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
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
Fuel for the Fire
TL;DR: The past few years have left me exhausted and lost, seeking other work. But I found my fuel—the kids. Keep looking for your fuel, and keep your fire burning. I am nearing retirement. Six years away. It seems like forever away after the past few years. A past few years that included the most challenging years of my nearly … Read More
Engagement and Equitability with Easy-to-Use Canvas Quizzes (VIDEO)
TL;DR: Canvas has an auto-grading feature to use for quizzes. These quizzes can be used at the end of lectures and encourage students to take good notes. If you offer enough quizzes, this can improve equity by allowing students to fail or miss quizzes and still be successful in class. The quiz auto-grading feature of Canvas can be used to … Read More
How Mindfulness Can Make You A Better School Administrator
TL;DR: Being an administrator is hard. Mindfulness takes time but provides significant benefits. A school leader’s day may begin with a 5:30 am alarm. Bus duty and car rider duty are usually in full swing by 7:30 am, earlier in some schools. Before the first bell rings, a principal may have an email from the central office, a phone call … Read More