Mar
28
2013
28
2013
Honors Classes: The Need for More Diversity – Part II
In my recent Edutopia post, I posed a problem that is plaguing many schools today: that of racial inequity in our honors classes. Many of us at the middle school level are wondering what our role is in bridging gaps ...
Mar
05
2013
05
2013
“Managing the Hidden Differences in Your Classroom” : Bam Radio
We must embrace our diversity if we are to emerge a country that is a leader in this global community. I would like to think that it starts in our schools. And if it starts in our schools, and is ...
Jan
17
2013
17
2013
BYOD? They Already Do
A short post today on how the debate about bringing your own device to school is superfluous and antiquated. After all, they already do.
Case in point: when a student wants to borrow a pencil, I have them leave collateral in ...
Jan
02
2013
02
2013
A 1st Grader’s iPad Contract: An Acceptable Use Policy for the Home (Updated)
A few weeks ago, my parents called to tell me that my mom was getting the new iPad. They wanted to know if they could give my 6 year-old, Ben, her original one. We hadn’t been planning on getting him ...
Dec
26
2012
26
2012
Ring in the New Year by Remembering the Good
The weekend after Sandy Hook (see my brief thoughts here) I began thinking of ways to access the topic in different and more effective methods for my classes. They had left on that Friday not knowing what had happened. Of ...
Sep
23
2012
23
2012
New Shakespeare Collaborative Project: Anyone Interested?
Rarely do I hit up my readers for help, but I'm looking for classrooms to participate in, what I believe to be, a cool interdisciplinary Project Based Learning opportunity that combines Shakespeare and the digital era.
I was talking to Nina ...
Sep
22
2012
22
2012
What is the Purpose of School?
At the top of the school year, I showed my students the following video by John Green:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x78PnPd-V-A
I then asked them what they felt was the purpose of school. "Write what you feel," I asked, "not what you assume I want ...
Sep
01
2012
01
2012
Middle School Classroom Management Tip: Collaboration and Fluid Grouping Trick
Here's a little fluid grouping trick I've written about in the past. I thought it might be fun to just record something to make it a little more tangible. The basic thought is that you can insert a little content ...
Aug
01
2012
01
2012
Edutopia Post: How Can We Make Assessments Meaningful?
My most recent post for Edutopia focuses on Meaningful Assessments. I'm currently working on that chapter for my new book, and it's been on the brain as of late.
In this post, I talk about using the 4Cs (Creativity, Critical-Thinking, Collaboration, ...
Apr
24
2012
24
2012
40 Strategies for Teaching ELD Students
I love the teachers in my Language Arts department. Ever since I became department chair, they have been willing to go on so many curricular adventures with me. If I ask to try a collaborative website, they are game. If ...



