Our underperforming, low-confidence students need teachers who understand how they learn and who communicate that they care. The instructional strategies listed below are productive for all students, but they are essential for underperforming, low-confidence students. These students can’t mobilize effective effort if they don’t know
Today I yelled at a 9 year old. He was ignoring me over and over again. He rolled his eyes at me. He laughed at me. And I snapped. I yelled at him. I yelled at him loud and I embarrassed him. It was during my dismissal
When I co-wrote Growing into Equity: Professional Learning and Personalization in High-Performing Schools five years ago, I repeatedly was told that having “equity” in the title of the book would reduce sales. Not now. While the growth in hate crimes and police shootings of unarmed black and brown people could be paralyzing, many people of good will are focusing on equity as a form
When asked about school leadership, most people in the school community focus on specific behaviors they observe in formal leaders, then judge how those behaviors measure up against what they believe to be appropriate behaviors. Some people prefer leaders who leave them alone, whereas others
As summer draws to a close, school leaders’ thoughts turn to the new school year. The new school year brings new ideas, renewed energy, and creative opportunities. A new year is a fresh start and a do-over. Most likely, experienced leaders feel prepared for the routines
How do we create schools that better serve all students? It’s a question on the minds of many school leaders. The challenge is that while educators may dedicate years of hard work to equity efforts, they often see little change. Why? Too often schools look
Potentially divisive initiatives such as equity initiatives carry special risks for schools and districts. Oftentimes educators can find themselves in a quandary: failure to address inequities with a sense of urgency can lead to lawsuits, negative outcomes for the most vulnerable students, or federal and
Leaders must navigate political hot topics like racism, equity, and transphobia while addressing the needs of the active stakeholders. As school and district leaders, how do we make decisions while considering the political fallout when those decisions interfere with the general beliefs of the community
Diverse communities are no longer limited to urban areas. Over the past few decades, suburban and even rural school districts have experienced significant increases in students from differing backgrounds in terms of race, socio-economic status, religion, ability, language, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status,
Do you believe all students can learn? Of course you do. In this post, we’re focusing on what it takes for all educators to believe they can educate all learners in ways that view students’ cultures as assets. Not too many years ago, educators would proclaim,