The world of the classroom teacher is not what it once was. Use all three tenses of the word change – past, present and future – and you are describing the status of a teacher in any classroom in the … Continue reading
Coaching: How to Effectively Increase Effectiveness
Teaching The Contextual Requires Professional Caddies
Parent, have you ever wondered how it happens when you tell your three children to “straighten up their room” that they respond in completely different ways. One may get right to the task and not only pick up and put … Continue reading
Let Learning Unfold Naturally
As a golfer, I admired advice attributed to Tom Kite, outstanding PGA player and course architect. “Tee the ball as high as you can. Swing as hard as you can. Hit the ball as far as you can. We’ll fix … Continue reading
Teaching Profession: Align Educational Improvement with Professional Improvement
It is difficult to read educational literature nowadays without confronting an article regarding how to improve teaching. In fact, just Google “How to improve teaching” and you will receive 124,000 results. Add another word, like “instruction”, “quality”, “skills”, “practice”, “strategies”, … Continue reading
When In Motion, Make Only Small Changes in Direction
A school is a very complicated organization. Public schools, especially, are becoming ever more complicated with federal and state mandates trying to cooperate or maybe compete with local control. There are many interests each trying to influence the nature, purpose … Continue reading
To Begin Well Show Students The End First
It’s a new school year!!! How many times will the word “new” appear in any conversation or school publication prior to the first day of school? Welcome to new teachers and new students. Unwrapping new books and materials. Sitting at … Continue reading
School’s Pre-Season Is A Lost Preparation
“Fortune favors the prepared mind.” — Louis Pasteur In less than a month millions of children will begin the 2014-15 school year. They start a new academic year in which every child will be instructed and assessed and expected to … Continue reading
Teacher Talent: Professional Coaching Required
“Do you want to know why you lost today?” Sam Mussabini asked of Harold Abrahams regarding Abrahams’ loss in the 100 meter dash. “You’re over striding. Now these coins represent the steps in your sprint.” Mussabini pushed the coins together. … Continue reading
Teacher Talent: The New Professional Teacher
The new professional teacher is not the teacher of your youth or your mother’s or grandmother’s. The words “new” and “professional” are used with a reason; the teacher of tomorrow will be a new breed. I lay back on an … Continue reading
Teacher Quality: You Don’t Have to Settle for What You Get
Thelma and Louise taught us, “You get what you settle for.” They were discussing life’s ups and downs with men and money. Getting is one thing. Settling is yet another. If you get what you settle for, it is necessary … Continue reading