After using a class set of Chromebooks for the whole second semester of the school year in my sixth grade Humanities class, my brain is spinning with all of the "next time I'll..." ideas. Here are a few: 1. Simplify & standardize the creation of students' usernames and passwords. If students are creating an account that is linked to ... read more
Got a Case of Website Amnesia?
I frequent a Sunday night Twitter chat, #edchatri, where amazing educators from all over the US help me approach the coming school week with the right attitude. During these chats, I discover amazing resources shared by fellow educators, who I now consider to be my colleagues, despite the geography that separates us. There are some Sunday ... read more
Let’s Get Blogging, Kids!
Getting my sixth grade students set up with their own individual blogs was a lot getting myself in the water for the first time on a beach day. The worst are the days I never make it into the water- I regret it all the way home! And just like when I finally take the plunge at the beach, once we set up our blogs, I wished I had done it ... read more
The Wait is Over
What a productive week it has been... in terms of my thinking. I feel like I have made incredible progress, even though nothing tangible has happened... yet! I knew before this school year began that I wanted to get my students blogging. I also knew I was in love with the idea of Genius Hour. Here it is, January- and I cannot check either ... read more
Phew! They’re Chatty!
One of my biggest take aways from a New Teacher Center Mentor Academy last year was, "the ones who are doing the talking are doing the learning." The focus of that academy was Coaching for Equity, and we spent timing thinking about Conditions that Support Students with Exceptionalities. Early on in that academy, one of my amazing ... read more
New Year’s Resolutions & Goal Setting Success
As a student, I always saw September as an opportunity to rewrite my story. I could make a good impression on my new teachers. I would keep better track of my materials and assignments and maybe even be one of those kids that seemed to "have it all together." These days, I still find myself resolving to do better every September, and... ... read more
PD or Infomercial?
After hearing/ reading the unrelenting enthusiasm of my colleagues who have attended 'edcamps' and 'unconferences,' I determined I needed to experience this phenomenon for myself. Could it really be that everyone who attended these events got exactly what they wanted and more? People who had experienced unconference-style events reported ... read more
Reflection: Ain’t nobody got time for THAT!
For the last two years I have been welcomed into many classrooms as a coach, or as my favorite mentor Jan so accurately describes: a thought partner. When she used that language two years ago during our first New Teacher Center Mentor Academy, I had no idea just how connected I would feel to that phrase today. I have partnered with some ... read more
Teachers Respond to National Tragedy
Dear Teachers, This morning I reflected once again, on the important roles we all play in the lives of so many children. This past week was an emotional roller coaster for so many of us. Glued to the news, many of us saw images and scenes play out that seemed more like clips from a film (set anywhere but here) than breaking news. As ... read more
How do your students self-asses?
Lately, I've found myself having conversations with many educators who think self-assessment is a good idea... but just aren't sure about putting it into practice. Consequences of thoughtful self-assessment: 1. Students reflect on their process, performance, actions. 2. Students become more aware of their learning and/ or actions- in ... read more
