Simply pulling a strategy “off the shelf” or defaulting to the most recently read article or staff development session topic may not generate the results we seek ..read more

We hear a lot about the practices we should use to ensure learning for our students. Of course, we want our students to be successful and our instruction to make a positive impact. However, simply pulling a strategy “off the shelf” or defaulting to the most recently read article or staff development session topic may not generate the results we seek.   Experienced educators know that generic approaches and widely hailed strategies do not necessarily work with all students, including ours. We often need a guide or process to sort among potential approaches and practices to find the le ..read more

As much as we might want to believe otherwise, grades as they are typically employed are not very effective learning motivators. Certainly, they can be used to get students to do more work, avoid embarrassment, sidestep punishment, and achieve status—but they can also cause students to find shortcuts to avoid true learning. In common practice, grades operate mostly as an extrinsic motivator, and unfortunately, the more grades are used to motivate, the less effective they become.   Grades too often become the goal of learning rather than a reflection of learning. We even say things li ..read more

By lessening separation and fostering connections, we can create a space in which every student feels accepted, understood, respected, and empowered to succeed ..read more

Students come to our classroom with varied backgrounds and experiences, and their friendships are no exception to this variety. Students typically form friendships, join groups, and associate with others with whom they share social status, interests, cultures, and other factors. For example, when students are allowed to choose where to sit in the lunchroom, they typically sit with others who share some or all these characteristics. These affiliations often extend to other activities and even find their way into the classroom. In fact, most classrooms are crisscrossed with multiple invisible so ..read more

It can be awkward and disheartening to realize that students no longer respond to many of our previously successful instructional strategies and approaches like they used to. Rarely, though, does this realization come suddenly. It may start with a vague feeling that something is different. Our influence may seem to be slowly waning. We may even find ourselves noticing that the minority of students who have always been less engaged is growing in number and may soon become most of the class. Our first reaction may be to blame the students. After all, our approach has been successful and effectiv ..read more

Returning in the fall with renewed passion and a fresh mindset is much easier to accomplish when time with family and friends, pursuing hobbies, or just engaging in activities that feed your soul has been a focus for the summer ..read more

Many schools have formal checklists for finishing the school year. These tasks are, appropriately, designed to ensure an orderly close-out to the year, and they are often heavily weighted toward logistical and procedural tasks. As examples, most end-of-year checklists include items such as putting away materials and equipment, completing maintenance and repair requests, and finishing any remaining storage and inventory tasks. Our completion of these and similar tasks will make it easier for maintenance, purchasing, and other staff to complete their work over the summer. However, these are not ..read more

Conflict is an inevitable element of the work we do. Our work is important, after all, and it involves high stakes for the students we care about and serve. We are passionate about our work and do not want to make careless mistakes. Each of us has a unique set of experiences and expertise that we want considered and respected. This combination makes conflict an unavoidable occurrence.  Of course, conflict is not necessarily a bad thing or something to avoid. In fact, when engaged in with thought, sensitivity, and purpose, conflict can be a significant contributor to a healthy and producti ..read more

This is not the typical season when many or most of us set aside time to watch the classic movie, It’s a Wonderful Life. Yet, its message is important for our reflection as the school year approaches its end. George Bailey, the film’s protagonist, spent his life in Bedford Falls running a small family bank and serving his community. Sadly, he failed to see the important difference he was making in the lives of those around him. Then, though, he was visited by an aspiring angel who helped him to see how the small, everyday things he did changed lives, created opportunities, and opened doors for ..read more