It's no secret that Erika Christakis' book The Importance of Being Little: What Preschoolers Really Need from Grownups is currently blowing my mind. I've texted the cover of the book to approximately three dozen friends and family members, I've posted about its "must-read"-ness on both Facebook and Twitter, and I've attempted to record all of my favorite lines… Continue reading For Your Consideration: 5 Educational “What Ifs”
Tag: education
Hey Teach #3 (Comic)
Hello educator friends, Over the past several years--hell, for almost two decades now--I've been thinking a lot about how to express my discomfort with the dichotomous nature of a lot that we see, hear, and talk about in education. For example, I've written about growth mindset before here, and about the messages about learning we… Continue reading Hey Teach #3 (Comic)
A Call to Educational Filmmakers
Several weeks ago, I had the opportunity to screen one of a number of documentaries about U.S. education that have been produced within the last ten to fifteen years. This one, like those that have come both before and after it [see: Race to Nowhere (2010), Beyond Measure (2015), Waiting for Superman (2010), etc.], railed… Continue reading A Call to Educational Filmmakers
Four Stories That Homework Tells Children About School, Learning, & Life
At the risk of sounding like Captain Obvious, I must begin by acknowledging that the topic of homework is a hot-button one. Several times within the past few months, I have been part of a Twitter conversation about homework that has effectively blown up my digital devices with each resuscitation. "Homework" as a concept makes… Continue reading Four Stories That Homework Tells Children About School, Learning, & Life
Edu-“Jargon,” or Professional Discourse?
Let me just begin by saying that I get the annoyance regarding the plethora of acronyms that plague our profession. Last spring I, along with a roomful of other educators who would've preferred to be outside soaking up the afternoon sun, was subjected to a "quiz" on these acronyms as part of a district-wide mentor/mentee meeting. After… Continue reading Edu-“Jargon,” or Professional Discourse?
My So-Called Literacy Life 