Topic: Teaching & Learning
Success in School and in Life: It Starts at Birth
Return on Investment According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), early brain development is strongly affected by the child’s surroundings and experiences. Children who have positive, educational early childhood experiences are more likely to experience school success, have higher graduation rates, demonstrate higher proficiency in math and language skills, have better cognitive... Read the full article >
Developing Executive Function: An Investment Worth Making Early
These skills also support positive behaviors in the classroom and in social settings, and in fact, executive functions are now found to be more important for school readiness than a student’s intelligence quotient (IQ) (Diamond & Lee, 2011). The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University defines executive... Read the full article >
CEO Message: Back-to-School Advice from The 2015 State Teachers of the Year
Earlier this year, the 2015 State Teachers of the Year (STOY) were announced by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and recognized by the President at the White House as part of the National Teacher of the Year Program*. Therefore, who better than these distinguished teachers to kick... Read the full article >
Harnessing Inquiry Power
Capturing student attention Inquiry instruction is the process of encouraging students to ask a question and use their own problem-solving skills to find the answer. This practice provides a foundation for a classroom culture of true inquisition and authentic learning. I allow students to develop questions, find ways to answer... Read the full article >
The Role of Advocacy in Public Education
As the 2014-15 school year ended, I found myself engaging in the practice of intentional reflection. Like most practitioners, I am always eager to assess where my successes and shortcomings have occurred as they affect the quality of my students’ instruction. Yet, this year, I find that I am not... Read the full article >
Expect More
Four short words sum up what has lifted most successful individuals above the crowd: a little bit more. They did all that was expected of them and a little bit more. – A. Lou Vickery Personalized Learning The act of teaching and the act of learning are the most important... Read the full article >
Why I Became a Teacher? It Was My Destiny!
One of the most eye opening, magical and transforming experiences of my life was the day I decided to become a teacher. This extraordinary day came by accident when I visited a first grade classroom during my first year of college. It wasn’t how I wanted to spend my day... Read the full article >
Teaching the Teacher: Lessons Learned from Trusted Colleagues
You have heard it before: “Teaching—the one profession that makes all professions possible.” Teaching is an incredible adventure, and I can assure you it is not for the faint of heart. It’s a demanding but rewarding career that takes you on all sorts of twists and turns. Teaching is like... Read the full article >
“Six-Figure” Teachers
Prior to entering education almost 10 years ago, I worked my way up the corporate ladder in Fortune 500 staffing and technology companies. As a mid-level manager, I interviewed hundreds of candidates to work in various jobs, from front-desk receptionists and salespeople to regional directors. It was hard not to... Read the full article >
Teach with Fire!
Recently a first-year teacher who had questions about teaching— a lot of questions— approached me. He rattled off a string of frantic interrogations, showing his frustration with teaching, students, pacing and just about everything else related to education. One of his questions struck me hard. Incorrectly thinking I was an... Read the full article >