The Special One

Teach Better TeamBlog, Connect Better, Teach Happier

TL;DR: We can’t reach the mind before we touch the heart.  Focus on relationship building while still holding high expectations for students. It’s important to make each student feel special. The Favorite My grandma is 98 years old. She has 6 children, 7 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren. Of her grandchildren, I am her only granddaughter, automatically making me the favorite. … Read More

Supporting Student Mental Health in the Classroom

Melissa PelochinoBlog, Connect Better, Reflect Better, Self Care Better

TL;DR: Students everywhere are struggling with mental health. Their behaviors are often a result of a specific need. There are tools to help students reflect on what is in their control, identify their need and then ask for it. Supporting Student Mental Health in the Classroom The statistics are sobering. Month after month and week after week, organizations and agencies are … Read More

Curriculum Design: Are We Creating a Draft or a Masterpiece?

Steven WeberBlog, Lead Better, Lesson Plan Better, Manage Better, Reflect Better

TL;DR: Effective curriculum design teams don’t view their work as a masterpiece but as a draft. Having a draft allows room for reflection, feedback, and modifications to improve the curriculum. Curriculum design teams are often torn between creating a draft document or a masterpiece.  Teacher leaders are typically perfectionists, and they strive to create a masterpiece before sharing the curriculum … Read More

Intelligence Doesn’t Have to Be Artificial

Aaron ElseBlog, Engage Better, Innovate Better, Lesson Plan Better

TL;DR: AI is changing education, but is that bad? Students have the capability to look up information at their fingertips. Embrace the technology of today and offer your students authentic learning experiences. Artificial intelligence is about to change how we do everything in education. This is terrifying to a lot of educators. They fear students won’t learn at the same … Read More

5 Resources to Get ELA Students Ready for Testing Season

Teach Better TeamBlog, Differentiate Better, Engage Better, Lesson Plan Better

TL;DR: Prepare ELA students for testing season by using Everyday Edits, CommonLit, Newsela, Wonderopolis, and NoRedInk. You can use these resources in your classroom as soon as tomorrow. 5 Resources to Get ELA Students Ready for Testing Season So here we are. It is the beginning of the dreaded testing season. We all need a vacation from our vacation. For … Read More