Lately, quite a few of the teachers and administrators that I work with have been chatting about different ways to maximize classroom wall space. This might seem like a trivial topic, but I don’t think it is. In fact, I know that when teachers are purposeful about using classroom wall space, kids can benefit tremendously. I also know that glancing around a classroom provides a bit of perspective about what teachers may value and how…
Once upon a time, I connected to Emily and Jennifer and many others (who are writers, not teachers btw). Intrigued, Laura began to blog. And with a bit of support from and and , who knew all about and and (especially that), Laura learned that grief has a purpose. She also learned that having a purpose can transform grief. and soon lent some support, and because of this, Laura connected to from Australia. Thanks to Jenny, while the sun set in New York…
You know the kid: the one who grows his bangs a little longer to hide the eyes beneath his glasses. This way, you’ll never know exactly where he’s looking…..up at you or his peers….or inside his desk, where the work that matters most to him awaits. We’ve all had students who are so immersed in a book that they struggle to put it away during class. Tell me your heart hasn’t broken a little when you’ve found…
I’ve been using Wordle to begin conversations around standards this year, and I have to admit, it’s kinda neat to pull these posters out and watch teachers get excited about the New York State Core Curriculum. It’s amazing what can happen when you switch up the visual, isn’t it? The Wordle above represents the speaking standards and performance indicators for grade eleven, and today, I got to spend a bit of time talking possibilities with…
I’m going to take a break today and direct you to my daughter Laura’s blog. She could use a bit of support with a new project idea. I’ll let her explain……
Last week, I was asked to begin crafting a guest post in response to the question I’ve posed in my title. I’m curious: how would YOU answer that question? Service learning is something I have a keen interest in and limited experience with, but the experiences I’ve had have been profound. I’ve watched students define a place for themselves in the world outside their classrooms, and I’ve watched them work hard to effect change by…
Who is ignoring you? Who or what are you ignoring? Thanks to Susan Morgan for giving me much to think about.
Daniel Willingham has been known to challenge a popular theory or two. I find his work provocative, and I have refined my own perspectives a bit upon consideration of some of his arguments. Take a peek. Discuss. I’m wondering what others think……
Once upon a time, publication was seen as the “icing” on the composition cake. Providing kids the chance to publish their work was a nice idea, but it was hardly any teacher’s top priority. That was yesterday. In today’s world, kids are not merely consumers of content, they are creators as well. And writing isn’t merely about getting a grade or even entertaining an audience. Writing is about connection. It’s about conversation. Collaboration. Synthesis. Publication…
Is it your perception that your students are incapable of editing their own work or others effectively? Have you given up on peer editing entirely as a result? I’d like to invite you to change up your approach a bit, and try again. Maybe the writers you are working with aren’t the problem. Maybe your peer editing protocol is. Two Quick Steps Toward Powerful Peer Editing Experiences: Identifying what kids can do and placing them…