What does it mean to lead learning? At no other time in the history of education do we have such a powerful opportunity–given federal policies such as Race to the Top and now ESSA–to redefine instructional leadership in our schools and focus on how and
As I wrote this post on the way to the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Conference, wind and rain buffeted the plane. We were unable to land because of severe turbulence, so we circled in a holding pattern over New York City. I’d planned
I am a 5th grade teacher in Baltimore, Maryland. I grew up in Baltimore, Baltimore County to be exact, and I attended the elementary school where I now teach. I love my school. I love my community. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Growing up
“Engaging students” might be in the top five of most common phrases in mathematics teaching discussions, journals, and professional learning. Strategies to engage students have included cooperative learning, questioning strategies, and classroom discussions. What do these ideas have in common? Each is a way to
Sometimes we all need little reminders to keep a growth mindset. Here’s some food for thought about making one slight adjustment to dramatically increase engagement in our classrooms. When I was a first and second year classroom teacher, I spent the first weeks of school making
As mathematics teachers we have a language all our own. First there is the mathematics vocabulary: pi, perimeter, area, table, mean, etc. Then there is the mathematics education/teaching vocabulary: manipulatives, representations, lesson launch, closure, equity, opportunity to learn, diversity, etc. A new term of importance
In our previous blog post, we outlined our responses to frequently asked questions when viewing and attempting to interpret the Suspension Rate Indicator data. In this blog post, we illustrate how a fatal flaw in the way the suspension rate is calculated can lead to
In my last blog, The 5 Teachers You Meet in Professional Learning, I described a handful of trends in teacher personas. It was shared a lot on social media, so I’m thinking it struck a chord. Now, in this sequel, let’s play some more with
Many schools and districts are working on strategic plans that include at their heart a vision of graduating students who are lifelong learners, with indispensable ‘must-have’ skills such as creativity, problem solving, and collaboration. Thanks to the work of Sir Ken Robinson, Tony Wagner, the
One of the most effective strategies to engage students in their own learning is modeling metacognition. This “thinking about one’s thinking” uncovers personalized feedback to the student. By modeling reflections on students’ work, students soon learn that their own reflective adjustments are what matters most