Schools out. Only, you didn’t plan for this. You’re hoping schools will send enough work home to busy your child. I promise you, they won’t. But the time doesn’t have to be purposeless, nor stressful. Here are some suggestions (most […]
To Get the Best out of Students, Start with Relationships
Two months ago, I started the semester with a whole new batch of students. It was Day 3, and I was doing one of my critical-thinking activities where I have students use information from a previous exercise to have them […]
When Planning Any Lesson, Start with These Three Questions
A few years back, I was tasked with rewriting an entire semester’s worth of curriculum for three different courses. No textbooks. No workbooks. The only thing I had to work with were the foreign language national standards and the Internet. […]
Connect. Grow. Change the World.
I want my students to change the world. I don’t necessarily mean when they grow up. There’s tons of evidence that kids of any age can make a profound difference in this world. But whether it’s now or later, wanting […]
Deliberate Play is Back in the Classroom!
A few years back, I was at a technology conference about 1-to-1 computers in schools. At the end of the conference, there was a student panel. One particular student response has stuck with me ever since. I’d been in schools […]
You’re Tying Your Shoes Wrong
And How It Relates to Education You’re tying your shoes incorrectly. I can’t say that for sure. But I’d be willing to be bet. A few years ago someone shared this short video with me: After watching that video, I […]
Nine Moments with Joe Sanfelippo
I recently had the pleasure of hearing Joe Sanfelippo speak to a group of educators. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard someone speak for more than two hours and keep my attention the entire time, yet he somehow managed. I […]
The Key to Making Meaningful Connections
Recently, I had one of those days I hate. It was a Monday, and I felt like I was behind all day. I had emails to respond to, an event to plan, grading to do, copies to make. You know […]
Every Word Must Have Value
I had to learn this one the hard way. About this time last year, I had one of those moments that made my heart sink. I made a sarcastic comment in a class that landed the wrong way. It didn’t […]
Don’t just educate. Empower
As part of our school’s professional development, I attended a seminar on Universal Design for Learning. The lesson was awesome, and helped me see instruction very differently (more on that in a later post). But what struck me most about […]