Are you exhausted from spending hours planning professional development (PD) sessions, only to feel like they could be more effective? Let’s face it, with competing demands, a wide range of educator skills, and limited time, it’s a lot to handle. That’s where AI comes in. Check out this YouTube Short where I walk you through how to use cutting-edge tools like Bard (now Gemini) to level up your PD planning game: The Power of AI for PD AI-powered tools aren’t about replacing you; they’re about streamlining your efforts. Just imagine: Structure in seconds: Say goodbye to staring at a blank ..read more

This was originally published on the Forward Edge blog here. The US Office of Educational Technology has released the latest version of the National Education Technology Plan (NETP), which highlights the latest research, classroom realities, national trends, and innovative solutions schools are using to tackle complex challenges. While we think it’s worth the full read, we’ve summarized key takeaways in this blog post for those who may be short on time. Previous NETP reports extensively detail the digital access and use divides. The 2024 plan has identified a third digital ..read more

A recent survey of nearly 1,000 educators from all 50 states shows that teachers WANT more online, on-demand opportunities for professional learning that cater toward their individual needs, yet they still largely aren’t being provided learning opportunities that are relevant to them1. At a time when many schools are looking for creative solutions to a teacher shortage problem, these survey results suggest that providing ample opportunities for educators to engage in lifelong learning may lead to greater teacher job satisfaction, and in turn, might help retain teachers. Not to mention a better ..read more

Last week, I wrote about the importance of including technology in basics of instruction, and the importance for our leaders to understand how to support educators with impactful technology use. In reality, if you have never learned in a classroom the way we’re asking teachers to teach today, and many of us in leadership positions have also never taught in a classroom the way we’re asking teachers to teach, then how do we effectively have conversations with teachers on this very topic? A few years ago, our team created an entire multi-day Digital Leaders Academy for a district who was seeking ..read more

Over the past six months, I have heard first, second, and third hand from many district leaders across the country who have expressed the need to help teachers get back to basics… That COVID-19 highlighted how far teachers have navigated from basic teaching principles. That a shift back to [insert Lucy Calkins/ Marzano/ tier one instructional strategies/ preferred well-known instructional method] is desperately needed and the highest priority for professional development needs for the 2022-2023 school year. This terrifies me. While I don’t doubt or question educational leaders across the count ..read more

Season 2, episode 8 of the Restart Recharge Podcast looks at how to reach for the small spaces in your day where you can add a smile, create a positive moment, or impart joy to those around you. The two guests were Jill DuBois and Annamarie Rinehart, who are truly two of the most enjoyable humans to be around because they always make you laugh and feel so good! If you are in need of a smile yourself, go listen wherever you listen to podcasts. Jill and Annamarie gave so many fun ideas to bring joy into your day, like… Nestflix The Testing Lady End of year student videos Ocean books Walking lik ..read more

Let me start by saying that I think Schitt’s Creek might be the greatest show of all time. I laughed, I cried, and I’ve rewatched the entire season more times than I’d care to admit. Yet as silly and outlandish as the characters and plot line may be, I think there’s something we can all learn from the show. Below are 8 things Schitt’s Creek taught me about instructional coaching. 1. Relationships are everything. The entire series serves as a reminder that superficial relationships won’t cut it. When the going gets tough, you need to surround yourself with people who will support you and help s ..read more

Growing up, so many things influence our thoughts, behaviors, beliefs, and shape us into who we become as adults. While every person has their own unique journey, we also collectively share experiences as major global events impact the world around us. Generational differences can lend some insight into working with educators when leading or coaching across generations. Episode 207 of the Restart Recharge Podcast, Coaching Across Generations, talks about the different generations in our workforce today. Ben Sondgeroth provides some excellent tips for coaches and leaders on approaching and empa ..read more

I had the pleasure of being on Cool Cat Teacher Vicki Davis‘ renowned 10 Minute Teacher Podcast. If you’ve never listened to the show before, Vicki interviews educators and provides practical tips, ideas, motivation, and information in just a few minutes. It’s super easy to get a quick PD fill in about 10-15 minutes! Image created by Vicki Davis; shared with permission. As a guest on the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast, I shared my top 10 tips for instructional technology coaches. Really, just about all the tips apply to any type of instructional coach. If you have 15 minutes, I’d love for you to gi ..read more

If you follow my blog, you know I am a huge believer in the importance of positive working relationships between instructional coaches and school administrators, especially building principals, to really maximize the impact coaching can have. Research shows us that coaching is most effective when district and building leaders work together with the coach(es) to align their efforts to school goals and encourage teachers to work with the coach 1,2,3,4, and that district leaders need to provide more guidance, resources, and time for coaches to support teachers, especially when coaching teach ..read more