I’ve been involved in a local initiative as of late.  We are trying to develop a long-term strategic plan for our school system.  I am part of two subcommittees, each of which are comprised of administrators, teaches, parents and community members.  It is a noble cause, in part designed to open communication between the different [...]

Today my home district kicked off its year-long, job-embedded, professional development opportunity with Powerful Learning Practice, founded by Will Richardson and Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach.  The 45 teachers from SAU 16 who will be a part of the TristatePLP cohort began the process of thinking about and challenging the way they think about teaching and learning.  It [...]

Think back.  Think back to your teachers.  1st grade.  2nd grade.  3rd.  4th.  5th….  Now, think of the greatest lesson plan your teacher(s) ever created. Think about the objectives they wrote on the board.  Think about the assessments (pre and post) they used.  Think about the ice breakers they employed.  Think about how they differentiated [...]

I attended a local committee meeting this evening where it was suggested that it might be okay for kids to have bad teachers so they learn to “live with it”, that in “real life” (whatever that means) they are going to have to deal with less than adequate coworkers, bosses, peers, etc. and that by [...]