TL;DR: Embrace changes even when they are not something you initiate. The unknown can be scary, but one can find growth and excitement when adapting to new technology. Change is inevitable and has the potential for positive transformation in professional and personal realms. Time for an Upgrade There’s a line from the song Time Brings Change by MxPx that has … Read More
Show 127, Summer PD Series 2: Adjusting to Change
Teachers are potentially going through small or big changes to prepare for the new curriculum, classrooms, courses, grade levels, or maybe even a new school. The summer is a great time to reflect, goal setting, and mentally prepare. Reflect on your core teaching values that are non-negotiable aspects of your classroom. Think about how to protect these core values in … Read More
Under the Leaves
TL;DR: Running and physical movement can be an escape to do a lot of reflective thinking. Epiphany: A once clear sidewalk was now covered with leaves. Tread carefully just like with students. The path may look different but the foundation of your relationship is still there. Love our students and connect with them daily. A Thinking Runner I am a … Read More
53 – Reality Check on the “Real World” (w Dr. David Finch)
For too long, the “real world” has been a mythical place that only exists in schools when teachers are trying to make students do things they don’t want to do. Stories of the real world create a culture of compliance. It begs the question… what’s it really like in the world of work beyond school? Dr. David Finch is a … Read More
51 – Ungrading in a High School STEM Classroom (w Chris Sarkonak)
One of the most persistent narratives of the school system is that it’s a place where students do work in exchange for grades. However, what would school look like if grades didn’t exist? Chris Sarkonak is one of many teachers involved in the grassroots movement called “ungrading” to move school away from a culture of compliance, towards a culture of … Read More