Universal Design for Learning by CAST.ORG The amazing cast.org has developed a wonderful framework for ensuring that all students have access to rigorous content through lesson and curricular design, as opposed to after-the-fact accommodations and reteaching. In 2017, I wrote a blog post that shares the quintessential explanatory images: from adding a ramp to designing […]
Two Approaches to Teaching in the Block
If you’re looking to shift your secondary schedule to longer blocks of time and you want to support teachers in thinking differently about time … well, that’s why I’m writing this blog! What’s Your Why? I won’t spend too much time on this, but changing a schedule is not a goal, an end, or a […]
Three Tools to Improve Student Behavior
It All Comes Down to Executive Function Positive behavior is dependent upon strong executive function. Punishments and bribes will do little to change behavior. We have to get to the root causes of behavior problems. A very important root cause is a lack of developmentally appropriate executive function. Academic achievement depends on executive function. Mental […]
Strategies for Professional Learning to Cultivate Teacher Efficacy
The Student Achievement – Teacher Professional Learning Connection There’s a domino game getting set up in schools today: Through the years, the research points to high-quality teachers as the most influential aspect of student achievement. If schools continue to lose high-quality teachers, hire less-than-qualified teachers, and fail to retain them, what hope is there for […]
Student Voice vs. Student Choice
The Emergence of Choice in Our Society The year is 1950. You probably shop at one local grocery store. You have your hair cut at the local hair salon. If you are fortunate enough to own a television, you might be able to access three network stations. The point is, people did not have the […]
