TL;DR: It is crucial for instructional leaders to put the focus on student understanding. Ignite student understanding by developing common formative assessments, analyzing current levels of achievement, setting achievement goals, and sharing strategies. Igniting student understanding will happen when teacher teams create lessons to address the needs of learners. Instructional leaders focus on student understanding. Schmoker (2005) wrote, “It starts … Read More
The Art of Reflection
TL;DR: Reflection informs our thinking and supports continuous growth. Reflect on your priorities, core values, personal and professional goals, and determine your next steps. Tools for reflection include journaling, meditating, walking/hiking, art, sticky notes, exercise, blogging, and more. Fifteen weekly reflection questions for educators are shared. When teachers and students transitioned to remote learning, social distancing, and working from home, … Read More
How To: Set Better Goals
TL;DR: Four strategies to set better, more realistic goals that you can actually achieve. A bonus fifth step with a review of SMART goal setting. We hear a lot about setting goals. “It’s important to have goals.” “If you don’t know where you’re going, you’re already lost.” And the quotes go on and on. So we set goals. Sometimes we … Read More
Unlocking the Power of Your Ikigai
In This Post: An introduction to ikigai, the Japanese notion of living your why. Steps to identify your ikigai. Self-reflection questions to ensure you find and maintain your ikigai. Long before Simon Sinek shared about the importance of “knowing your why”, the Japanese gave birth to a concept that encapsulated a power. This power unlocked the pursuit of the heart. … Read More
Goal Setting is So 2009
In This Post: The case against setting New Years Resolutions. Approaching goal setting through a different lens… one that will help the chances of success! A guideline to set goals that are clearer and more attainable. Tiny shifts and time result in new habits and great change. Once a month, Dan will be writing pieces for the Teach Better blog that … Read More