The Best-Laid Plans of Grown-Ups

Whatever is going on in the country needs serious attention by educators. To assume that children aren't hearing the news, even with one ear, is misguided. They need help making sense of news about violence, lying, sexual harassment, racism, bias, and xenophobia. Before entering into conversations, or inviting speakers, or teaching these topics, leaders and teachers have to check in with themselves. Many of our Facebook friends have agreed to not speak about politics or the news and…

How many voices does it take? Is one child enough to cause a leader to set everything else aside and listen? Will 20 voices make the difference if one story doesn't create enough credibility or move a leader to action? Or is it hundreds? When does the conscience of a leader take over and compel the defense of a student even if it might cost adults a job or an institution financial support? Both Michigan State and USA Gymnastics have given us examples these past few months....and those…

As progressive education has successfully replaced traditional education, it has filled up every classroom within an array of dubious theories and methods.

Particularly interesting is the absolutism of the people doing this. The propaganda is relentless that Sight-words are a valid way to teach reading, that Constructivism is the only way to go, that Common Core is the best way to organize a school,…

"Geography is important for students to learn, starting at a young age, because it provides them with perspective on diversity—that nations and people differ yet have similarities.

It’s also one of the most engaging subjects for students, as there are many interactive lessons and resources for teachers to utilize and apply in their classrooms. From having students name and locate all of the state capital cities on a map to learning about a foreign nation’s political system, geography…

Sharing Student Work with Spark Page Digital Bulletin Boards

 Could we marry the processes of consensus and of compromise to benefit our work? Here's our take away thought and question. If we could get agreement on the 'what' by consensus, does that open the door to compromise on the 'how'? Consensus is based on these three statements...I understand. I can agree. I will support. Merriam-Webster offers these words as synonyms: accord, concurrence, concurrency, agreement, unanimity, and unison.  A recent headline read "Lawmakers remain in partisan…

 When the adults in the organization are offered specific processes that "build trust, develop relationships, and create a more mature and responsive professional community of colleagues with the moral and even spiritual commitment to their cause that is pursued with courage, commitment, and empathy" students will benefit. The striking fact remains that while we focus so much on curriculum development and delivery, responsibilities and obligations, problems and solutions, attention to…

Unless there is consistent support and practice, with feedback and evaluation, too often what is read, experienced, and taught have only a moment's life span. Children, parents and colleagues rarely learn what potential was offered and current practice returns. Schools change one teacher at a time or they will simply remain the same at their core. All of us know those who are the teachers on the edge...the ones who are pushing and pulling and agitating others with new thinking and why…

BEYOND PETER DRUCKER’S FIVE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

Peter…

“Almost 70% of US managers are scared to talk to their employees.”

• Published on Published onJanuary 8, 2018…

This is the biggest question in K-12. All success in elementary school pivots on this question.

The answer is obvious. Sight-words become vocabulary words when the child sounds them out. At that point, we might say, the child transcends cold, almost useless graphic design and appropriates it at a phonetic level.…