Every educator wants to see their students succeed – both in school and beyond. We do our best to help them grow while fostering a mindset of curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. However, at some point every student must be assessed on what they’ve learned, and this can lead to problems. After a school yearContinue reading “This Testing Season, Let’s Plan for Success”
Category Archives: Assessment
Beyond Tests: 5 Alternative Assessment Strategies
We know assessments — both formative and summative — are critical components of teaching and learning, but so often they become straight-up burdens. At best, they can be boring and uninformative. At worst, they can take on a life of their own, and overtake what we know is most important in the learning process. ThisContinue reading “Beyond Tests: 5 Alternative Assessment Strategies”
Essential Topics at June 20-21 Online Education Conference
One glance at the flyer above, and you’ll find some must-have presentations! From literacy and numeracy to data-driven MTSS strategies, you’ll discover workshops that you’ll need in order to plan your PD for the 2022-23 academic year. Our speakers and facilitators are preparing to engage you in meaningful conversations so you can immediately integrate thisContinue reading “Essential Topics at June 20-21 Online Education Conference”
Filling in the Gaps: Collecting and Analyzing the Right Student Data
We were all hoping to wake up one morning and things would be back to normal. Normal work, normal play, normal school, normal lives. We need to face the facts. We just aren’t there yet. As we look at the 2021-22 school year, we must do so with honesty, realism, and eyes wide open. ManyContinue reading “Filling in the Gaps: Collecting and Analyzing the Right Student Data “
Out with COVID, In with Big Ideas: Going Beyond Learning Loss
By Dawn McCotter, Van Andel Education Institute Learning Loss, Instructional Loss, Unfinished Learning…whatever you call it, the 2020-21 school year has left its mark on the learning process. Rather than focus on the negative, use this as an opportunity for schools to reimagine their instructional practices by leveraging the lessons learned from pandemic teaching andContinue reading “Out with COVID, In with Big Ideas: Going Beyond Learning Loss”
5 Ways to Create an Enriched Learning Environment for ALL Students
It is imperative that building principals create a school environment that is inviting, engaging, and conducive to learning for ALL students. One fundamental belief based upon the work of Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences is that ALL students are gifted and talented in some (many) area(s) beyond the findings of any formalized assessment measure. Sadly, withContinue reading “5 Ways to Create an Enriched Learning Environment for ALL Students”
5 Educational Concepts We Need To Eliminate In 2018
It has been a year since I published the article, “5 Educational Concepts We Need to Eliminate in 2017”. It has been read and shared over 40,000 times since its publication. The feedback received from this article has given me much to write about over the past year, with many other articles from The Principal’sContinue reading “5 Educational Concepts We Need To Eliminate In 2018”
Five Ways To Ensure Your Next IEP Meeting Runs Smoothly
IEP meetings are some of the most important facets of an educator’s job. Ensuring that appropriate placement and services are being provided for some our most at-risk students should always be a top priority. It is vital that these meetings are productive, collaborative, and student focused. Sadly, too often these meetings get derailed by emotions,Continue reading “Five Ways To Ensure Your Next IEP Meeting Runs Smoothly”
5 Ways to Create a Powerful Response to Intervention Plan
Schools across the country are creating intervention plans for students. However, most of these plans fall short and are just mere shells of what they could and should be. Schools are spending thousands of dollars and wasting precious time implementing plans that simply do not work, further frustrating students, teachers and parents. Students are stillContinue reading “5 Ways to Create a Powerful Response to Intervention Plan”
Five Ways to Filter Assessment Data
Assessments are useless unless you do something with the data. It is not enough to administer assessments to students and then create colorful graphs and charts that display the data. Data must be filtered down in order to see trends, outliers, areas of opportunity, and areas of strength. Overall all percentage numbers are just aContinue reading “Five Ways to Filter Assessment Data”
The Principal's Desk 