Heather Wolpert-Gawron

Test Prep-Bubbling Power

By heather 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?

By heather 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

By heather 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

Congrats Neil Gaiman!

By heather on January 28, 2009

All hail the mighty Neil Gaiman! I can’t say that I actually called it, but I did recommend The Graveyard Book, did I not? Yes, it seems The Sandman himself has gone and won the Newbery Award. So congrats

Marketing Metacognition

By heather 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

By heather 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

Recalling your own Metacognition

By heather 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

NewsHour with Jim Leher: Michelle Rhee

By heather on January 17, 2009

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,

Skills vs. Strategies: UCI Writing Project Challenge

By heather on January 16, 2009

The UCI Writers Project has monthly meetings for its alumni where we discuss certain topics, bringing our field studies and expertise into the conversation. Last night we tackled an issue related to developing a common language: Skills vs. Strategies. Many

Sesame Street: Word on the Street

By heather on January 12, 2009

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

But what if the child does everything in their power to be “left behind?”

By heather on January 11, 2009

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

Is Cursive Really a 21st Century Skill or is it History?

By heather on January 5, 2009

Look, we all agree, that our job is to prepare our students for their future by teaching 21st Century skills, right? Well, then why is cursive even a continuing debate? We can no longer afford to spend time on

Differentiating New Teacher Support Programs

By heather on December 23, 2008

OK, so we preach about differentiating our lessons. We preach about differentiating our students. We preach about differentiating our assessments. But what about differentiating the requirements of our new teacher programs?

CUE update of my sessions

By heather on December 16, 2008

So I will be presenting again at CUE this year. My session, “Podcasting with 70 Middle Schoolers – RU Crazy?!” has received some great comments in the past and as I’ve tweaked the class, I’ve updated my presentation as well.

Hola, soy redesignated…

By heather on November 7, 2008

So, please, somebody tell me how this scenario is best for the child: Recently, I received a student, a full quarter into the school year, from our ELD classes. That’s not the problem as much as the fact that she

The Carnival #178 is in town!

By heather on July 2, 2008

The Carnival #178 has come to town!

Surely Shakespeare has a sniglet for it?

By heather on June 21, 2008

What's a word for both grateful and frustrated?

Competition in Schools: Comment on Nancy Flanagan’s article

By heather on April 30, 2008

In this article I comment on Nancy Flanagan's blog and give my own take on competition in the classroom.