I’m Thankful For…

I’m Thankful For…

  This week, we will take time away from our students and classrooms to celebrate and give thanks with family and friends. While we do this, it is important to…
20 Words: The Problem

20 Words: The Problem

  The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem. Do you understand? - Captain Jack Sparrow   We always focus way too much on…
Cover Bands

Cover Bands

They say that cover bands don't change the world. The idea is that only original ideas are successful, while copies of original ideas are not. But most bands or singers…
All Children Can Comprehend

All Children Can Comprehend

  The Art of Comprehension is built on the idea that nearly all students, non-readers, striving readers and beginning readers can decode visual texts such as illustrations and paintings, effectively.…
The Dreaded District PD Day

The Dreaded District PD Day

  We’ve all been there. The Dreaded District PD Day.   Some still call it an in-service. Some try to jazz it up and call it a Staff Professional Learning…
What is Arts Education for?

What is Arts Education for?

  If we are asking the questions, what is arts education for? Why do we have it? And perhaps more importantly, why do we need it? Canned, highly predictable projects,…
Drinking from the Fire Hose

Drinking from the Fire Hose

  Inspired by Seth today.   Stop drinking from the fire hose.   I was recently having a conversation with another administrator. Like me, he is also in his first…
I Do We Do You Do

I Do We Do You Do

  I love the gradual release model of I Do, We Do, You Do but I find a lot students benefit from a more modified version that looks a bit…
Does That Make Sense

Does That Make Sense

  I was recently talking to an educator who had the opportunity to attend a professional development session which was scheduled for 3 hours. There was a ten minute break…
The Art of Comprehension

The Art of Comprehension

  I could not be more excited to share that my upcoming book, The Art of Comprehension: Exploring Visual Texts to Foster Comprehension, Conversation and Confidence, is heading into the…