Oct
11
2009
11
2009
The Neglected Field Trip & and Bridging the Achievement Gap
When I think of my advanced students, a key element that sets them apart from their lesser-achieving peers are their life experiences, the education that they are getting in their off-time outside of school.
Apr
11
2009
11
2009
Fictional Crushes
OK, don't tell my husband, but I have a fictional crush. That is, I have a crush based on a fictitious character. I think I've always had one, but the object of my literary love has always changed with my ...
Mar
25
2009
25
2009
Teaching Secrets: Finding a Job That You Love
Know a teacher who got a pink slip? Maybe my newest post at Teacher Magazine can help. Click here for the article.
It's Step 1 of my Top Secret New Teacher Handbook. Hope it creates some shortcuts, a machete even, through ...
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 ...
Mar
07
2009
07
2009
How to be an Ed Tech Advocate
OK, guys. So I got it from the horse's mouth at CUE. According to the ISTE Director of Governmental Affairs, No Child Left Behind is not going away.
In the weeks leading up to the election, the Obama administration talked ...
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
23
2009
23
2009
The Death of Teacher Conferences or I Can’t Believe I Miss My Canvas Bag
So, CATE (the California Association of Teachers of English) just came to an end. The hotel was lovely. All ran smoothly. We were greeted with smiles aplenty, and everything ran on time. Sheridan Blau, Kelly Gallagher, Carol Booth Olson, Taylor ...
Feb
18
2009
18
2009
Starting from scratch in teacher training
I recently heard Judy Willis (of "syn-naps" fame) speak at a conference. In her pre-teaching life, she was a neurologist and she brings her knowledge to the classroom and to her lectures. (See my recently published article in Teacher Magazine, "My ...
Feb
18
2009
18
2009
Here’s why test scores shouldn’t be the only criteria…
OK, so my first period's "Advanced" group went up 40% between their 1st district assessment and their 2nd. Another period went up 37%. Even my Honors class went from 81% Advanced to 97% Advanced, with only 1 student found in ...
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.

