Engagement versus Accountability
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Engagement versus Accountability

  The longer this goes, the more we will need to think about engagement versus accountability. In the best of situations, we would be able to have both. But we…
I Miss It All
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I Miss It All

  What do I miss the most?   The fist bumps each morning as students enter the building. When a Kindergarten student asks me to tie their shoe. The hum…
Turn This Thing Around
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Turn This Thing Around

  Let me begin by saying that you can’t believe everything you see on the internet. I know this. I understand. When I first saw the video, I wasn’t sure…
Is Everyone OK?
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Is Everyone OK?

  Begin with one question: How are you?   It’s the only way to start right now. Everything else that follows won’t mean anything without it.   Ask and make…
De-Standardize the Writing Process
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De-Standardize the Writing Process

  Every student sits and writes. They share their thoughts based on the prompt from the teacher. Each child will complete a pre-writing graphic organizer, then complete a first draft,…
Long Term Thinking Caps
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Long Term Thinking Caps

  Right now we need to put on our long term thinking caps. Yes, what we do for the next few weeks is exceedingly critical. But the real question we…
We’ve Never Done It That Way
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We’ve Never Done It That Way

  Even before we reached our current state of education, we used to bemoan a certain phrase. That’s the way we’ve always done it. (TTWWADI) Now, as conversations are happening…
Just One Day
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Just One Day

  There are a million different things that you want to do in your classroom. And often you don’t try them because of a simple excuse. “We don’t have time.”…
It’s Not a Race
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It’s Not a Race

  It’s not a race. What we are learning right now is that there is a lot more that is important compared to covering standards, taking tests, and administering curriculum.…