The best teachers are the ones who put in the most time, right? Those teachers who leave early — they are the problem-teachers, aren’t they? Consider: Brazilian soccer players are often better than non-Brazilian soccer players because of their “childhood immersion” in a game called futsal — essentially a condensed version of soccer that uses […]
16 Reflective Questions to Ponder this Month
One thing I appreciate about the teaching life is its provision of dependable seasons. What I mean is that, dependably, May is a month for looking closely at the fruits of the school year that is almost over and deciding on what needs to get better in the year to come; June and July are […]
This Month, Make Space for Reflection and Anticipation
It hasn’t been uncommon for me in years past to refrain from blogging in December. I’ve done this for three reasons: You are insanely busy, and I thought you wouldn’t read what I wrote in December; I want you to be less busy in December, so I didn’t want to add reading to your plate; and I […]
Purposeful & Active “Reading to Learn”
I can’t get the image of the nursing professor out of my head. I was at Davenport University in a panel session for professors there, and I was representing high school education. During the Q & A, this professor in the nursing program stood up and asked the following questions: “Why can’t students teach themselves […]
What is the Most Pointless Thing You Do as an Educator?
If a task didn’t flash into your mind the moment you read this post’s title, then take a minute to consider the question until something comes to you: What is the most pointless thing you do as an educator? I don’t mean to be crass with the question, either. What I’m aiming at, really, is a visceral […]