What should you do when you reach a decision and the decision stinks? You’ve done it and so have I. We know how it feels and as uncomfortable as it is, we usually understand that we have few options for … Continue reading
Unforeseen
Build Background Knowledge for Children Without
When I say these words to an adult, “… there is a way of walking with crutches so that your arms hold your weight and not your shoulders,” I can quickly separate those who have experience with walking with crutches … Continue reading
Messing Around with Teaching
At some time in a teaching career, a veteran mentor says something that causes you to pause, think, smile and remember. It happens many times, but each time is a new experience because each time gives you a new pearl … Continue reading
Daily Conversation – Prosper with it or decay without it
School talk. With whom do you talk to share your school doings and air your thoughts? You know – the things that raise your ire or get under your skin and nag on you until you can release their toxin … Continue reading
Bad Behavior – What is this about?
When school became parentis in absentia, educators co-opted the need to understand and respond to student behavior. School was no longer just about reading, writing and arithmetic. Quickly, we learned that when “Johnny was good, he could be oh so … Continue reading
Brief – Practice Paves the Road to Learning
When I pick up Izzy, a Kindergarten granddaughter, at her school to take her home and she is buckled in, I begin. “What is the letter of the week, Izz?” Yesterday she said, “P, Gramps.” “Izz, please tell me five … Continue reading
Brief – Collaborative Group Skills Benefit Students and Teachers
Group work. What shall we think of it? Walk down a school hallway any day and I bet you will see multiple classrooms attempting one or more components of group work. Some children thrive in group work and others are … Continue reading
Brief – If you want children to learn, plan to reteach
Words and terms matter. Reteaching is synonymous with instructional intervention. However, the word intervention today is mired in the policies and politics of RtI. If we use the term intervention to mean reteaching, too many colleagues will immediately focus on … Continue reading
Remembering Is More Likely When We…
I am a senior citizen who spends a lot of time with his grand daughters who are a Kindergarten student and younger. I am in awe of their capacity to see, listen, do and remember. Izzy and Aly are so … Continue reading
Teach Less Well
Inferential commentary abounds. Talk radio. Op ed pieces in the press. Blogs. Chat in the store check-out line. The President. The economy. Taxes. A quarterback who threw three interceptions. The climate. These are background noises to my ears. In almost … Continue reading