Let Them Think!

Let Them Think!

For years we have discussed the importance of student engagement in classrooms. Of course we want students engaged in their learning rather than being passive or non-participatory, however, the ways in which we have monitored or evaluated student engagement don’t...
Read Like a Detective. Write Like a Reporter.

Read Like a Detective. Write Like a Reporter.

This post has been updated from its original 2012 publish date. I recently stumbled across a quote that, for me, sums up so perfectly the Common Core State Standards and how they demand a more focused and rigorous classroom approach to prepare students as competitive...
Art has the power…

Art has the power…

When someone asks me why the arts are important to learning, I usually respond by describing my own experience in using the arts to excite learners. One such experience follows.  Here is the scene: A narrow, windowless room in an urban middle school, with twelve desks...
Creating a Great School

Creating a Great School

In less than three weeks my daughter will graduate from high school.  Having a mother as a long-time educator makes her more appreciative than most students of the job that teachers do, and often more patient when learning is not as engaging or meaningful as it could...