As we continue to shift to blended/distance learning, many of us have discovered how easy it is to take the worksheets we created in Word (designed for the copy machine) […]
Minutes Matter
Easy Assessment Options for Classrooms and Distance Learning
Whether we’re going back to school in person or virtually or some combination of the two, I think we can all agree that our job from the start is two-fold: […]
Teaching
How to Help Your Students Stay Connected
Regardless of where we are located, it’s looking like we should be prepared for some form of distance learning at some point next year. Last spring, one of the most […]
Teaching
How to Create QR Code Hall Passes
Students in my district are still scheduled to start school in person on August 17–at least those students who don’t, or can’t, choose one of the e-learning options. As teachers, […]
Teaching
Building Community with Questions
Relationships will be more important than ever this school year. Last spring, we were sent home for the fourth quarter in my district–like teachers and students across the world, we […]
Minutes Matter
A Simple Tool to Improve Comprehension
We need to help our students dig deeper into the text. We want them to understand–to make connections, to be able to explain what they’ve read, to use this knowledge after they’ve left our classrooms.
Teacher Leadership
Classroom Culture Wall
Every morning I get up a few hours before anyone else in my house. I use this quiet time to read, think, write, and drink coffee–it’s my time. It’s also […]
Grading & Assessment - Strategies
How to Minimize Grading and Maximize Learning
The simplicity and flexibility of the simple single-point rubric make it a win-win for students and teachers.
Instructional Tools
How to Write Quality Questions for any Text
“The most difficult thing is to try to forget what is in your memory and re-approach.”