3 Steps to Dive Deeper Into the Cultural Iceberg

Nilmini Ratwatte-HenstridgeBlog, Connect Better, Engage Better

TL;DR: Explore your cultural iceberg. What are the visible and less visible bits of your culture? What does culture mean to you and how can you address it in the classroom? Take a global perspective when teaching about cultures. “Equity and Inclusion Just Got Better” Blog Reflection Questions:  What does culture mean? How is culture embedded into the curriculum we … Read More

Science Better: Using Models

Teach Better TeamBlog, Differentiate Better, Engage Better, Grade Better, Innovate Better, Lesson Plan Better, Personalize Student Learning Better, Teach Further

TL;DR: Models are a great way to determine student understanding of content. Use exemplars to inspire students to do great things. Encourage students to let their passions fuel their creativity, and give them lots of loose parts to experiment with. Provide expectations, but let students determine how they rise to those expectations. Student Designed Models I am big on student … Read More

Using Infographics with Multilingual Learners

Carly SpinaBlog, Differentiate Better, Lesson Plan Better

TL;DR: Infographics are a way to show information visually to support multilingual learners. WIDA updated its ELD Framework to include viewing and visually representing. This better describes how we consume and produce information today. Infographics increase accessibility for students. They can also help educators collaborate quickly and easily. Infographics Infographics are a great way to visually and/or graphically represent information. … Read More

Remote Learning: Does Learning Space Impact Student Growth?

Steven WeberBlog, Differentiate Better, Lesson Plan Better, Reflect Better

TL;DR: The pandemic has caused a gap between students from access to resources, support, and learning environments. Students’ circumstances impacted their ability to learn creating interrupted and unfinished learning experiences. There was a vast difference in what students’ learning spaces were like outside of the classroom. Reflecting on what students have gone through and how this translates into our classrooms … Read More

Finding JOY in the Small Moments

Bridget GenglerBlog, Reflect Better, Self Care Better, Teach Happier

TL;DR: The past few years during the pandemic have been some of the most difficult for everyone. People have suffered great losses. Throughout this time, learning to find JOY in the small moments has been imperative. Even in the darkest moments, JOY is there waiting for us if we just seek it. What is JOY? Joy is the little glimmer … Read More