1.16.24 Reading interventions after grade 4 should focus on both fluency and comprehension When my youngest stepson chose to come live with me and my husband, he had just turned 16. He’d attended more than 12 schools in the previous six years and had lived in three different states.... Read more
1.11.24 Beyond the bowl of chocolates: How to build trust in instructional coaching relationships In the realm of instructional coaching, trust is the linchpin that holds together the transformative journey a coach and teacher go on together. While having a bowl of chocolates at your desk to... Read more
1.9.24 Mapping math: 5 ways to use concept maps in the math classroom I am a notetaker, and an analog one at that. I always have a notebook at my desk to jot down to-dos, project notes, and other things I need to remember. In an effort to be more eco-conscious, my... Read more
1.4.24 Goal setting in winter: Prioritize conversations with students Growing up in the Midwest, the winter was always a difficult time to stay motivated in school. Tearing myself away from a warm bed to wait at a cold and dark bus stop didn’t exactly help me... Read more
1.2.24 3 ways to use flexible grouping in real time to support student growth In my previous post, I discussed various classroom configurations and why you might choose whole-group instruction one day and pair work, for example, the next. In this post, I’d like to... Read more
12.28.23 The best of Teach. Learn. Grow. in 2023 I love this time of year, when the internet is flooded with best-of lists. The best movies. The best books. The best gadgets, even. It’s such a clever way to encapsulate a period of time, to... Read more
12.26.23 4 New Year’s resolutions for teachers Each back-to-school season is so different. In the fall, the time is full of possibility, nervous jitters, and new faces. After spring break, it’s more like Mad Max: desert cars limping across a... Read more
12.21.23 3 ways leaders can improve assessment literacy for parents and families Declining student scores over the past year in reading, math, and civics on the Nation’s Report Card have confirmed a sobering truth that was already widely assumed by the public at large:... Read more
12.19.23 Aligning curriculum, assessments, and professional learning to better support teacher practice and student learning The work of a teacher has infinite moving parts. There’s the upcoming required interim district assessment to prepare for. There’s the new school-wide social-emotional learning program to... Read more
12.14.23 3 teacher recommendations for teaching with the state test Two things are simultaneously true and inherently contradictory: Having a standardized source of student achievement data across districts is critical for evaluating progress and identifying... Read more
12.12.23 Listening to teachers to fix the state testing quagmire Across the country, teachers are beginning to plan for instruction after winter break. At some point during the second half of the school year, their calendars are marked “state... Read more
12.7.23 Reading fluency strategies for middle school—and beyond Reading fluency in middle school isn’t always a given. A startling number of students enter those grades without the reading skills they need to be successful. For some, the troubling trend... Read more