Inherent Value

Inherent Value

  If a student is interested in learning something, there's inherently a value in that.  So many times we dismiss what a student wants to learn because we consider it…
What He Said

What He Said

  My morning did not go so well. From the moment I walked in, I was besieged with complaints, students having difficulty, phone calls I needed to return, and several…
Long Term Implications

Long Term Implications

  I work in a school with students who are seven and eight years old.  I focus a majority of my time focusing on helping to meet the students' daily…
Questions for Today

Questions for Today

  A Challenge for Monday: Write down five questions you want to reflect upon today.  Think carefully about the questions and be sure to write them down.  Allow your students…
Joy is an Intervention

Joy is an Intervention

  It’s such a simple phrase but I find it so powerful. Joy is an intervention. It’s so freeing. My friend, Dr. Mary Howard, wrote these words in a facebook…
The Dominant Voice

The Dominant Voice

  Is there a dominant voice in your classroom? Is it yours? Does it belong to a student? Or a group of students?   Are you the dominant voice? Do…
Learners vs. Finishers

Learners vs. Finishers

  Last week, I was visiting a classroom which has this poster hanging on the wall: When I went into the classroom, students were about to engage in their first…
The #4OCF Challenge

The #4OCF Challenge

  Joining the Four O'Clock Faculty means going that extra mile to be sure that you are improving your own learning and the learning of your students.  It also means…
Stop Standing Still

Stop Standing Still

  Another year begins, and some are ready to approach it as they have many times before.  For those of you who don't realize it though, we do not work…
Some Magic Advice

Some Magic Advice

Magic Johnson is arguably the greatest point guard in NBA history. His pedigree began with championships in high school and college, then followed with an NBA Championship in his rookie…