The combination of Common Core standards, especially in math, and placing students with learning disorders in the least restrictive environment possible has become a conundrum for teachers and students alike. Neither common core nor least restrictive environment is going away any time soon so we need to find a way to actively engage all of […]
Featured
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured
Kindergarten Building Blocks
Last week, a friend told me about a principal in my large urban school district who took the blocks out of a kindergarten classroom. There are stories in this district of all play materials, including crayons, being removed from kindergartens. In New York, the story of a principal canceling the kindergarten show made national news. […]
Posted inFeatured
Isolation in the Classroom
How many times have you heard a teacher say it, “I don’t care anymore, I just stay in my classroom and lock the door.” It’s a very real issue and it’s what teachers say and do when they no longer feel supported, respected or valued in their building. They keep to themselves. They lock the […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum
My Favorite Videos
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 […]
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 […]