TL;DR: Connections create the foundation of positive relationships. Positive relationships form trust with students and increase success. When difficult situations occur, positive relationships will make a difference. In today’s world, schools are often seen as prioritizing compliance over connections. Let’s reverse that! Prioritize connection over compliance instead! Compliance is necessary for maintaining order and safety. However, it can create a power … Read More
Lessons Learned From Change: The Beauty of Switching It Up
TL;DR: Over the course of a long career in education, there can be numerous opportunities for change. There are five lessons learned from change: (1) It can be an adventure. (2) A new perspective is important. (3) People are people. (4) We are enough. (5) It makes us stronger. I spend some time at the end of every school year … Read More
Reflecting at the End of the Year
TL;DR: Teaching from home has been challenging to not be able to “see” our students. There were frustrations from the perspectives of a teacher, student, and parent in the past 180 days. It is important to reflect on the past year and a half: in-class instruction cannot be replaced by virtual, students preferred to be in class, students had diverse … Read More
It’s All a Blur: Lessons Learned From Endings & Beginnings
TL;DR: Reflect on the lessons learned from the endings and beginnings you experience. To prevent the blur, reflect on the beginning and identify what you learned at the end. Create concrete ways to apply those lessons. How often do you reflect on your life, instructional practice, or progress towards accomplishing goals? Do you wait until it’s time to create resolutions … Read More
Reflections on Teaching & Learning
TL;DR: This post shares reflections on teaching and learning through a career in K-12 education. Poverty impacts a student’s ability to perform at school. School staff ultimately determines opportunity to learn. Formative assessment is the silver bullet. Provide opportunities for students to inquire. It’s no longer important to focus on what the teachers can do with the content. The goal … Read More