21 Questions for the End of the School Year

Steven WeberBlog, Reflect Better

TL;DR: The final weeks of the school year are filled with a range of emotions as students and staff say goodbye and reflect on their growth together. Reflecting on the instructional design, learning culture, academic interventions, relationships, equity, professional growth, and self-care can support personal and professional development. The importance of asking the right questions, embracing uncertainty, and celebrating the … Read More

Education: An Infinite Game

Steven WeberBlog, Differentiate Better, Engage Better, Innovate Better, Lead Better, Lesson Plan Better, Reflect Better

TL;DR: Learn the difference between finite games and infinite games (Sinek, 2019). The goal of school should be an infinite game where students get to keep playing. See a list of skills developed in K-12 schools. Career Readiness involves three major skill areas: (1) core academic skills (2) employability skills (3) technical, job-specific skills. The moral imperative for our nation … Read More

Beyond Curriculum Design: 5 Questions School Teams Should Ask 

Steven WeberBlog, Lead Better, Reflect Better

TL;DR: Educators must reflect on what an empowered learner looks like and how to design learning experiences. 5 questions school teams should ask include: What are the priorities for this course? What is the ratio of compliance/contribution in my school or classroom? Do we have a culturally responsive curriculum? What is the hidden curriculum? How will we measure student understanding? … Read More

Learnability: The Most Important Skill for School Leaders

Steven WeberBlog, Connect Better, Engage Better, Lead Better, Manage Better

TL;DR: School leaders face constant change which impacts their daily decisions. So they need a new skill set: learnability. Learnability can happen in three ways: (1) lead by asking better questions (2) cognitive flexibility to navigate change and adapt (3) unlearning and relearning allows leaders to be responsive to new problems. Review reflective questions for school leaders. Change is constant … Read More

Create a Daily Scorecard

Steven WeberBlog, Lead Better, Reflect Better

TL;DR: Educators can create a daily scorecard in order to reflect and measure progress towards the things that matter most. This post shares a daily scorecard for teachers, counselors, and both school and district administrators. If you are a teacher or an administrator, you can either let others define your success or you can create a daily scorecard.  Teachers and … Read More