Anyone who has made the shift from teacher to instructional coach understands how it feels to suddenly be without systems and structures. No longer are there bell schedules, lists of subjects to teach, or report cards. Rather, it’s up to coaches to figure out how
When professional learning mirrors the student experiences we hope to create, teachers inherently have a deeper understanding of the feelings and effects on the learning that the experience creates. Understanding how students might feel has the potential to elevate teachers’ commitment to change since they
Many schools are embarking on a schoolwide professional journey that asks teachers to incorporate discipline-specific literacy practices (reading, writing, viewing, reasoning, and communicating) in ways that mirror the practices of experts. This is disciplinary literacy — a necessary shift in instruction and learning that will help students be more prepared
We have been advocates for, and practitioners of, professional learning communities for many years. We have seen all kinds of things called a “professional learning community”—from book discussions to staff meetings to deep conversations about student’s learning. In fact, we have categorized our experiences with
2019 marks the ten-year anniversary of John Hattie’s extensive database of educational research, Visible Learning. Since its publication, there have been many comments, conversations and critiques of the research methodology and key findings. Some conversations have focused on the meta-analysis itself and seen the research
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