So here’s the good news: a lot of teachers have experienced rich, rewarding careers in education, and a lot of teachers are even doing that right now in the midst of all the topsy turvy. On most days, I count myself among this group. Despite its difficulty, this work remains an excellent way to spend […]
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Highly Qualified < Highly Competent
(Forgive me if what follows is obvious.) What we’ve called “highly qualified” since No Child Left Behind is not a super useful construct for deciding who should do what in a school building. It’s a way of making sure that the people leading the classrooms once passed enough classes and tests and practica to earn a […]
It Might Not Be Zoom Fatigue
What if it’s not about the screen or the format but is instead about meetings that lack a purpose, an urgent agenda, a vibrant culture, a shared sense of “Isn’t it such a good feeling to be here with one another?” What if the problem isn’t Zoom but is instead an undercurrent of meaninglessness, valuelessness, […]
What If Schools Were Places Where the Value of Learning Was Obvious?
What would it be like if you went into a school building and shadowed a student for a day, and during that day you and the student experienced 100 or so signals that pointed to the following truths: Learning is transformative. When you learn what the solar system is and how stars work, you don’t […]
Ten Things Leaders Can Do to Improve Teacher Morale in Early 2021
According to a recent EdWeek survey, teacher morale isn’t great in the United States right now — at least not according to us teachers. Take a look: When you look at that, you might be nodding your head. Me too. Not exactly a revelation, right? A pause for perspective: it’s not only us Now listen. […]