Guest posts by expert educators
As NBCT Marilyn Pryle concludes her series on key questions to help students become critical readers, she considers how to help them pry open any text and name what they see. “What in this content is meant to grab my attention and evoke emotion? Why do I react the way I do?”
If you know your ‘why’ as a teacher, you can parlay that knowledge into a set of directions that motivate your daily work. Kelly Owens shares how career vision boards can play a significant role in that process. Included: Ideas to help students create their own vision boards.
As they develop the habit of listening generously, middle schoolers can learn to see themselves as people with the capacity to teach and learn from each other. Teacher Laurie Hornik describes the elements of Generous Listening and strategies to develop the skill with students.
Because schools are under increased pressure to improve, there’s a tendency to want immediate results from any innovation. Success only comes when schools have clear vision and purpose, full collaboration, and a commitment to monitor and adjust, write Williamson and Blackburn.
When Stephanie Farley asked fellow teachers how they felt about the presents they receive from students each year, she found that “while they roundly appreciate all of them, it’s clear they cherish the heartfelt notes, the student art, and the homemade or hand-crafted gifts.”
Whether it’s standing desks, beanbags or low tables, flexible seating helps students feel more comfortable, engaged, and in control of their own learning. Kathie Palmieri shares research showing how flexible seating can meet physical, social, and cognitive needs of students.
Travel abroad is a chance for students to step out of their comfort zones, build connections, and develop a global perspective – to engage authentically with people and places beyond their cultural affiliations or national borders, writes middle school head Michael McLaughlin.
It’s not enough to take the phones away, writes educator Tom Rademacher. Schools need to make sure there are energizing, collaborative, challenging things to do. “We need to change what it feels like to be in school and make it easy – or easier – for students to not-phone.”
Building small but mighty habits that we commit to without having to overthink what we’re doing is a far more effective and lasting approach to not just getting each day done and dusted, but to also retaining feelings of accomplishment and productivity, writes Miriam Plotinsky.
Using the simple question “How am I reacting?” NBCT and author Marilyn Pryle shows how she teaches students to observe, identify, and manage their emotions when they encounter any text so that they become not only stronger critical thinkers, but better citizens and human beings.
