Source: Unsplash I normally write a reflection at the end of the school year. However, given everything that has happened in 2020, I wanted to take a moment to breathe, reflect, and appreciate the incredible resilience our students have shown this past semester. Below are just a few of the experiences I’ve had since August … Continue reading A Special Thanks to 2020 Students
Trying to transition a traditional curriculum to an online setting can be overwhelming especially as we juggle taking care of our own families. The biggest struggle for me has been feeling a constant state of dissatisfaction because I feel like I'm not reaching every student; this has led to a lot of trial & error. … Continue reading 3 Tips to Make Teaching via Videoconferencing more Collaborative & Engaging
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
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
Progressive teachers for decades (perhaps centuries!) have long advocated for deemphasizing grades, developing various methods for re-learning concepts & skills, and providing students multiple opportunities to demonstrate learning. These ideas have found a renaissance of sorts with the the recent movement towards standards based grading, mastery learning, competency based learning, and allowing students to submit … Continue reading Teacher’s Sanity: Late Work, Re-Takes, Pacing
Reflections on Teaching & Learning 