Note-Taking Comes in Many Forms I have heard heated debates regarding note-taking. Many educators insist that students take notes of their learnings using paper and a pencil. Some speak to the need for specific graphic organizers or detailed structures for organizing information. Still others allow students to create sketchnotes, take pictures of content using a […]
When I began my journey as an educator, I was taught to “teach down the middle”, with the justification that it is most efficient to teach to the “average” student. Philosophically, this concept concerned me. I worried that many students would be left in the dark. When I inquired as to the best way to […]
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 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 […]
I have been reflecting on what makes for a successful first day of school. As we consider this, it is vital that we take into account the students themselves. For a student, the first day of school in a new classroom can cause excitement or anxiety, inspiration or boredom. What do you want your students […]
The Challenge of Variability A few years ago, I ended the school year teaching kindergarten and moved to a second grade classroom for the following year. I was eager to expand my skills and welcomed the challenge of learning additional state standards for a group of students at a different developmental level than that with […]
As I was scrolling Facebook, I came across an image that holds a special place in my mind. While the image reminds me of a learning experience that occurred more than twenty years ago, I remember it clearly. This experience, as a member of my intermediate school jazz band, was one of the most impactful […]
Educators sometimes mistakenly assume that silence equals listening. Whether they are in the front of a classroom or leading a staff meeting, learning facilitators scan the room and smile if the learners sitting in the room are quiet and compliant. But how do we know that our message was heard? As a student, I became […]
As a sixth grade teacher, my students had nearly no student access to technology in the classroom for the first half of the school year. In January, students received 1:1 iPads through a pilot program in our district. Students and I were excited to begin our journey creating multimedia demonstrations of learning. This was new […]
This spring I came across a few educators who indicated they struggled to find meaningful ways to utilize technology in the classroom. I asked if I could spend some time in their classrooms to observe the instructional environment to guide our collaborative work toward impactful technology integration. The educators agreed and welcomed me into their […]
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