As a supervisor for pre-service teachers, part of my role involves helping them prepare for job interviews. Facing principals and other school administrators in an effort to land a job can be a very nerve-wracking experience. One of the best ways I...
Please go ahead and finish this statement: a gifted student is like…
What did you say or write? What images did your simile draw upon? Do you view gifted students as “shining star,” “shooting rockets,” or “diamonds in the rough?”
If your similes...
I think this might be one of the least discussed, possibly most important, aspects of teacher preparation: learning to pace yourself on the job.
Student teachers study curriculum, classroom management, and other basics but how much time is...
During their preparation years, teachers likely learn to ensure that assessment appropriately aligns with learning objectives. However, the words real-world and authentic are often also associated with assessment. While it sounds nice, just how do...
Let’s make no mistake: differentiation requires extra time and effort. Individualizing instruction and making it appropriate to diverse learners requires additional planning, additional resources, and more attention to detail. I see no way around...
Examine any standard lesson plan template and you’ll likely to see the same categories and domains: standards, learning objectives, step-by-step plans, accommodations for various student populations, assessment, etc.
Lesson-planning is fundamental...
When you’re in the classroom, are you really there? When a student asks you a question, are you really listening? When collaborating with other teachers on lesson plans, are you truly present?
Of course, you say. I’m in the classroom; I’m with the...
The lotus flower has been a symbol in Buddhism tradition as well as Hinduism and Egyptian culture. For example, Buddhists have come to associate the flower with beauty and purity and as a symbol of spiritual awakening. The flower is certainly...
In recent years, educational experts have debated the concept of differentiation—that is varying/altering curriculum, content, and teaching methods to meet the individualized needs of students.
Let me join this conversation by saying that first, I...
Teaching is a very stressful profession. I have personally experienced the demands of being a teacher and observed colleagues also deal with the stressors of the job, ranging from high-stakes testing, demanding parents, increased paperwork,...