In our social studies PLC, we brainstormed an Everest statement* a couple of months ago, and I’ve been meaning to share it. The secondary social studies department aims to produce productive, contributing, and positive CITIZENS who are: –KNOWLEDGEABLE (historically, economically, and civically literate); –WISE (mature, open-minded, and globally aware); and –ENGAGED (participate in civic duties; […]
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Why ‘the Best’? Will Good Do Instead?
We lose all kinds of energy and vitality when we aim to be the best at something rather than trying to be good at it. Aiming at best will guide our hearts toward competition, comparison, and viewing others as threats. It has to. That’s what best means. There can only be one. Best means scarcity. […]
The First Key to Connecting Well with All Students is to Like Them; This Often Takes Work
Please note: Names and details in my articles are changed for the sake of protecting students’ privacy. Here’s a moment of genuine connection that stood out to me today while teaching my four classes of 120 students total. While students were doing an independent practice portion of my lesson, I pulled Kandyce into the hallway. […]
The Best Way to Make Students Feel Valued, Known, and Respected…
…is to actually value, know, and respect them.
Small Tweaks for Making Chris Hulleman’s Build Connections Intervention Work Even Better
I’ve written before about Chris Hulleman’s “Build Connections” intervention, and it’s been featured in more prominent places enough to have earned a growing spot in the “common knowledge” of educators around the world. But rolling the intervention out this year, both with my students and with some of the adult participants in my workshops these […]