School Discipline: The Story Beyond the Referral
In the The Terminal, starring Tom Hanks, an airport official says that behind every case lies the person, the paper, and the story. The same can be…
5 Minutes
Confessions of a Recovering (Closet) Book Banner
I thought I was a strong proponent of free expression, but when forced to look deeper, I realized that I was a strong proponent of free expression of…
7 Minutes
Let the Countdown Begin
Imagine, if you will, professional development designed to build the capacity of teacher leaders? Imagine, PD driven not by someone else's agenda,…
8 Minutes
A Questioning Success.
When the randomizer that I use to call on students in my class picked on Janna* the other day, I could see the anxiety on her face. “So tell us one…
2 Minutes
Student Portraits: Honoring Diverse Learners
Try to imagine one test, one curriculum, or one policy that could possibly meet the needs of all students. Difficult, right?
1 Minutes
An Open Letter to Students Who Never Went Back to Thank a Teacher
You should thank the teachers who have made an impact on you. I have some news for those of you who don't get around to it.
4 Minutes
Helping Students to Be Comfortable with NOT Knowing. [ACTIVITY]
As I continue to explore the role that student questioning can play in the classroom (see here and here), I learned an important lesson from Paul…
3 Minutes
What is a good school?
One of the things I love about teaching my college students in my Foundations of Education class is helping them to grapple with the same types of…
3 Minutes
How Becoming a Connected Educator Saved my Teaching Career
I was 26, starting my fourth year of teaching, and in danger of becoming part of the 50% of new teachers that quit by year five in the classroom.…
10 Minutes
5 Tips for Helping Immigrant Students
Want to know how to help your immigrant students? In honor of Hispanic Heritage month, my student, Fredy Gonzalez, offers up some great tips!
5 Minutes