One of the biggest challenges principals have today is hiring, growing, and sustaining teacher leaders. In his article for Phi Delta Kappan titled, Beginning Teacher Induction: What the Data Tell Us, Richard Ingersoll discusses teacher attrition. He noted that, “…40% and 50% of new teachers leave within the first five years of entry into teaching.” That statistic alone should give principals pause to reflect on their hiring practices, induction efforts, and school culture. Teacher leadership is… Continue

Edcamp Baltimore (@EdcampBmore) will be held next Saturday, September 27th on the campus of Johns Hopkins University. Co-founder, Chris Shriver (@ccshriver) sat down with #mdeschat to discuss her passion for technology, teaching, and the edcamp movement. Chris will guest host #mdeschat on Twitter this Thursday, September 18th, 8PM EST.



You serve as a Digital Learning Specialist at Garrison Forrest School. What are the roles and responsibilities of your position?



As a… Continue

Teachers naturally want their students to be engaged in the instruction they provide. They want their students to be personally absorbed in the learning process. The “how” of engagement can be challenging, even for experienced teachers. Planning for active student engagement requires meticulous preparation and thought. Most of all, it requires that teachers truly know each and every one of their students.





Teachers who know the strengths and needs of their students use that… Continue

Edcamp Baltimore will be held at Johns Hopkins University-Bloomberg Center for Physics and Astronomy on Saturday, September 27th. Edcamps are cropping up all over the United States as viable alternatives to traditional education conferences.



What is an edcamp? While you can find many answers with a quick internet search, you have to attend one to truly understand their value. Here are my top five reasons for attending an edcamp. Are there any that you would add?



1. For… Continue