“If you drink 3 glasses of eggplant juice everyday for 21 days you won't have to ever wear contacts again!” Whenever an aunt shares such gems of nutrition advice, I don't even have to ask where she got it from, the answer is always the same: WhatsApp or Facebook. “We can’t let refugees into America … Continue reading Eggplants & ISIS: How to Fight Fake News
During the 4th annual Illinois Council of Instructional Coaching Conference I was able to attend Jane Kise’s keynote: Coaching Teachers Who Just Don’t Think Like You. Although her talk was chock-full of instructional coaching strategies, one insight really stood out: "There are no resistant teachers, but rather, only teachers whose needs during change have not … Continue reading Coaching Teachers Who Just Don’t Think Like You
Here are some of the tools I came across at ISTE 2018 that seemed promising for English/Language Arts teachers. I especially appreciated that each tool kept the student in the center while allowing teachers to provide critical support & feedback. No canned reading programs that students mindlessly click through here! READING: Activate, support, and reveal … Continue reading 5 Takeaways from ISTE 2018 for English/Language Arts Teachers
Use Esri’s Geoinquiries and Arcgis Storymaps to help students develop their map analysis skills and Google’s Tour Builder to integrate text, images and maps to create more visually rich stories. (SOURCE: @JChanter22) 2. Bring history alive by having students interview senior citizens in the community and record their oral histories. (Resources from Milton High School, WI) … Continue reading 5 Takeaways from ISTE for Social Studies Teachers
The end of every school year leaves a gnawing feeling of self-doubt: What more could I have taught my students? How could I have developed their skills further? Did I truly inspire anyone? Did I change how they view themselves or the world? As I sit in front of empty chairs and desks I’m trying … Continue reading 2017-2018 Reflection
Teaching is one of the most stressful professions in the world. From debating whether I used the right approach while dealing with a challenging student earlier in the day or mentally crafting an email I plan on sending a parent after school, the stressors of everyday teacher life lead me to constantly think about what … Continue reading Mindful Minutes Everyday
As more schools go 1:1, students and parents are demanding a central hub for organizing the rapidly growing number of digital materials teachers are creating. Google Classroom, Schoology, Canvas, Edmodo and other Learning Management Systems (LMS) have helped many schools tame this digital information explosion; however, as with any remedy, there are side-effects you should … Continue reading 5 Potential Pitfalls: What you should know before adopting an LMS
The national ICE Conference (February 26-28, 2018) was an incredible opportunity learn from incredible teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators from around the U.S. Although the focus was on educational technology I was especially interested in sessions that addressed practical considerations for pedagogy. Here are my Top 10 Takeaways from ICE 2018: 1. Teach Digital Literacy by Modeling … Continue reading Top 10 Takeaways from ICE 2018
Teachers at predominantly white schools, especially those in conservative communities, may be reluctant to discuss race in the classroom. However, it is precisely in these communities that conversations about how race, ethnicity, and other social identities are critical for broadening students worldview. Here are some ideas on how to have these conversations based on a … Continue reading 6 Tips for Facilitating Discussions on Race with Predominantly White Students
With the start of the new year I’ve committed to becoming a more reflective teacher by blogging at least once a month. Here’s my first post of the year which coincided with the start of a new semester at my high school. NOTE: I'm well aware that this activity might not work for teachers of … Continue reading Stay Silent on the 1st Day of School: Create a Student-Centered Classroom
Reflections on Teaching & Learning 