Posted inCommon Core, Featured, From the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy

Dear Common Core: Science Supports Reading Fiction

[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”] English teachers are seduced by literature. We fell in love with an author’s language, a fascinating plot turn, or a well-developed character, and we are bold in our love. While students may roll […]

Posted inFeatured, Legal

Supreme Court Rules on Affirmative Action Case

[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”] On Monday, June 24, 2013, the Supreme Court handed down its ruling in Fisher v. University of Texas, the higher education affirmative action case.  I previously wrote about affirmative action and […]

Posted inClassroom Management, New Teacher Bootcamp, Parents

Dealing with Difficult Parents

A hazard of our profession is dealing with difficult parents or guardians from time to time. (For the sake of simplicity, allow “parents” to refer to whoever has legal guardianship throughout the remainder of this article.) Sometimes difficult parents are attached to difficult students; sometimes difficult parents are attached to wonderful students. Imagine the following […]

Posted inBook Review, Featured

Authentic Evaluations Will Improve our Profession – A Book Review

Teacher Evaluation That Makes a Difference: A New Model for Teacher Growth and Student Achievement By: Robert J. Marzano and Michael D. Toth Published by ASCD, 2013   [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”] In the last […]

Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Technology

Computer Programming in the Elementary Classroom, Part 2: The Reality

Last week I wrote an article about teaching computer programming in elementary classrooms.  I know, there are things you have to cover that seem to override computer programming.  It seems like something extra to do at the end of the school year, after testing, when your curriculum has been covered.  And administrators like to see results […]