TL;DR: When lesson planning, it is important to look at things from different perspectives. Look through your students’ rearview and see life from a different lens. Seeing from the lens of your students will help you foster success. Get to know your students and the things they are interested in, then use what you learned to create a positive classroom … Read More
Schools Need an Instructional Leader
TL;DR: While building school culture is important, principals also need to be instructional leaders who analyze data and have a clear vision, goals for learning, and a commitment to these goals. There are 7 questions to ask that will guide your practice as an instructional leader. “A school without clearly defined goals can be likened to a ship without a … Read More
Teacher Observations and Evaluations This Year
TL;DR: We need to consider how teacher observations and evaluations can look different this year since schools are hybrid or remote. There are benefits to visiting 500 classrooms in one year like building connections and informal observations. The purpose of teacher observations and evaluations is to promote teacher growth. The other day, I had a great conversation with Chris Dodge, … Read More
Be Like Beverly – Scan for the Good
TL;DR: Beverly is Suzanne’s mom, her favorite teacher, the most loving, kindhearted, generous, and genuine person who now has Alzheimer’s. Beverly lived a life full of gratitude and abundance and exemplified this throughout her life by scanning for the good in every opportunity possible and being grateful for it all. You are challenged to find gratitude, scan for the good, … Read More
Small Conversations, Big Impact
TL;DR: Listen closely to small conversations you have with others. Open yourself up to listen to learn. What may appear to be insignificant conversations can turn out to be golden nuggets of information. As stated in previous blogs, I teach astronomy. Now, what was one of my first teaching moments related to space? Back in the 90s, I was teaching … Read More
