In 2016, our school district began the year-long process of converting its junior high schools to middle schools. As part of this process, the district began steps to implement a co-teaching model for providing instructional services to a portion of our secondary special education population. The co-teach model pairs a
When I taught at a middle/high school, the 12th grade social studies teacher, who also used active learning strategies, asked to swap classes for a day so that he could experience middle school active learning. I assumed teaching 12th graders would be similar to teaching 7th graders, but with a bit more advanced vocabulary and […]
Feedback, reflection, and revision incorporated into professional development allows those who lead professional development trainings to benefit from the same growth opportunities that we provide students and teachers.
How do we make sure PD has an effect on instruction long after it ends? The decision to conduct a specific professional development is not one made easily since professional developments require resources that are often scarce in public schools; specifically time and money. Because of this, maximizing the effect of professional development includes considering […]
Educational technology presents a unique opportunity and challenge for educators. When designed and used well, technology can streamline some of the most time consuming aspects of education, engage students in learning, and increase opportunities for exploration. However, none of the positive aspects of educational technology are of any use if the technology gathers dust (virtual […]
The demographic differences between elected school board officials, the people they serve, and the electorate that chooses them has an impact on educational outcomes for students and mitigating those differences may support greater student achievement for minority students who represent an increasing portion of the student body.
A significant part of my current graduate class on instructional coaching included working with on a multi-week coaching project, one aspect of which was working with another educator to improve the effectiveness of an existing lesson. This was an opportunity to practice coaching skills and to personalize and adapt instruction for the needs of the […]
Most educators agree that technology is important in the classroom, but many educators struggle with its use. In fact “a 2013 national survey of more than 900 K-12 teachers and administrators, conducted by Common Sense Media, found that while 96% of respondents believe technology has a positive effect on student engagement, 43% of teachers surveyed […]
Using Coaching Skills to Educate School Staff in Supporting LGBTQ+ Students When educators talk about meeting learners “where they’re at” or about adapting to the social emotional and cultural needs of learners, they are typically speaking of children. There is an assumption that adults in education are at the same place experientially and emotionally regarding […]
Professional Learning Networks can be immensely important tools for education professionals in this effort.
