Over the last three years, some of the high school fellows of the WNY Young Writers’ Studio have identified perseverance as a Disposition they are most eager to grow. Like many writers, they often begin the process bolstered by great ideas and a certain enthusiasm for their work. Eventually, this honeymoon period often draws to a close though. Sometimes, this happens when they finish their first drafts and find themselves daunted by the reality of…
If you didn’t get a chance to catch David Coleman’s presentation Bringing the Common Core to Life this week, you can still access it here. It’s important viewing for New York State educators at every level. As I’ve begun debriefing with different members of my network and teachers and administrators inside of the schools that I serve, much of the conversation has been about the demands of text, scaffolding complexity, and attending to the needs…
“There’s a ghost in our classroom,” Ian informed me as I slid into the seat right next to him. “Really?” I asked, looking around his kindergarten classroom for clues. “How do you know?” And that was when the power went out. “Well, there’s some proof,” he suggested drily. “And the bathroom door keeps opening and closing.” “It’s really windy out,” I said. “We’ve got a ghost,” Ian said plainly, tiring of my antics. And that…
On my Kindle this week: The Power of Collective Wisdom and the Trap of Collective Folly by Alan Briskin, Sheryl Erickson, John Ott, and Tom Callanan. Forward by Peter Senge. Highlights: “I believe there is no more telling indicator of the absence of collective wisdom that the inability to learn as we go. It is characterized by rigidness and dogma. It is characterized by low trust and the inability to talk about difficult subjects where…
Jessica Gentner, Fifth Grade Teacher at Lindbergh Elementary School in Kenmore, New York Parent-teacher conferences were different for our family this year, thanks to our school district’s recent decision to move toward standards-based grading and report cards at the elementary level and this very talented teacher’s thoughtful use of formative assessment processes. Jessica Gentner is our daughter Nina’s fifth grade teacher. Quite a few parents are more than impressed by the fact that she knows…
Last week, I had a chance to catch up with Andrea Hernandez. As we began debriefing the Skype session I participated in with her students a while back and what has happened since, I found myself connecting to her professional experiences in ways that I didn’t expect. Her honesty and her willingness to reveal the challenges that she faces in her work impressed me more than she probably realized in that moment, and all of…
When I first became a professional development provider, much of what I was capable of doing was limited to speaking engagements, short-term projects, and workshops. I worked on a team that served over 25 different school districts, each comprised of multiple buildings. I was one of two literacy specialists in my department. Resources were tight. Time was tighter. I knew I had a lot to learn, and I knew that if I were ever going…
Earlier this month: I shared a bit about where I’ve landed in terms of my own learning and work over the last few years. I spoke about my experiences as a facilitator of change and my interest in helping young people assume greater role in leading it. I suggested that an important part of such an effort involves empowering children to advocate for themselves, and I identified reflection as an entry point. And then I…
Earlier this week, I shared a photo of a reflective journal that one of our Studio writers designed last summer. Although we don’t see each other as often as I’d like to, whenever we come together as a group, I try to provide them ample time and prompts that inspire reflection. I find that asking them to revisit their responses enables them to define their needs and set goals with greater ease. I’ve used parts…
When I was a freshman in college, I was fortunate enough to have several professors who didn’t wait until the end of the semester to engage me in a conversation about what I was learning and how their efforts were helping or hindering that process. The fact that my teachers cared enough about my learning to ask me such questions inspired me to begin taking myself seriously as a student for the first time in…