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Because Learning Is A Joy
Learning. It’s supposed to be our focus in schools. Growth, exploration, reflection. These things should be commonplace. They should be as common as the tiny milk cartons we serve at lunch and the...
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What if thinking is underrated?
What if the most underrated skill in school is thinking? I know, that sounds crazy. But how often do we tell kids what they are going to learn, tell them what to make, tell them what tool to use, tell...
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STEM Isn’t Optional
While the world is busy debating how STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) are falling behind in our schools, get busy making it a priority. While people make blanket statements like “Why...
View ArticleSix Videos that Will Inspire You
Yesterday I read Pernille Ripp’s post, “Administrators, Please Inspire Us At Back to School.” I started thinking about videos I’ve seen that have inspired me. I realized that the very best ones? They...
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Things I Hope I Never Forget
I love to write things I can look back on. Honest things, that one day I might need to read to remind myself. Tomorrow will be my first official day as an administrator. I know, if you look at my heart...
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Therefore I Learn
Do you spend more time encouraging kids to think outside the box, or forcing kids to color inside the lines? Do you ask questions or listen carefully as kids formulate their own questions? Do you hand...
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All We Have Is Today
Today? It’s now. When I look around, I see kids. Kids in the here and now. I realize how important every single moment really is. The brief conversation with a student on the way to lunch. The...
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Our Kids Will Change the World
We can all make a difference. Whether we’re a child, trying to plan a way to raise money for our favorite charity, whether we’re a twelve year old trying to give our time to a food pantry on a...
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Giving Back Is Worth More Than Anything
One of the most asked questions I’ve been getting in my email and message box lately is “Where can I buy ____ poster?” I always say the same thing… you can’t. You can download it and print it...
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When Being Wrong Is Right
Wrong answer. You’re out. Game over. F. You failed. You do not get a gold star. So many times, being wrong is associated with the endpoint for learning. But why? It’s not really an endpoint. It’s more...
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Inspiration is Everywhere
It’s so easy to teach with tunnel vision. To go into your classroom, see your students, and do what you feel is best. You, the kids, and the learning. I honestly think there was a time when I taught...
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The Most Important Standard
You cannot walk into a discussion about education and not hear the word ‘standard’ mentioned at least 16,432 times. I may be exaggerating, but the focus on Common Core, on rigor, on assessing kids...
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Seven Things I Know For Sure
Seven things I know for sure… 1.) Kids should be excited to come to school. 2.) You can’t have STEM learning without creativity. 3.) Real learning can happen with a pile of dirt and a bucket of water....
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The Value of Growth
What’s more valuable, a report card full of B’s and C’s that represent struggle, learning, and growth? Or a report card filled with A’s that are A’s with no effort that a student just already knew?...
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Even When It’s Uncomfortable
Growth. When it’s happening, you can feel it. You feel tired. In places in your brain you didn’t even know existed. Your thinking is stretched. Your answers take longer than normal. You’re finding...
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Courage
Took this photo in Galveston, Texas and immediately knew this quote was meant to be on it. Want to print this? Tips {here}. Tweet
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Because Twitter is About the People
When I think back to my first years of teaching, I can think of a lot of things I did wrong. Things I stressed over that really weren’t important, and big things that were far more important that I...
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Encourage them to BE scientists!
With so much talk about the Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core, many teachers are scrambling to gather resources to teach science. But, there are so many great resources out on the web...
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