Feb
26
2010
26
2010
Part 2 of 3: The Future of Teacher Prep Programs
In yesterday's post, Part I of 3: The Future of Teacher Prep Programs, I fantasized about what a credential program might look like years down the line. Here is Part II of my post that will address the following ...
Feb
25
2010
25
2010
Part I of 3: The Future of Teacher Prep Programs
My credential program was more of a necessary hoop than a valuable preparation program. My Ed Psych professor read his screenplay to us all semester long. My Methods of Math professor hadn’t been in a classroom for 30 ...
Jan
21
2010
21
2010
I’ll Take that Education to Go: Individualization vs. Standardization
We live in a world of double-decaf-non-fat-lattes-with-room. We live in a world that is slowly beginning to customize everything from our coffee orders to our spa treatments. But it won't just stop with luxury items.
Some teachers complain about ...
Dec
19
2009
19
2009
Studies Find There’s No Such Thing as Learning Styles – As Teachers, Should We Care?
According to Psychcentral.com, "Learning Styles are being re-evaluated" and negated. This theory, according to a recently published journal article claims that there is really no research out there to prove that students learn differently from one another.
Shrug. Cue ...
Sep
19
2009
19
2009
Costa’s Levels of Questioning and Student-Designed Assessments
So this week I introduced Costa's Levels of Questioning to my students. We have some teachers on my site talking about these triggers of metacognition so it compliments everyone's efforts to enter this discussion in the classroom. Costa's is, in ...
Jul
12
2009
12
2009
Facebook Quizzes and Lesson Planning
It used to be 4 colors that defined the differences between personalities: gold, blue, green, and orange. Then it advanced to 8 slices of a pie used to categorize the different intelligences: linguistic, logical, naturalistic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, visual/spatial, kinesthetic, musical. There are ...
Jul
05
2009
05
2009
Standards Conversation #1: Should Education Take a Tip from Starbucks?
Starbucks is the ultimate in differentiation. In fact, it's built an empire on providing individualized, one-on-one product to any member of its clientele, no questions asked. Cute, young baristas (some with piercings, some without) hand out drinks with a smile, ...
Jun
26
2009
26
2009
Student-Designed Schools
This year, my 8th graders all produced a multi-genre project during 4th Quarter that focused on possible careers of their choice. But I went a step further with my 8th grade Honors class. They not only had to research ...
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 ...
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 ...

