Everyday seems to bring with it a new candidate for the Presidential election of 2016. The oratory is familiar. The uttering of the redundant cliché that, “This is the most important election of our lifetimes” is almost as mandatory as the voting itself. It does not matter if you are a passionate Hillary Clinton aficionado, […]
School Improvement
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, School Improvement
PLN Members: Don’t Forget the Role of Conferences!
By Mark Estrada This guest post by Mark Estrada discusses lessons he took away from the 2015 ASCD Annual Conference in March. This summer, teachers nationwide will have more great opportunities to supercharge their PD and expand and strengthen their PLNs at the ASCD Summer Academies, led by Heidi Hayes Jacobs and Harvey Silver. Learn […]
Posted inSchool Improvement, Uncategorized
Summer Inspired Lessons
It’s summertime! And whether you have still have school (sorry), year round school (sorry, again) or you are home, summer is a busy time. We vacation during summer, organize our homes, even remodel a little, and more importantly, we have fun. Here are some lesson ideas that are inspired by the summer. Characters and vacation– […]
Posted inAsk a Teacher, Current Events in Education, Elementary School, Kindergarten, School Improvement
6 Ridiculously Refreshing Summer Relaxation Tips for Teachers
The end of the year has finally come and you just finished dancing in the hallway with the other teachers while playing “Celebrate Good Times” on your cell phone. The halls look empty without students and your classroom is nearly cleaned out. You’re so used to stress that you don’t know what to do with […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Instructional Strategies, Literacy, School Improvement, Social Studies, Technology, Uncategorized
Planning the Last Unit
This is the time of year in which students’ impetus to volunteer, join clubs, school wide activities, and community drives overrides the necessity to finish out a school year. Many justifications are given for not being in class — and how could I blame them? A record cold winter and delayed spring bloom kept students pent up […]
Posted inFeatured, High School, Middle School, School Improvement
Flipped Learning: Let Your Students Grade You
A student grading a teacher. This is not as far-fetched as you think. Have you listened to them when they receive their schedules? They talk about which teachers give “too much” work or teachers who are really “strict.” They already talk about you and your class. In fact, college students evaluate their professors after the […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Elementary School, How to Fix Education, Instructional Strategies, Kindergarten, School Improvement, The Student Teacher Diaries
Student Teaching Diaries: Outside the Classroom
Teachers use multiple resources to learn and strengthen their craft. There are online resources, educational journals, district level in-service, networking groups and educational conferences. This week Lauren and I were both able to participate in conferences offered outside of our school district. There is so much value to networking and learning offered at conferences. Mentor Teacher: […]
Posted inFeatured, High School, Instruction & Curriculum, Instructional Strategies, Literacy, School Improvement, Social Studies
How Do You… DBQ?
Teaching with those three little letters can either rev up or rev down a classroom in minutes. D for Document, B for Based and Q for Question is how educators provide standards-based assessment connecting students to a broad range of primary sources and a broader range of perspectives. As a teaching tool it intends to present […]