What does it look like when your students are doing rigorous work and thinking deeply? Dr. Karin Hess discusses how content complexity, cognitive engagement, and the intended scope and depth of a learning activity can work together to scaffold and support deeper thinking.
Letting go is messy! As Sunday Cummins and Julie Webb wrap up a 10-part exploration of the gradual release of responsibility, they encourage teachers to ensure kids participate actively in every phase of GRR, as we observe them closely, remain nimble, and practice flexibility.
Middle grades teacher and NBCT Kathleen Palmieri finds John Schu’s book The Gift of Story “an incredible journey into the power of stories” as he invites teachers to an exploration of the affective side of reading and shares ways to welcome students into the reading life. “Incredible.”
Looking for a way to incorporate creativity into your curriculum next school year? You may want to consider teaching students about design thinking. Teacher educator Katie Caprino and her preservice colleague Alyssa Marzili introduce the concepts and highlight 3 useful apps.
Author and LPC Emily Kircher-Morris, host of the Neurodiversity Podcast, details four ways educators can support twice-exceptional (2e) learners – students who have advanced cognitive abilities as well as a diagnostic disability such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, or dysgraphia.
ENL teacher Dina Strasser completes her review of The ESL/ELL Teacher’s Survival Guide (2nd Ed) by Ferlazzo and Sypnieski and concludes that making full use of this “eminently practical” book will demonstrably strengthen novice and expert teachers’ work with ELL students.
To address the variables and obstacles that hinder equal education for all students, school leader DeAnna Miller recommends Teaching for Racial Equity: Becoming Interrupters by Perry, Zemelman and Smith as a tool to support critical conversations in schools and communities.
When we transform a text into a multitasking mentor text, we increase the instructional mileage we can get from one power-packed teaching tool, writes veteran teacher and literacy consultant Pam Koutrakos. She includes five “energy star” ideas and a text set to get started.
Teacher educator Curtis Chandler guides us through Global Pandemics, a “fantastic” free Chrome app that transports teachers and students back in time to the lives, choices, and dilemmas faced by individuals during some of the most severe plagues and pandemics in history.
Ron Williamson and Barbara Blackburn have advice that can help school leaders stay attuned to today’s constantly changing school environment, recognize the stress of external factors, and use strategies that encourage teachers’ intrinsic motivation and sense of self-efficacy.
