed a man with a GIANT backpack and the caption, “When … Read More
“Tough” Love: The Risks, Rewards, and Resilience of Teaching At-Risk Kids
TL;DR: Working with at-risk students takes a desire to understand who they are. A revelation of working with at-risk students: They don’t mean it. They don’t see it and don’t realize what they are doing. Developmentally, they may not be able to see you. Ruby Payne’s book “A Framework for Understanding Poverty” helps us see “hidden rules” and how they … Read More
Six Tips to Write Your First Book
TL;DR: There are 6 tips to write your first book: go digital, start writing, keep organized, know your why and stick to it, move your mindset, and dangle the carrot. Start writing! Whether you have a story of inspiration and determination or a wealth of knowledge and experience to share, writing a book may be the perfect opportunity for you. … Read More
Be You
TL;DR: Listening to Hamish Brewer or Monica Genta at a conference is inspirational. Be authentic in your relationships with others, especially students, because they will be able to tell when you are not. Demonstrate to students that you care. Recently, I attended a conference where I had the opportunity to observe two amazing presenters, Hamish Brewer and Monica Genta. Let … Read More
The Role of the Perpetrator, Victim, Bystander, and Upstander
TL;DR: Teachers and administrators make multiple decisions each day. These decisions can have a long-lasting impact on a student. When making decisions as an administrator or school team, they should ask three questions about access, inclusion, and equity. There needs to be a sense of urgency to ensure we prepare each learner for the next level. We need to be … Read More