What a difference a year makes! Rita Platt reflects on takeaways from her first year as a principal with observations that may buoy other new and aspiring school leaders: avoid your office, encourage laughter, recognize that all staffers play essential roles, and much more.
Before she finally produced a successful manuscript, Dr. Malayna Evans had to think long and hard about how to integrate ancient Egyptian history into a story that would appeal to today’s kids. So she turned down her “scholar” and turned up her passion for the subject.
International Teaching / Wide Open Learning
by Megan Kelly · Published 05/26/2019 · Last modified 11/17/2019
The effort it takes to make yourself an appealing candidate for a teaching job overseas also makes you a better educator wherever you teach, says veteran international teacher Megan Kelly. Ready to pursue the dream? Follow Megan’s insider tips to maximize your chances.
Remember Ralphie’s theme in A Christmas Story? Today’s ELA educators would love to see that kind of writing commitment, says Jeremy Hyler. Instead he’s seeing a lack of writing endurance in his 6th and 7th graders. Here’s some of what Hyler does to improve their stamina.
When Brent Gilson began teacher training he vowed to one day give his students more choice and voice than he ever had in school. Follow his journey from early experiments to his growing success, thanks to insights gained from mentors like Kylene Beers, Kelly Gallagher and Marisa Thompson.
Two Teachers in the Room / Year End Motivation
by Elizabeth Stein · Published 05/20/2019 · Last modified 11/24/2019
In her collaborations with teachers over the past few weeks, teaching coach and NBCT Elizabeth Stein has heard this a lot: “How can we motivate our students when they’ve checked out of learning?” First we have to motivate ourselves, she says. Think about these 3 keys.
Close Reading the Media / Visual Literacy
by Frank Baker · Published 05/15/2019 · Last modified 11/25/2019
It’s not a simple matter to separate photojournalism from visual propaganda intended to sway emotions and opinions. Drawing in part on iconic images from Dorothea Lange’s career, expert Frank Baker explores the question and shares SEL and media literacy lesson resources.
Last Days of Math Class / Meaningful Math
by Michelle Russell · Published 05/12/2019 · Last modified 04/26/2024
Michelle Russell’s plan to end the year with some “serious teaching” has quickly collapsed under the weight of special events. That’s okay. “It came to me eventually that I also want to enjoy the last few weeks I will have these students.” Here’s what she decided to do.
The final bell of the year will soon ring, but teachers still have the opportunity to provide students with encouragement, tools, and an expectation to play, explore, and discover the world outside school. Curtis Chandler’s post overflows with STEM resources to do just that.
Good questioning helps students build understanding, but poor questioning can deter students from learning. How can you create great questions? Teaching expert and author Barbara Blackburn shares four strategies to involve students daily in effective class discussions.
