Teachers are overwhelmed. Parents are overwhelmed. Leaders are overwhelmed. And, to be fair, this feeling isn’t new for educators, though it’s magnified now. It’s time to simplify. Simple does not mean easy. Simple does not mean that we are letting...
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A model of personalized learning? I recently visited a school district that had recently implemented blended learning. Specifically, teachers were using the station rotation model of blended learning. It was a clear and welcome departure from the teacher at front, student in rows...
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“Um, Ms. Smith, is there some extra credit I can do to bring my grade up?” Such an annoying question, right? And yet, many teachers succumb. They find or create something the student can do to earn a few extra points. Especially when those...
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All kids should love school. Yes, they should. But we all know that they don’t. In fact, many hate it. By high school, many students have become disenagaged. And we’re losing some really bright minds along the way. Jake’s* story: My...
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Engagement. The magic word. I’ve conducted countless Instructional Rounds, learning walks and other observations focused on engagement. Are kids engaged? It’s a great question. It’s really THE question. And, unfortunately, all too often the answer is no. Why? Part of it is the...
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I recently caught up with a friend of mine, let’s call her Sheila. We hadn’t talked in some time and I was glad to catch up on her life and, especially, to hear how her daughter, Carolyn, was doing. A History...
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