Episode 117: Lively Minds with Candace Heiken

Darrin PeppardLeaning Into Leadership

Candace Heiken joins Darrin on the podcast this week to talk about executive function skills, ways we can assess for them, and how teachers can best support students in learning these all important cognitive abilities. That, plus your #PepTalk on this week’s show. MORE EPISODES

Teacher Authenticity: Be You, Not Them

Teach Better TeamBlog, Connect Better, Engage Better, Lesson Plan Better, Manage Better

TL;DR: Be authentic in the classroom. Make connections with children through purposeful activities such as games. Develop classroom norms together and review them often. Take time daily to self-reflect and make a plan for the next day. Justin joined Rae on the Daily Drop In to chat about teacher authenticity. Click here to watch! Be Authentic We often hear about … Read More

Classroom Management Then and Now

La-Shanda WestBlog, Manage Better, Self Care Better

TL;DR: Classroom management has changed quite a bit since the days of Harry Wong. Today’s classrooms have shifted physically and philosophically to empower students in their learning. Consider including wellness breaks in an instructional period to allow for meditation, hydration, or socialization. La-Shanda joined Rae on the Daily Drop In to chat about classroom management and including wellness practices with … Read More

Creating Norms with My Students Changed My Classroom

Carrie LaRueBlog, Connect Better, Manage Better

TL;DR: Students really do want ownership in how their classroom runs. When they understand the why behind expectations, they can value those even when they don’t agree with them. Mutual trust is a necessary component before students can reliably set and follow their own norms. Creating Norms with My Students Changed My Classroom For 16 years, most of the students … Read More

4 Tips for Classroom Management

Kari PitstickBlog, Connect Better, Differentiate Better, Engage Better, Lesson Plan Better, Manage Better, Reflect Better

TL;DR: Routines and structures are key to strong classroom management. Consider your first 5 minutes of class and intentionally decide how you will spend that time. What works one day might not work the next; what works for one class may not work for another. Classroom management will always be a work in progress; not every single day will go … Read More