Unlocking potential through questioning is the first step in the quest for student “choice and voice.” Choice empowers students to make decisions about their own learning path; voice engages them in designing the learning environment. First, however, students need to become comfortable with expression — sharing their thoughts, ideas, learning, and questions. So I like […]
Principal Support Is Just a PLE* Away!
The pandemic started a domino effect of issues that are still affecting schools today. Principals must attend to so much, and there are so many urgent items nagging at them, that it is sometimes hard to focus on instructional leadership. As principals face the challenge of moving their schools forward, they must shift to empowering […]
Designing Authentic Curricula
Some points I’d like to make: – Students are constantly learning … just not necessarily what you want them to learn. – Reality TV points to the power of the “real world” to engage youth today. – A real-world pandemic burst into our lives, causing us to focus on the here and now. – The […]
Understanding Blended Learning
Consider the following three examples . . . A teacher introduces a topic to the entire class. After the lesson, students engage in a variety of activities to explore the topic further: an online simulation; an online search for information; a small-group meeting to discuss the topic; or a live, in-depth lesson from the teacher. […]
Teacher Retention: Challenge and Innovation
Schools, districts, and parents are being dealt a wake-up call that, if not heeded, will result in a disastrous lack of teachers in the near future (it’s already happening in some locations). In-service teachers are leaving the profession, and fewer students want to enter it. “Few professions have been more upended by the pandemic than […]