The Gods of Education. Are They Worth It?

Brian MillerBlog, Connect Better, Innovate Better, Lead Better, Manage Better, Reflect Better

TL;DR: Schools, like cathedrals, have gods that they worship, which shape their values, priorities, and practices. The gods of education can be both burdensome and dangerous, demanding sacrifices and affecting the unintended consequences of serving them. Identifying the gods in education allows for a critical examination of their impact and whether they are worth prioritizing, as they are tools that … Read More

Autism Awareness Month 

Dana GoodierBlog, Connect Better, Lead Better, Teach Happier

TL;DR: April is Autism Awareness Month. As educators, it is important that we are aware of how to work with students on the spectrum so we can promote kindness. Did you know that April is Autism Awareness Month? If you’re a general education teacher, you’re likely to have several students with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) in your classroom. These students … Read More

Student Empowered Conferences

Livia ChanBlog, Connect Better, Engage Better, Lead Better, Lesson Plan Better, Manage Better, Reflect Better

TL;DR: Students feel empowered as they share their goals, learning, and growth in all different areas of the curriculum. You can include voice and choice in student-led conferences. Being intentional about what you do before, during, and after conferences leads to finding success in the goals for the conferences. A link to resources can be found below for a notice … Read More

Episode #24: Yaritza Villalba

Dana GoodierOut of the Trenches Podcast

Yaritza Villalba has ten years of experience in education. She started her career teaching Social Studies to high school students in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York.  Throughout the years she has developed numerous curriculum materials and conducted a variety of professional developments. She is currently a lead teacher of an alternative high school in Bedford Stuyvesant, teaching over -aged and … Read More

Resources for Difficult Conversations with Students

Teach Better TeamBlog, Connect Better, Engage Better

There is never an easy answer. Never a single answer. No easy way to prepare for the conversations in your classrooms and schools over the next few days. But we are here for you. We are working to curate resources to help, organize opportunities for conversations, and focusing on how we can better support you during these unprecedented times. We … Read More