Why Should Your Learners Care About Learning? Whether we work with educators or students, it is vital that we take the time to consider that the content of the learning experience we design is relevant. When I was a classroom teacher, I was taught to include a section for “importance” in each lesson. In my […]
The Reality I have heard many educators speak of their struggle to make content accessible to students who are said to be performing “below grade level expectations”. With positive intentions, educators often provide these students with watered down texts, place students in remedial intervention classes to build foundational skills during core content instruction, and/or pull […]
As educators, we serve others. Nearly every educator I have had the privilege to come into contact with (classroom teachers, instructional coaches, administrators) entered the profession out of a desire to positively impact the lives of others. This altruistic mindset leads many to constantly seek additional resources and strategies that will benefit those they serve. […]
It is vital that as educators, we ensure that we are fully available for the students we serve. A teacher who is taking care to maintain physical, emotional, and spiritual health will be more effective than another who is not attending to their own wellbeing. As such, self-care is key. This being said, we must […]
As a high school student, I recall sitting in classrooms, silently struggling to hide the internal pain that plagued me. Activities that once interested me held no appeal, academic texts that were once comprehensible were clouded in cognitive confusion, and simple daily tasks filled me with anxiety that manifested itself as physical symptoms unseen by […]
It is common for educational leaders to ask me to provide a training to their staff on a specific technology platform for an afternoon staff meeting. I think of this format as a “drive-thru PD”. When leaders are looking for a prepackaged meal of professional learning, it is akin to ordering a specific meal which […]
Recently, I had the opportunity to participate as a professional learning facilitator at a districtwide all day educational technology themed event. The district has had student devices for a couple of years. Leadership verbally supports pedagogically sound methods of student technology use in the classroom. District and site administration message the importance of integration of […]
I took a risk this week. While I am comfortable empowering learners with choice and autonomy on a regular basis, this time felt different. I admit that I was nervous about losing control, that learners would get off task, that I would be negatively judged by district administration sitting in the room. Perceived Challenges The […]
As a coach, you may have a couple of cheerleaders, fans who support the changes you are trying to make, eager to try to implement the strategies you introduce to teachers. It is affirming to work with these educators. These are the teachers who thank you for coming into their classroom. Their faces light up […]
As I speak with educators regarding innovation in classrooms for the benefit of students, I often hear the phrase, “Yeah, but…” Educators work within systems which contain policies and constraints. It is vital that we remain grounded, aware of the realities surrounding our work. At the same time, our students live in the world of […]
© Katherine Goyette 2024. Powered by WordPress
