NCTQ and Teacher Evaluations
The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) recently completed a report about my school district in Oakland, California. In in a previous post,…
5 Minutes
Teacher Tip: When Students Ask For Help...
"Can you read my story?" one of my eighth graders asked me this morning. It was an innocent enough question. I was excited about the work all the…
5 Minutes
It's TEACHER Leader To You, Sir
Hey John, Maybe we're the crazy ones to think that the school year is an actual full year of teaching. The lull between the "big tests" and the end…
3 Minutes
What Seth Doesn't Know about Schools
Poking through my feed reader last Friday, I stumbled across this great Ted talk by digital pioneer and provocateur Seth Godin. In it, Godin argues…
5 Minutes
Youth Leadership Experience Helpful in Preparing Teachers
I just read this great report by many of my Collaboratory colleagues, Teaching 2030: Leveraging Teacher Preparation. Since teacher preparation is on…
2 Minutes
Two Important Reminders for Digital Leaders
In a time when technology is drastically changing the way that we work, learn, and play, it is essential that school leaders have a clear plan for…
2 Minutes
Poverty is not an Excuse; It's Inexcusable!
I had the privilege of being on a webinar panel with Linda Darling Hammond, NEA President Dennis Van Roekel, and Joseph Bishop as they highlighted…
7 Minutes
Open Your Classroom Door to 'Be Better'
It's May. It's spring in Colorado. My 6th graders are starting to sound, smell, and act like ... 7th graders. Sunshine and storms trade places…
6 Minutes
What Isn't STEM?
Hey John, Last week, I got the opportunity to attend the 2nd annual NSTA Conference on STEM. For those unaware, STEM is the acronym for Science,…
2 Minutes
Teaching Nonfiction Reading Skills in the Science Classroom [ACTIVITY]
I don't have a ton of time to write today -- I've spent the past week teaching and learning alongside of some really progressive thinkers in…
7 Minutes