Cultivating True Engagement

Adam LesterBlog, Engage Better, Grade Better, Innovate Better, Personalize Student Learning Better

TL;DR: What do you do with students who just aren’t motivated? A look at some motivation theory and its relation to engagement. The key to engagement revealed! The Kids Just Sit There… Student engagement in their own learning process is an ever-elusive goal for a vast majority of educators with whom I interact. Too often, teachers and their classes are … Read More

Primary Independence: How The Grid Method Can Work for Littles

Amanda BolonBlog, Differentiate Better, Engage Better, Innovate Better, Lesson Plan Better, Manage Better, Mastery Done Better, Personalize Student Learning Better, Tech Better

TL;DR: The Grid Method can completely change your teaching practice, even your life. Ways the Grid Method can absolutely work for your primary students. Just another PD session? Not exactly. Everyone knows how end of the year professional development goes. You sit in meetings all day long, thinking about how much you have to do before packing up for the … Read More

It’s Okay to Laugh & Smile Right Now

Teach Better TeamBlog, Connect Better, Lead Better, Self Care Better

TL;DR: A smile can go a long way. Social distancing doesn’t mean we can’t check in with each other and spread kindness. My wife and I were at the grocery store this morning and as you probably know, it was awkward and people weren’t overly personable. Katy and I smile quite often, and laughter has always been a huge part … Read More

Remote Learning as a Teacher and a Mom: 6 Practical Strategies for Making it Work

Maggie GiffordBlog, Connect Better, Engage Better, Self Care Better, Tech Better

TL;DR: The unique difficulties in this time of remote teaching, as both a teacher and a mom. 6 strategies and suggestions to balance support for your students and your own children. During a normal school year on a normal school day, you juggle the duties of being a teacher and a mom.  You have two lives and two sets of … Read More

3 Ways to Support Students Virtually

Chelsea NicolinoBlog, Connect Better, Engage Better, Innovate Better, Tech Better

TL;DR: Relationship maintenance with students through a virtual environment. Three tips to support students: a virtual discussion space, a survey check-in, and videos! Teachers are resilient. We make a million decisions a day that revolve around how we can best support our students, while creating the best environment for them to learn. Until one day, our brick and mortar classrooms … Read More