…want us to be successful. I really believe that. In The Will to Learn, I made an argument I believe with every cell in my body: all students *want* to want to care about learning. They want to be motivated. And they want this for the same reason I prefer eating a great meal to […]
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The Biggest Problem (and Opportunity) With Educational AI…
…is that it’s forcing us to grapple with answers to basic questions. Questions like: High-quality, comprehensive, and evidence-supported answers are the only ones that work here. If we assume we’re all in agreement on what an education is for and then proceed to work at answering what it takes to get there, we’ll end up […]
The Subversive Nature of a Good Mini-Sermon
Dear colleague, A great mini-sermon is a subversive little bit of messaging. In 30-60 seconds, the teacher communicates in an “oh, by the way” manner that learning is good for all kinds of reasons. As they do this over time, they try to paint with all the colors of the Rainbow of Why. When we […]
It Works If We Work It
Dear colleague, A while ago, our colleague Katie from Des Moines wrote in the following: Just wanted to say thank you for putting words to what I always vaguely knew to be true about teacher credibility. As I started the school year, I really focused on MGCs, mini sermons, using time well, and giving quick […]
Wishing You a Regret-Free Winter Break 
Dear colleague, This’ll be my last article of 2024; thank you for reading and teaching right beside me this year. (This is the halfway mark of the eighteenth year of my teaching career. Just when I think I’ve got this job figured out, providence brings along a set of challenges that make it feel brand […]