It starts in the doorway. Kindergarten children are greeted by their teacher standing in the doorway of their classroom. The passwords of the day for entering the room are two rhyming words. The teacher says “cat” and a K-girl in … Continue reading
Classroom Passwords: Booster Rockets For Learning
If Students Did Not Learn, Were They Taught? No
Start with this thought experiment. “If a tree falls in the forest and there is no one to hear it, did it really fall?” You’ve heard it before. It poses the relationship between observation and perception. If you cannot observe … Continue reading
Academic Standards – The Genome of Proficient Learning
Academic standards are the genome of a 21st century PK-12 education. Turn back the covers on any curriculum today and you will find “standards.” They are the “who says this is the right stuff to teach” credentials of school curriculum. … Continue reading
Promotional Proficiency – An Educational Promise Unkept
“I promise…” are words added, often unconsciously, to statements we make to others. Other add-ons include, “… believe me”, “…to be honest with you”, and “… you have my word.” We speak these words and we hear others speak them, … Continue reading
Classroom Observations Open Door of Black Box Teaching
Consider this profile. “I am a professional educator with an earned baccalaureate from a teacher preparation program at our state university. I am an English major who is an expert in causing children to use language to learn, to clarify … Continue reading
Expand Your First-Hand Knowledge To Grow Your Credibility
First-hand, second-hand or third-hand: how “handy” is your decision making? When you make a decision based upon information, which of the following do you find most credible? First-hand – information gathered by what you personally have heard, seen and experienced. … Continue reading
Board Members: Perch Like A Bird To Learn About Your School
Information is powerful and firsthand gathering of information without bias is essential. Given this as truth, how can a school board member be informed about his school in ways that do not cross the lines between board and administration and … Continue reading
School – A Compact of Good Faith
Watching your child leave the security of your vehicle, walk under the hump of her backpack to the schoolhouse doors, and disappear inside is a leap of faith. I sat watching her form disappear behind the darkened glass of the … Continue reading
Good “Yeah, Buts” Belong In School
It may depend upon who says “Yeah, but…” At the end of the day the consideration of a good “Yeah, but…” often causes us to find and select better options. Other times, what seems like a good “yeah, but” causes … Continue reading
Children Hiding In Plain Sight – No More
“Nothing, really,” is a chronic response to the legendary parent inquiry “What did you do at school today?” Nothing. Really? Seven-plus hours at school time and you did nothing? But, what if this response was true. Can a child actually … Continue reading