For too long, the purpose of assessment has been to collect points for a gradebook. As a high school English teacher, Sarah Zerwin decided to uphold a better purpose for assessment: learning. On the episode, Sarah shares the many “point-less” assessment practices that teachers can use to shift their classroom from a culture of compliance, to a culture of authentic … Read More
Are We Too Serious? | Greg Wolcott | Willing & Able
In Don’t @ Me (2:58), Tom wonders if we (as a society) have become too serious and makes the distinction between taking things seriously and taking ourselves too seriously. Then, Tom is joined by Greg Wolcott (10:54), author of SIGNIFICANT 72: UNLEASHING THE POWER OF RELATIONSHIPS IN TODAY’S SCHOOLS to discuss the critical role student-teacher relationships play in both the … Read More
To Work or Not to Work
TL;DR: To think better, we have to be willing to think differently. Consider the questions we ask ourselves. Perhaps rather than asking a question, make a statement. Be mindful of the language you use. Shift your mindset to be present every day. This changes your thinking so instead of thinking ahead, you can focus on now. 3 ways to get … Read More
Lessons Learned From Change: The Beauty of Switching It Up
TL;DR: Over the course of a long career in education, there can be numerous opportunities for change. There are five lessons learned from change: (1) It can be an adventure. (2) A new perspective is important. (3) People are people. (4) We are enough. (5) It makes us stronger. I spend some time at the end of every school year … Read More
Change Because You Want To, Not Because You Have To…
TL;DR: This post shares a story that demonstrates the importance of making a change because you want to, not because you have to. Be proactive, plan, and make decisions based on what is best for students. Several years ago in a school that I grew up in and was teaching at, a long-time school board member was running for re-election. … Read More