Last week, I had the incredible privilege of hosting Representative Jonathan Larkin (District 30) at my school for the first annual Take Your Legislator to School Day (TYLTS). TYLTS Day originated under the leadership of Bobbie O’Boyle (Arizona Education Foundation)
Read MoreTime to Grow: To Grade or to Kick Butt?
Today, a student resentfully announced in class that there was no grade in the gradebook for an essay he wrote. A month ago. I couldn’t argue. It has been sitting in the “Speedgrader” of my digital classroom for several weeks.
Read MoreMake It Work
RuPaul tells us to work it. Britney sings that we better work if we want something. However, Tim Gunn says it best. “Make it work.” He tells all his designers to take their tools, fabrics, and various odds and ends
Read MoreWhy Teachers Are Still the Experts
Sandy wrote a great post offering some push-back about the statement teachers make that “your experience as a student doesn’t make you an expert on teaching and learning.” It was the kind of post I needed to read, because I
Read MoreThe Small Things
Joey is a junior and, already, failing four classes. We have seen this many times before. The debate always sounds the same: "Joey is lazy." "Wait–maybe Joey is unmotivated" "What's the difference?"
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Everybody Knows
Everybody knows that she’s creative. Everybody knows that she’s got the ideas. Everybody knows. Well, at least the 28 miniature people that surround her know. And, sometimes some colleagues. Sometimes, some parents. But, rarely, policy makers. Rarely, leaders that define her
Read MoreDeconstructing a Teacher Leader Cliché
"Being a patient's not like being a doctor, though, is it? A doctor has to know what's wrong with people. A patient sits there and waits for the doctor to put it right." That line, spoken by a character in A
Read MoreWe Get To Do This Work!
Beginning a new year naturally brings excitement and anxiety among staff and students. Teachers have new initiatives and mandates for which they are required to implement. There is never enough time to plan and prepare before the kids return on
Read MoreAnd I’m baaaaccckkkk!!!!
After a year long "vacation,' I am back in the classroom and I can honestly say that now I know I am right where I belong. But to get to this point of self-awareness, I had to go on quite
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Saying Goodbye to Heroes
My eight year stint as principal is coming to an end this month, and I’m finding it hard to say goodbye to my colleagues. To my friends. I am often reticent to use military analogies. Terms like “heroes” and “warriors,”
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