Leadership · Curriculum · STEM
July 19, 2019
Hey, Friends! Like millions of educators and organizational leadership enthusiasts around the world, I’ve been reading and rereading Brene Brown‘s book: dare to lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. For those who’ve read it, I’m on number 14 in The Armory. Again. For those who haven’t read it, I’m on Read more…
July 11, 2019
While attending my district’s WCPSSITLMS Convergence Learning Symposium three years ago, I was listening to George Couros present reasons why educators should build their own digital portfolio. Online features would include a professional profile as an about.me page, sharing resources through social media, and reflecting on our experiences through blogging. Read more…
July 7, 2019
I don’t know it all. And I think most people would agree that they don’t, either. But here’s the super scary thing. There’s more! As a classroom teacher, there were so many things I didn’t know… that I didn’t know. Nothing has made me more aware of this simple truth Read more…
June 10, 2019
I love presenting. I’m always fascinated by the different kinds of presentation formats available nowadays. The infrastructure of the presentation may be even more important than the message itself. It’s true. And knowing your space, setup, and schedule of activities will directly impact how effective you are in communicating your Read more…
June 9, 2019
Social Emotional Learning is a big deal in schools and life today. Our kids are persevering through challenges unprecedented. Navigating human interaction as adults is no easy feat either, it seems. Therefore, it’s not hard to imagine why there might be so many pedestal problems–even amidst total clarity, context, and Read more…
June 7, 2019
Ahhh… The Field Trip. One of the best learning opportunities of all time. Nothing beats the real thing. Nothing beats being there. Nothing beats learning by doing… the real thing. As far as teaching and learning go, it doesn’t get any better than this. But even when packed with all Read more…
June 3, 2019
Dear Friends, it’s with a very heavy heart that I share this with you tonight. I’m not doing very well at all. In fact, I’m really failing, here. Of the many things I deeply ponder, this battle is getting the best of me. I’ve been doing a lot of deep Read more…
May 29, 2019
As a younger, fifth grade science teacher (not too long ago), I made a lot of mistakes that I wish I could go back and redo. When speaking to a parent about our North Carolina fifth grade weather standards recently, some of these past mistakes came back to me. Mistake Read more…
In my last post: 3 Takeaways from My District Presentation, I expressed my passion–and the need–for learning by doing: “The reason why learning by doing is so powerful is because when learners do something or create something, they actively live the experience. Their brains archive the message, recall key words and ideas, Read more…
May 28, 2019
This was an experience that I’ll never forget. It made my educator heart smile, and it wasn’t about me at all. Connecting like this can be a game changer. Recently, I presented #Hashtag180 to my district’s Elementary Science Specialist Professional Learning Team (PLT). There were so many things I loved about Read more…
May 23, 2019
It’s fascinating to hear stories about how people landed their first big job. There was this one conversation in a grocery store aisle or a Starbucks. You and your employer attended the same college. And this in-law had a friend in another state who had that connection. A leader in Read more…
May 20, 2019
I love blogging. It truly helps me deeply process those experiences that mean so much to me. This reflecting helps me think through things, research what I don’t know, check my blind spots, and even revisit the archive to see where I may have been… wrong, misguided, or simply inexperienced Read more…
May 19, 2019
Until this moment, phrases like small wins or short-term wins seemed like buzz words to me. I admit that deep down, I thought: “Awwwwww… a small win… isn’t that cute. I mean, really, who doesn’t love a good pep rally? Grab the pompoms and get your cheer on! Since the astronomical Read more…
May 13, 2019
Every kid doesn’t get a ribbon. Capitalism, sports, and the cool kids club produce actual winners and losers. Healthy competition molds our character and helps us become better. But now, a recent conversation with a friend is making me think of another winning perspective. I’m not sure if I completely Read more…
May 9, 2019
I’ll never forget this conversation. It was real. And it has changed my life. On my flight to the ASCD #Empower19 Conference, I had a heart-to-heart conversation with a fellow educator sitting next to me. He was asking me about my career, life, and family. I appreciated the dialogue and Read more…
May 7, 2019
I’m super concerned for our kids today. And you can’t help but feel for them. They’re growing up in a world changing faster than ever–and accelerating all the more as we speak. At no time in history have we been so bombarded with so many stimuli, technologies, communications, and outright Read more…
A major challenge we have in education is knowing our learners, exactly what we teach and learn, and how those two best go together–and in that order. From teachers to administrators to tech folks, we all have standards to guide our instruction, and we strive to innovate inside the box. Read more…
April 30, 2019
Life moves pretty fast. People move on. Ain’t it funny how life changes? You’ve heard all the cliches, movie lines, and song lyrics. But when it comes to our personal lives, change hurts. Profound wisdom rots in the hearts of the grieving. That friend who worked so closely with you Read more…
April 26, 2019
I absolutely love the conference experience. Although online learning comes with its flexible benefits, nothing beats the real thing. There’s something so special about the face-to-face connection. From ignite talks to snapshots to workshops, there’s sure to be something for everyone at a conference. And if there’s also something for Read more…
April 16, 2019
In a galaxy so milky, stimuli run rampant. Every boom, crash, pow, and flash conjures up curiosity and drives deep dialogue. As a passionate, lifelong learner, every opportunity—a learning opportunity. Under the Microscope It’s easy to get caught up in a whirlwind of wonderment. There are so many phenomena to analyze, and Read more…
April 5, 2019
You know that person. At the neighborhood block party, she’s the rabble-rouser. At dinner with friends, he keeps rehashing malicious memories. At work, that person thrives on hype. That person is all about… the drama. Got drama? Stir it. No drama? Create it. Only a little drama? Proliferate it. A lot of Read more…
April 2, 2019
Differentiation is hard. Any classroom teacher especially knows the rigors of striving to address the needs of the whole child–for every child. In a way, being all things to all people might be easier than being or providing different things to different learners. At least equality is consistent; it’s equity Read more…
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