We surveyed administrators in the fall of 2021 and again in 2022 to discover the top concerns on K-12 administrators minds. In 2021, the top 3 concerns were learning loss, mental health, and teacher morale. And in 2022, the top 3 concerns were student engagement, improving teaching and learning, and teacher morale. So, administrators areContinue reading “7 Ways to Kick-Start Student Engagement”
Category Archives: Instruction
5 Ways to Get Started With Project-Based Learning
It’s time our schools function less as factories that churn out pupils laden with decontextualized content knowledge, and more as innovation zones that develop the next generation of problem solvers. What if schools were beacons of curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking? There’s never been a better time to create classrooms that matter, to make project-basedContinue reading “5 Ways to Get Started With Project-Based Learning”
5 Must Haves For Your School’s PLCs
Many schools claim to have productive and comprehensive Professional Learning Communities. However, most of these schools are only scratching the surface when it comes to true collaboration and creating a student-centered approach. There are several elements that must be in place for any PLC to be successful and purposeful. If these elements are not inContinue reading “5 Must Haves For Your School’s PLCs”
Conference Teaser!!!
Be prepared for a transformational experience that will empower and inspire!
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 Educational Concepts to Eliminate in 2021
2020 was a rough year on everyone in education. Schools across the country were closed to in-person learning due to fear of virus spreading throughout communities. Instead of classrooms, students learned from their teachers from their bedrooms, kitchens, dens, and day care facilities open for essential workers. Teachers were forced to pivot quickly from in-personContinue reading “5 Educational Concepts to Eliminate in 2021”
5 Educational Concepts We Need to Eliminate in 2020 (Distance Learning Edition)
As the 2020-21 school year opens, schools and classrooms across the country are eerily quiet. Millions of students are beginning the school year remote learning from home. Teachers have spent weeks and months preparing for this change as COVID-19 failed to dissipate over the summer. Instead of back-to-school shopping, parents frantically worked to figure outContinue reading “5 Educational Concepts We Need to Eliminate in 2020 (Distance Learning Edition)”
5 Ways Principals Can Lead In A Virtual Environment
Many school districts across the country are either choosing or being mandated to begin the 2020-2021 school year with distance learning. While this is disappointing to so many of us, we must also recognize our new reality and put measures in place to ensure that students experience a robust and comprehensive online learning environment.
School principals will be critical in supporting this robust environment. Teachers and parents will be looking for leadership during these uncertain and ever-changing times. Principals must rise to this challenge and bring together communities.
Here are 5 ways for principals to lead remote schools:
5 Ideas for Literacy Centers
Empirical research informs us that students retain more information when performing hands-on tasks and getting actively involved in the learning process. Active learning increased student engagement, student learning outcomes, and helps students develop teamwork and collaboration skills. Creating and utilizing literacy centers is a great way to engage young students in active learning. Center workContinue reading “5 Ideas for Literacy Centers”
5 Ways to Finish Out The School Year Strong
The end of the school year can be an emotional time for teachers, students, and administrators. All parties are tired, but hopefully satisfied with the progress made during the past nine months. While it would be easy to coast through the last few weeks of instruction, it is best for all to push through andContinue reading “5 Ways to Finish Out The School Year Strong”
The Principal's Desk 