May
12
2009
12
2009
Teacher Evaluation meets Survivor
I'm not a big Survivor fan. I mean, I really hate what the people become when pitted against each other. So I don't watch it...at least not on TV. So when I read Scott McLeod's post suggesting that school communities ...
May
12
2009
12
2009
How to Battle Epic Paragraphing
Every year my nemesis rears its ugly head: the epic paragraph. Epic paragraphs are those essays comprised entirely of one mega-paragraph with no indentations to indicate transition from thought thought.
I bet you thought your kids were the only ones doing ...
Mar
09
2009
09
2009
The “Sweet Spot” in Interactive Whiteboards courtesy of Robert Marzano
CUE scored Marzano.
As he began his keynote presentation on Friday at the 2009 Computer Using Educators conference, Robert Marzano confessed that he had been slow on the tech bandwagon, only recently researching enough to see what all the fuss ...
Feb
25
2009
25
2009
Top 10: How to Take Control of Your Teaching
Occasionally, I repost this article so that new readers can find it more easily. Based on some very enthusiastic feedback, it has since morphed into a book proposal called The Top Secret New Teachers Handbook. I'll share more as it ...
Feb
02
2009
02
2009
Test Prep-Bubbling Power
So I looked at my 8th grade students' scores after they took the MMA and sighed. Their scores sucked.
Jan
17
2009
17
2009
NewsHour with Jim Leher: Michelle Rhee
I recently watched John Merrow's interview with Michelle Rhee on the NewsHour. Michelle seems like a real mixed blessing for education. On one hand, she's willing to clean house, and education does seriously need it. On the other hand, however, ...
Jan
12
2009
12
2009
Sesame Street: Word on the Street
OK, so as I write this I'm watching Sesame Street with my 2 year old. This big-feathered muppet just announced that the Word on the Street is, get this...Struggle. I kid you not. I guess times are tough even on ...
Jan
11
2009
11
2009
But what if the child does everything in their power to be “left behind?”
The Boston Globe is reporting that some students deliberately "shoot themselves in their own foot." Some of the reason is that trying hard is frightening. Now, don’t get all uppity. Let’s face it; even the most mature of adults may ...
Oct
01
2008
01
2008
The snail wins the race…with RSP
Just a brief post of victory to share:
At the beginning of Sept 2007, I gave a pre-assessment to my class in order to learn their levels and begin the process of differentiation. I looked through the results and my gaze ...
Sep
06
2008
06
2008
Should a free education be unconditional?
So you know when you get your group of kids on the first day, there are those who immediately set off your alarms? Well, that definitely happened to me on my first day.
I have a student who clearly needs help. ...

