The issue of which is more important: mathematical content knowledge or knowledge of educational pedagogy has been swirling around for some time.
effective teachers
Posted inNew Teacher Bootcamp
5 Tips from a Veteran Teacher: Surviving Your First Year
Congratulations on graduating and being hired! It’s exciting and thrilling to make it through college, find a job, and be looking forward to your very first year as a teacher. When I look back on my first year, I usually think of several things I wish someone else had told me. I’m now blessed with […]
Posted inFeatured, How to Fix Education, Instruction & Curriculum
Differentiated Motivation
I began my teaching career about twenty years ago, and in that time I have seen a great deal of change around the concept of differentiation. It began, for me, as simply modifying assessments for students in special education . . . lowering the bar so that they may experience a taste of success. It […]
Posted inEnglish Language Learners, Featured, From the Front Lines, How to Fix Education
Welcome to America: Now Take this Test. The Realities of Refugee Students and their Teachers
This year’s ASCD Conference in Los Angeles was weighed down by sessions about the CCSS and flipped classrooms – topics that reasonably should have been big 3+ years ago. But there were a few diamonds among the rough; educators who presented with prescient understanding oncoming issues that the education community must face. One of those […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured, Principals' Corner
In The Classroom: Is Yelling The New Spanking?
Having gone to school in the seventies, I can easily look back upon my experiences in the public school system and compare them school system we view today; other than a building with teachers, I’m not sure one would even recognize the two entities side by side. One major difference is the form of classroom management; particularly the […]
Posted inFeatured, Uncategorized
Towards Working Constructively with Politicians
[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”] I love watching Olympic figure skating. The athlete makes the art of skating appear effortless, but only through thousands of practices and a flawless execution. I think this is a lot […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, How to Fix Education, Opinion
How Effective are Responsive Classroom Strategies?
Try this in your classroom when things are getting crazy. Say in a nice firm teacher voice, “I notice six people are doing their work.” Watch what happens. I can almost guarantee that the room will begin to quiet, students will look around and start to work. You might have to announce a new, higher […]
Posted inChild Development, Featured, Middle School, Opinion
What 'The LEGO Movie' Can Teach Kids of All Ages
Spoiler Alert – If you haven’t seen The LEGO Movie, plot lines will be shared in this article! I can’t believe I’m saying this, but as my wife and I left the theater after watching The LEGO Movie, we were jaws agape. What The LEGO Movie Can Teach Kids of All Ages As self-proclaimed LEGOphiles, we […]