“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” ~Victor Frank I think it is exciting to see the changes coming with the Common Core State Standards Initiative, especially with regard to English Language Arts. I have been learning how these standards will impact my students; it is […]
effective teaching
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Languages
Habits of Minds: Persistence—Activities for the Cold Winter
“Put the uncommon effort into the common task. Make it large by doing it in a great way,“ Orison Sweet Marden (1850-1924). As winter hits us full force, we stand in our classrooms at the top of a mountain looking down. Half way through the year we feel settled in with routine and expectation. We look […]
Posted inFeatured, From the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum, Middle School, Opinion, Parents
Pay It Backwards: Reach Out to Your Former Teachers
Growing up, I remember learning about Benjamin Franklin explaining life’s assurances: “…in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” He was explaining to a French pen pal that the American experiment was as raw as it was unpredictable. The Constitution and our fledgling country were trees in the desert, […]
Posted inFeatured
Courage to Teach—Reflecting on Paradox in Teaching
Professional development is only as good as the level of understanding, application, and synthesis accomplished by the participants. You can learn an amazing amount of information, but if you do not apply this information, and internalize it to restructure your teaching, then it is time lost. The hour and a half spent monthly with my […]
Posted inElementary School, Featured, Instruction & Curriculum, Kindergarten
Differentiating Instruction–Stretching All Learners
Classrooms are a mix of students. They come to us with different experiences, background knowledge, skills, talents, attitudes and understanding. There is no longer the proverbial “middle” to teach. Teachers strive to reteach and reach the lowest students while excelling and pushing the highest students. In between is a mixture of ability levels and good […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
High School in 2013 – These are Changing Times
About a month ago, Kelsey Sheehy wrote in US News & World Report that she expects three major changes for high school students in 2013: “Blended Learning,” “Flipped Classrooms,” and “Standards.” I think there may be some other, more stark realities for high school students in 2013, but I’ll comment briefly on her three predictions first. […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Special Education
Knocking Down Barriers to Inclusion
By now you know that inclusion is here to stay. The education of students with special needs is no longer the responsibility of just special education teachers. The inclusion of students with disabilities in the general education setting is now the norm rather than the exception. However, for many teachers (including special education teachers) there […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, New Teacher Bootcamp
A Pocket Full of Assessments: Using Quick SIOP Strategies to Check for Understanding
One of the biggest contemporary challenges of teaching is a classroom that is not only significantly overcrowded, but also packed full of students at all levels of learning abilities, English language speaking and reading skills, and emotional maturity. Mix all that together in one classroom and any teacher, new or veteran, has the potential to become very […]