11.24.21 4 ways to use NGSS crosscutting concepts to engage in sense-making and build equity The water disappeared! Or did it? Can water just disappear? And so, the learning of science begins. Educators and researchers alike recognize that incorporating students’ personal interests... Read more
11.23.21 Diary of a co-teacher, chapter 1: 5 keys to a successful co-teaching partnership I’m sorry, but when did it suddenly get to be Thanksgiving week? Somehow, the start of this school year seemed to take the long route. I typically think of October as when routines and... Read more
11.18.21 5 tips for developing intersectionality practices and awareness in your classroom In Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches, the late Audre Lorde, an American writer and civil rights activist, said, “There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live... Read more
11.16.21 All about language comprehension: What it is and how it can help your child read Children know a lot about language before they even learn to read. From the moment they are born, kids are exposed to all kinds of spoken language that helps them understand and make connections... Read more
11.9.21 On knocking down the fence: 4 ways you can improve equity for students with disabilities Fences can be really useful. A backyard fence allows the dog freedom of movement without her harness and leash. Fences around a construction site help keep curious people safe from... Read more
11.4.21 Last but not least: The role of communication in assessment empowerment What does it mean to communicate with learners and their families? When I first started teaching, I thought it just meant providing information; in retrospect, I can see that I was talking at... Read more
11.2.21 What families need to know to support their child’s reading I am the parent of two elementary school children who were mostly learning from home this past school year because of the pandemic. During that time, I often wondered, “How can I help my... Read more
10.28.21 How to build student agency in your classroom It was my first trip after a year and a half of isolation, and my first time flying in the post-2020 era. I braved the tension at the airport and had an uneventful flight. I jumped in my rental... Read more
10.26.21 How phonemic awareness helps words become sight words We want kids to build their sight word vocabularies so they can read more easily. This blog post argues that sight words are critical. But the story of sight words is not mostly about our... Read more
10.19.21 10 ways principals can lighten their load Being a principal is tough but rewarding work. So is being a classroom teacher, of course, but the principalship comes with an additional load you may not have predicted as you prepared yourself for... Read more
10.14.21 Unfinished but not lost: 7 ways to use assessment data to support student learning during COVID-19 Interrupted learning during the pandemic has increased inequity in education. The research proves this. But there’s a lot we can do to come together as educators and support children this... Read more
10.7.21 Here’s how to use MAP Growth results to achieve great things this school year I ran across a blog post the other day that was hard to read. Hard because it reminded me of how overwhelmed I felt every time I got an assignment by a student in one of my college writing... Read more