Dr. PJ Caposey Named Illinois Superintendent of the Year

Jeff GargasBlog, Lead Better

We are incredibly excited to share that one of our amazing Teach Better Speakers Network Speakers, Dr. PJ Caposey, has been named the 2023 Illinois Superintendent of the Year by the Illinois Association of School Administrators. PJ is the superintendent of Meridian CUSD #223 in Illinois, and has been a member of the Teach Better Speakers Network since August of 2020. … Read More

3 Ways Mastery Learning Can Fix Learning Loss

Chad OstrowskiBlog, Connect Better, Lead Better, Mastery Done Better

TL;DR: This post shares 3 ways mastery learning can fix learning loss. Mastery and instructional frameworks allow students to work at their own pace. They help shift the focus to supporting learners wherever they are at. Mastery changes mindset. It accounts for learner differences. And it provides a framework where targeted and tiered instruction is built in. Let’s be honest, … Read More

3 Suggestions to Make Evaluation More Meaningful

PJ CaposeyBlog, Connect Better, Grade Better, Lead Better

TL;DR: Reduce the teacher evaluation pressure by investing in more conversations and more time in classrooms. See tips for how to make a pre-conference more meaningful. Praise heaping, rating justification, and point proving are three conference styles. The best solution is to give 2-3 key goals for improvement. If anything, last year seemed to be EVERYTHING. I like to say … Read More

5 Tips for Better Grading

Teach Better TeamBlog, Connect Better, Lead Better

TL;DR: Grade better by aligning all of your assessments and creating clear feedback measures. Eliminate unnecessary assignments and involve students in the process. Use tech tools and verbal feedback whenever possible. Coming back to school means many things: students in our rooms, interacting and building relationships in person, learning to instruct in person and online simultaneously. But it also means … Read More

4 Tips to Reimagine Assessment

Dave SchmittouBlog, Grade Better, Lead Better, Mastery Done Better

TL;DR: Assessment should be a series of events, each leading to the next moment of improvement. Reimagine assessment by determining what you value and seeking assessment that leads to instruction. Understand that “one and done” is not enough and consider consistency and recency when assessing. As I am writing this, March Madness is ramping up. It is my favorite time … Read More