I can’t help but to laugh about the ‘new’ craze for lots of schools wanting to create an Outdoor Classroom. It’s absolutely not funny as to why everyone is now into this, as we approach the 2020-2021 school year in a global pandemic; but having taught outside for most of my 23 year teaching career, […]
Read more "The ‘new’Outdoor Classroom: 10 tips for success"SMART goals, UBD, curriculum maps, PBL, etc… are fine. However, if you are an educator, regardless of how long you have been teaching, my advice is that you have ONE goal this school year. Pretty simple…be AWESOME with students. I don’t mean be really good or great… I mean be AWESOME with them. They need […]
Read more "Be awesome with students: your only “back to school” goal"By far and without question, the number one advancement in my 22 years in the classroom has been the improvement of technology. I laugh about my first year teaching because I can still remember advancing the filmstrip projector in my classroom as the cassette tape beeped.
Read more "Become amazing with SOME technology"“The longer of I have taught, the more I have tried to use that model. Admittedly, I let that slip a little lately and noticed that my students started to work their way further and further away from the front of the room and move toward what I like to call the “Corner of Apathy.” So, I put up the caution tape and attached the note you see in the picture.”
Read more "The Black Hole of Learning"We are now role modeling for young men (and old) that you can speak at a female voice in any manner whatsoever and she will immediately respond to your request regardless of how speak to her! NOT OK… We have plenty of young men who already have enough poor role modeling of how to treat women in their lives, we don’t need an AI to help with that cause.
Read more "“Alexa… please stop allowing bad role modeling and stereotyping women!”"No, it doesn’t fit into your state curriculum. It’s not in the “Standards” or the “Frameworks”, however if you are in any way trying to make great connections with students (what teacher worth their salt isn’t?), I think it is a MUST in your year.
Read more "Your MOST important :20 minutes of teaching that no one talks about"This past week I had the opportunity to present four education sessions at the MTA (Massachusetts Teachers Association) summer conference at UMASS in Amherst, MA. When I present at conferences I try to stick to themes and ideas and create ‘what can teachers/administrators use immediately’ types of sessions. I know as an educator, those types of sessions, articles and […]
Read more "I’m sick of theory too!"FriYAYs are amazing… How do you make them great for your students?
Read more "How To Increase The Joy of an Already Joyous Day in Your Classroom- Happy FriYAY!!"Almost 13 years ago when I started my professional speaking business, I heard a great speaker name Rick Segel Link to Rick’s Website talk about the 4% rule. Since that very day, it is something that I have always tried to live by. The 4% rule is simply this… If you are giving your best effort, your 100%, […]
Read more "Illegitimi non carborundum – The 4%"One habit that I now use as a best practice is standing just outside my classroom door, every class, every day, as my students are walking out the door. A simple pleasant “Have a great day.” “Thanks for coming.” “Have an awesome weekend.” “Be safe this weekend.” This is what I like to call teacher […]
Read more "Door Standing – The One Week Challenge"
Game Changer Teaching 