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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
When school began this year, I looked at my small classroom in despair. I had 30 students on each period’s class list and an exhortation to fit all of them in my room ASDAP (as socially distanced as possible), which meant two feet apart. It’s been two weeks since that day, and I have yet […]
My principal loves Twitter, and frequently lauds it as one of the best places to access professional development. This endorsement led me to approach social media as a professional development tool with an open mind, and I find that I return most frequently to TikTok. But social media app like
As a 6th grade Language Arts and Social Studies teacher using a paced curriculum for language arts, and Social Studies that examined ancient history, I needed a lesson that focused on practicing writing and revision skills, but allowed students to focus on understanding cultures. Further, the students with whom I
How can English Language Arts educators incorporate PBL into scripted or paced curriculum programs without losing the essential aspects of the curriculum?
