Teacher-Driven Observation: Deprivatizing the Classroom
When teachers design their own observations, colleagues can help them zero in on key questions and gather helpful data to improve practice.
Category: Articles
Class Fiction: History+Mystery!
Historical mysteries that lure reluctant readers & boost comprehension are great for classroom libraries, says teacher-author Elizabeth Varadon.
The WOW Factor App
A new web tool, designed just for education, can help promote student creativity and innovative thinking, says ed consultant & former MS teacher Mike Fisher.
Analyze the Trajectory of an ELA Standard
Author Sarah Tantillo shares a tool to help teachers analyze the trajectory of ELA Common Core standards so they know what to expect – and what to accomplish.
6 Tips to Boost Learning on Class Field Trips
Teacher educator Amanda Wall describes how she’s blended specific learning activities into class field trips and shares 6 tips to help teachers plan. “It’s certainly true that planning field trips can be challenging, detail-intensive and time-consuming,” she says, “but there is always a reward in student learning.”
Who Are You to Tell Me What to Do?
Four years after becoming an instructional coach, Elena Aguilar once again found herself in front of a class of 8th graders, looking for trusting relationships. “Within just five minutes, I was humbled. Who did I think I was that I could incur their trust that fast? I wanted to bow down to the teacher—Oh, yes, this is so hard.”
Visual Literacy & Politics
Media expert Frank Baker offers examples of political stagecraft at the highest levels and suggests several visual literacy lesson ideas.
Thank You, Public Schools
Independent middle school dean Bill Ivey acknowledges a deep debt to public schools for forging today’s “middle school model” for young adolescents.
5 Special Strategies for Teaching Tweens
The developmental needs of tweens are unique, and flourishing as a middle grades teacher requires special skills. Teaching expert Rick Wormeli offers five customized strategies that are attuned to the particular requirements of the adolescent brain!
Student Speaking Skills
Education consultant Erik Palmer believes students must become well-spoken presenters and communicators to be successful in the digital future.
