Heather Wolpert-Gawron

Viewing: writing

Pencils to 3D-Printers: A New Kind of Language Arts Class

By on February 7, 2016

  “The printers have been ordered.  Fingers crossed.  Here we go…..” This was the email I received two weeks ago from my principal who is working with me to develop a whole new kind of Language Arts class.  The plan

Tips on Embedding Evidence: Writing with Numeracy

By on December 12, 2013

As we journey deeper into the world of Common Core, the need for factual evidence rather than emotional opinion becomes more and more vital.  So that got me thinking in a more targeted way: as an ELA teacher, what are

Twitter as Think Aloud

Twitter as Think Aloud

By on April 13, 2009

I was reading through my Digg headlines this weekend, and I happened on this article of the top 10 most extraordinary Twitter updates.  I also did some digging (no pun intended) and found articles that range in claiming that there

Finding Your Own Theme in Life

Finding Your Own Theme in Life

By on March 20, 2009

I have an article in the new March/April issue of Imagine Magazine, put out by Johns Hopkins.  It’s a beautiful magazine, whose audience is gifted middle schoolers.  It’s always a pleasure to write for a middle school audience.  I can

A teacher’s duty?

A teacher’s duty?

By on March 20, 2009

So by now I assume we’ve all heard of the sanctioned “cage fighting” in a Dallas, TX school.  As AP reports, school officials apparently condoned the use of a steel cage in which students could bare-knuckle fight their way towards

Extreme Makeover: Classroom Edition

Extreme Makeover: Classroom Edition

By on March 11, 2009

There’s been so much talk lately of deep-needed reforms for education, but we neglect just how powerful a simple makeover can be.  I’m lucky to currently work at a school that has a patch of green, which fixes the broken

CUE Conference: Podcasting with 70 Middle Schoolers – RU Crazy?

CUE Conference: Podcasting with 70 Middle Schoolers – RU Crazy?

By on March 7, 2009

So here’s my Keynote presentation for all of you who wanted to flip through it for some reminders.  To open up my handouts, click here.   Hope you all enjoyed the session, and feel free to drop me a line

How to be an Ed Tech Advocate

How to be an Ed Tech Advocate

By on March 7, 2009

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

The Importance of The Classroom Library

The Importance of The Classroom Library

By on March 1, 2009

I believe a classroom library is the heartbeat of a teacher’s environment.  It is the window into their own personality, and it reflects the importance of literacy in the classroom.  I believe every teacher, no matter the subject taught, should

DARPA to create metacognitively aware robots

DARPA to create metacognitively aware robots

By on February 24, 2009

The Register reports that DARPA (Defense Advance Research Projects Agency) is currently researching how to create robots that are “like some self-aware computer systems capable of “meta-reasoning” and “introspection…”  Their goal is to “Provide machines with an ability to reason

Am I So Past My Prime?

Am I So Past My Prime?

By on February 21, 2009

Somehow, and maybe I’m reading into it here, I feel a little written off already.  Education Week is reporting that some districts are pondering the possibility of “front-loading” new teacher salaries, increasing their compensation earlier in their career to aid

“I Statements” in Expository Writing

“I Statements” in Expository Writing

By on February 18, 2009

This weekend I’m presenting at the CATE conference in Santa Clara, CA.  It’s a session on developing high level, critical-thinking commentary in expository writing.  My feeling is that great commentary is the Voice in Expository, it is the Show, Not

Starting from scratch in teacher training

Starting from scratch in teacher training

By on February 18, 2009

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

Test Prep-Bubbling Power

Test Prep-Bubbling Power

By on February 2, 2009

So I looked at my 8th grade students’ scores after they took the MMA and sighed.  Their scores sucked.  

Is EdTech changing how students think or is it addressing the changes in student thinking?

Is EdTech changing how students think or is it addressing the changes in student thinking?

By on January 29, 2009

Science Daily is reporting that there has been a shift in how students are thinking as a result of their use of technology.  They believe it possibly lowers critical thinking skills and analysis.  Additionally, they wonder just how much schools

My New Interactive Whiteboard…an update

My New Interactive Whiteboard…an update

By on January 28, 2009

OK, you know when you get a new puppy and you love it and you couldn’t live without it and then you find out it has hip dysplasia?   That’s a little of what my relationship is like with my

Marketing Metacognition

Marketing Metacognition

By on January 25, 2009

So I just got the January MindWare catalogue and I realize that here we have a toy catalogue that is solely for metacognitive purchases.  So this got me thinking: how can schools market metacognition?  I realized, of course, that until

Asking for Student Opinions Isn’t Risky, It’s Rewarding

Asking for Student Opinions Isn’t Risky, It’s Rewarding

By on January 24, 2009

I was reading this great article from Slate Magazine about the cheese that is Billy Joel.  And I thought back to many a car trip singing his “Themes from an Italian Restaurant.”  I also remembered just how many times I’d

Metacognitive Poetry: Writing About Thinking While Writing Lesson

Metacognitive Poetry: Writing About Thinking While Writing Lesson

By on January 23, 2009

Here’s a great metacognitive lesson that integrates poetry.  Or is it a poetry lesson that is metacognitive?  (Shrug)  I believe that good writing and great structure can be taught through mimicking great authors.  Using this philosophy as my guide, my

Recalling your own Metacognition

Recalling your own Metacognition

By on January 20, 2009

I’ve been working on metacognitive lessons with my middle schoolers in an attempt to teach reflection and the act of thinking about thinking.  Anyway, one of the most important elements in teaching about thinking is in your own remembering of