It’s one of the most challenging strategies for students to understand, and one of the most problematic strategies for teachers to instruct. Summarizing has to be repeatedly modeled, the process of writing summaries requires well-planned scaffolding and students need a lot of time and opportunity to practice. Students need to summarize across content areas, but …
Thank you to Amy Bettis, kindergarten teacher in Texas, for guest blogging on That Thing You Do segment today. Amy shares today how she and her students engaged in the important work of learning behaviors that lead to strong readers. Imagine a classroom full of young students reading independently: you hear the low hum …
Family engagement is tricky business. We work hard at that in education, but I wonder if we need to allow ourselves to think a little bit differently about this critical responsibility and privilege that falls to us as 21st century educators. Engaging families in the culture of a campus is more than sending home newsletters …
I am incredibly honored that Zaretta Hammond is guest blogging for today’s That Thing You Do! segment. Zaretta is an educator and the esteemed author of Culturally Responsive Teaching and The Brain: Promoting Authentic Engagement and Rigor Among Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students. You can follow her at www.ready4rigor.com and on Twitter @Ready4rigor Counter-Narratives Support …
I am beyond excited that you get to hear from my friend and technology mentor, Nancy Bingham. Nancy has taught in elementary classrooms for most of her career. She is currently a Technology Integration Specialist in a large district in Texas, supporting teachers and campus administrators. You can follow Nancy at @nancybinghamHEB Project Based Learning …
“…learned helplessness is the student’s belief that he has no control over his ability to improve as a learner. Because he doesn’t believe he has the capacity, he doesn’t exert any effort when faced with a challenging work assignment or a new skill to develop.” –Zaretta Hammond You’ve seen these kids, haven’t you? …
The neurolinguist John Schulman once told me that the best way to learn a second language is to fall in love with someone who only speaks that language. Beyond providing motivation and practice, the neurochemistry of love and attachment stimulates the neuroplasticity of learning. Perhaps this can be turned into a more general statement—the best …
Felicia Cherry, my esteemed colleague and friend, is sharing a simple, innovative tool in our weekly That Thing You Do segment. Felicia is an instructional math specialist on a middle school campus in Texas. I first met Felicia in her role as an instructional specialist on an elementary campus in our district. I am so …
When my own children were small, I read a bit of parenting advice that encouraged intentionally spending time alone with your kids engaged in fun and/or productive activities. The article went on to say that working and playing alongside your child helped to “knit your hearts together”. That little phrase stuck with me over the …
mojo noun mo •jo \ mō-(,)jō\ : a power that may seem magical and that allows someone to be very effective, successful. Full Disclosure—I have, in the past, violated the acceptable time limit for a targeted mini-lesson. And I didn’t need a schoolhouse clock on the wall to tell me I’d gone over. It would …
