I have had a deep interest in educational research for a long time. It started in my undergraduate years when I was studying to be a teacher. The topics of equity and access were areas of interest that grew into ways to rethink school classrooms and leadership. I remember teaching
If a goal is going to make the desired impact, then it ought to be just the right size and scope. We like to think of this as setting “Goldilocks goals,” or goals that are just right. The table below provides examples of goals that
Better all the time If we believe that we are to help our learners to make at least one year of growth for every year of schooling, then it would seem logical that as educators we focus on improving our practice every year we teach. This
Starting to implement something new is difficult in its own right; sustaining and deepening that implementation brings on additional layers of complexity. The good news is that it can all be done with the right focus and mindset. Visible Learning is a body of research
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
An excerpt from the white paper Collaborative Leadership: How to Inspire Your Leaders to Become Learners Peter DeWitt has his own take on leadership. DeWitt, a longtime teacher and principal, is now an author, leadership coach, education consultant, Education Week columnist, Visible Learning trainer working with
Being a successful coach starts with a clear understanding of how to implement the strategies that empower teachers and put the needs of students front-and-center. But, they can’t do it alone. Administrators, school leaders, and teachers need to have a thorough understanding of what it
First and foremost, I'm not an instructional coach. The reason for this post is because I believe so strongly in instructional coaching and have benefited so much from it that I want to encourage you to look into it. From my very first coaching session with
As an educational consultant working out of the district central office, one of my responsibilities was to design and implement professional learning opportunities for educators and administrators on research-based best practices and new curriculum initiatives from the government to educators. While I might be very enthusiastic
The Challenge Konocti Unified is located in the town of Clearlake, California. Only 8% of Clearlake residents hold a four-year college degree or higher, the median household income for a family of four is $25,000, hovering just over the federal poverty line, and the city