learning through leading
Over the years I have heard the phrase "project based learning" and have spoken with several teachers who have boasted about having a being project based learning (PBL) classroom. As I have had the opportunity to visit different learning environments it has become clear that there are some misconceptions about PBL. I do not claim …
For the past 3 years I have gotten to work with a range of English Language Learners (ELLs). Not only do these students come in with a variety of different home languages, but they also bring their own unique story to my classroom. As an educator it is my job to give each of these …
30 years ago Robin Williams starred in the movie Dead Poet's Society, which is still watched in classrooms today. In this film we see a teacher motivating his students to be the very best they can be. It's a wonderful portrayal of an educator challenging and leading students to always do their best by seizing …
Continue reading "Teachers vs. Everyone: Media’s Portrayal of Educators"
In science, the Goldilocks zone refers to an area that is just perfect for human life to inhabit. This means the distance from the closes star is the perfect distance compared to the size of the star so that human life form can be supported. The temperature is not too hot or too cold. In …
Earlier this year I wrote a post about Active Recovery for Educators. The blog highlights the need for not only recovery during times of rest, but active recovery. This term is mostly used in athletic settings. The idea is that an athlete should not take entire days off, but instead do lighter activities so their bodies …
"For the times they are a-changin'" applied when Bob Dylan wrote and released them in 1964 and the words still apply today. Some may say they apply more now than even. Education is at a point where demands have never been higher and stress on both teachers and students are at a breaking point. Strikes …
Teacher evaluations can be a stressful topic in schools. Personally, I look forward to walk-throughs from my administrator. It is a time for an outsider to come in and give me a different perspective on my classroom. I anxiously look forward to my feedback as it provides insight on areas I can celebrate and areas …
The structure of schools have changed dramatically over the last few decades. In my blog Digital Age in Industrial Education I discuss how schools used to be designed around a factory line style of learning due to the type of jobs that were needed in the industrial period. These factor line jobs are no longer in high …
As a secondary math teacher I am constantly trying to teach my students how to be problem solvers. When a situation is presented, look for patterns from previous experiences, identify all of the pertinent information, and create a solution. This is a great skill to have and every student that graduates high school should have …
I noticed something during this past Winter Break. Any time that I checked Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media platform I saw all sorts of memes about teachers relaxing. One of my personal favorites said that we have earned the right to be lazy the entire break. I couldn't agree more. As the break …
