A couple of years ago, I learned how to ‘rip’ videos from the internet and embed them in a powerpoint. That was the beginning of an era. I have wiled away many an hour on youtube, TED talks and other internet sites watching videos . . . one video leads to another and another and […]
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Posted inFeatured, Uncategorized
Showing Student Growth Without the Test: A Lesson from Memphis
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] Robert struggles academically. He often requires the concept to be explained in a one on one setting 3-4 times before truly getting it. And if we only assessed his value on […]
Posted inFeatured, Middle School
EdCamp – The Unconference
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] It was an incredibly nerve-wracking half hour. The cafeteria was filling with educators. We would hit 130 in attendance before the day was done. However, at 8:45 in the morning, the […]
Posted inFeatured, School Improvement
Why Our Nation Needs Student Growth Measures
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] Mark, one of my former students, was rocking algebra 1. He had the highest grade in his class and regularly scored 80 percent or higher on his practice End of Course […]
Posted inCommon Core, Featured, Instruction & Curriculum, Uncategorized
End of Course Test: A Testing Week That Shouldn't Count
Guest Writer: Rebecca Leech [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] This week, the rural Tennessee high school where I teach is finishing our annual TCAP End of Course standardized testing. End of Course tests are given in […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured
My Mentor, Teacher, & Friend: Thank You
I recently had lunch with my mentor teacher, Ellen Meyers. It was more of a super-extended lunch, because we sat and talked for almost four hours. That was something we never got to do when we were teaching next door to each other. That afternoon, we talked about our children and families, but mostly we […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Technology
Gaming and Education: They are not Enemies [Part 3]
In Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, I discussed the bigger picture of gaming in our students’ and children’s lives and how gaming can connect to education. In this article, I discuss how gaming has affected my own son’s education. I’ve written previously about how my son began unschooling a year ago. As […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, Interviews
Inspirational Educator: Sarah Shourd
Sarah Shourd is a teacher. She is a writer. She is a reformer. But most of all, Sarah Shourd inspires us all by surviving 14 months of solitary confinement in Iran. Yes, after spending time educating the refugees of Syria in their new homes in Iraq, Ms. Shourd decided to take a leisurely hike in […]