Our third daughter, Marlena Grace, is a miniature tank with the face of an angel. Of our three girls, she’s been by far the quickest to upgrade her mobility skills, learning to crawl by six months and walk by nine months. (We aren’t the Parents Who Want Our Kids to Be First, either — Marly just […]
The 300-Word Guide to Long-Term Flourishing
Confused about the term “long-term flourishing?” Let’s clear it up in about 300 words. Long-term flourishing is the real purpose of schooling. It’s what every educator and parent on the planet hopes for their children. Long-term because we love the child not just for today or this year, but also in 20 years; flourishing because we know […]
Beyond the Fear of Public Speaking: Making the First Pop-Up Debate a Success for All Students
Every school year, I have students who are anxious to the point of nausea about speaking in front of their peers. And, every school year, I have a student or two who goes through a transformation similar to Rebekah’s. Let’s take a look at her story (click here for video). I’m not sure if Rebekah’s newfound desire for a career in politics is something I should celebrate or mourn, but what I do know is that Rebekah is a zestier, more courageous and confident young woman…
Starting Strong with the “Transformative” & Simple Think-Pair-Share Strategy
In order for my students to progress to successful pop-up debates, and to drastically increase the quantity of speaking they’ll do during their time in my room, I need to start with the simplest possible training ground for verbal communication: two people having a conversation. Toward that end, the first week of school finds me teaching Frank Lyman’s […]
3,500 Teachers Can’t Be Wrong: We Need Permission to Focus
I think that there are hundreds of thousands of teachers, coaches, and administrators who are dying to be told, “If you and your students are working on this handful of things, repeatedly and with increasing skill, throughout the school year as you move through your curriculum, you’re okay.” Those last words, especially, are important: “You’re […]