Dan Pink posted a great video recently: 40 Harsh Truths I Wish I Knew in My 20s. It inspired me to think of my own tidbits of advice. So here you go…10 important reminders as we begin the new school
You may think of the first weeks of school as a time to focus on classroom management, and it is. But in fact, all year long, we should consider classroom management an active part of our daily teaching. How do
A great learning environment is like a three-legged stool. Ruth Charney first introduced this concept to me years ago. It’s an important idea to keep in mind all year long, but it’s crucial during the first weeks of school.
The
Early in the school year, there’s a powerful proactive strategy we should all consider. Positive phone calls to families give you the chance to build connections and relationships with families that will yield benefits all year long. But is this
A few years ago my wife gave me three months of coaching for my birthday. I’d been running 5K road races and was trying some half-marathons. She thought I could use some professional help! We connected online, and I sent
Do your students seem young this year? You’re not alone. In every single school I’m working in this year—with no exceptions—teachers are saying the same kinds of things.
This shouldn’t be surprising. Students always seem a bit young in the
“To weave the magic of a thing, you see, one must find its true name. In my lands we keep our true names hidden all our lives long, from all but those we trust utterly; for there is great power,
Last week I had the privilege of teaching two online workshops for teachers about getting ready for the upcoming school year. They were both so much fun! We played games that teachers can use with their students (either in person
“I’m on the edge of a breakdown. I’m pouring everything I have into my students, and it doesn’t seem to be enough. My principal keeps telling me I need to take care of myself, but she never gives me time
Tell a story that you would want your students to tell about your class at the end of the year.
This compelling challenge was posed by Bena Kallick on a recent video interview I had with her and Allison Zmuda.
On August 27, 2018, I had the honor of delivering the opening day keynote address to 2200+ educators in Nashua, NH. The main message is fairly simple. If we want today’s children to be prepared for the new world
Today’s post comes to us from good friend and colleague, Kristen Vincent. To learn more about Kristen and her work, check out her bio at the end of this post!
Many teachers and families are wrapping up the fall season
In this episode of ASCD’s Learn Teach Lead Radio, I share some ideas about why October can be a tough month for educators and some strategies for picking ourselves back up when we’re struggling.
For more ideas for overcoming the
In response to a recent Well-Balanced Teacher Facebook post about teacher burnout, a teacher quipped: “When it’s only a month into the school year and people already feel burnt out, stressed, and overwhelmed, there is a problem!” So why is
The first weeks of school are winding down. The weather is cooling off and academic work is heating up. This is a great time to reflect on the relationships you’re building with your class. How well do you know your
There are so many routines to teach early in the school year–it can be a bit overwhelming. Where do you begin?
Of course, there is no one right answer–no definitive list. One way to start is to think about ones
I joined two other panelists, Dawn Casey-Rowe and Dan Brown, on this episode of BAM! Radio to discuss ways to create trust and build connections with students early in the year. Hosted by Rae Pica, this was a lively and
Every now and then, I come across a letter from Uncle Curmudgeon, an old retired teacher, to his niece, Kennari, an aspiring new one. I’m happy to pass another along!
Dear Kennari-
Ah! The beginning of a new year!
Emily lay curled up under her covers long after the alarm clock had woken her up. Her mother came into her room. “Emily! You need to get up! It’s the first day of school and it’s time to get going!”
One of our primary goals at the beginning of the school year is to get to know our students. This is important for several reasons. First, the better we know our students, and the more they know we know them,
As I work with teachers on helping students craft effective and supportive rules at the beginning of the school year, a question almost always comes up: “What do you think about using the Golden Rule as a classroom rule?” It’s
Original Link, from PN Newswire: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-edition-of-the-first-six-weeks-of-school-released-300049770.html
New Edition of “The First Six Weeks of School” Released Responsive Classroom’s Classic Guide for K-6 Teachers
This practical guide from Responsive Classroom helps K-6 teachers use the crucial early weeks of
How do you refer to the students in your class when addressing them? At first glance, this may seem like a trivial issue; but consider how many times throughout the day we speak to students to get their attention. The
To teach well, we must know children well, and parents can help us do that better than anyone. Parents can share knowledge of their child’s strengths and challenges, unique perspectives, and other invaluable
Original Article: http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/apr11/vol68/num07/The-Leap-into-4th-Grade.aspx
Amazing energy and enthusiasm, increased anxiety, and tougher academic demands—all these make 4th grade a pivotal year.
“Yes!” cries Danny, pumping his fist as he looks at the schedule for the day. “We have P.E.