New apps and social media sites seem to crop up and gain popularity with our students overnight, leaving us adults sometimes shaking our heads trying to keep up with the latest and greatest in technology. Students' excitement over using these apps can be overshadowed when cyberbullying occurs, leaving many students to feel helpless, confused, embarrassed or angry. Not to fear! As in other areas of a student's development, educators on the front lines can play an integral role in…

It’s a Different Mountain Every Day: Getting Started with Video of Teacher Practice

Moving From I Can’t To I Can’t Yet

President Obama, it isn't the standardized tests that are the problem!  This is the difficulty with too many cooks in the kitchen, and no recipe.  Everyone has an opinion, objections, suggestions, and solutions, even the POTUS.  All the presumed solutions are exhausting the system and do little to improve the system for the students. First, there has to be time spent truly discovering what the issues are. We need standards, measures, 21st century curriculum,…

I've got many hundreds of articles on the Internet about education. So I'm embarrassed to admit that just today I stumbled on one of the most obvious metaphors for much of what goes on in our public schools. Embarrassed but still overjoyed. This metaphor is just too wonderful.

 Here is how Wikipedia defines a snipe hunt: "A snipe hunt or fool's errand is a type of practical…

Do’s and Don’ts for Schools Hosting an Author

In this graphic-novel-style piece in School Library Journal, author George O’Connor shares some suggestions based on his numerous presentations in schools:

Have someone ready to greet the author at the door so there are no hold-ups or hassles.

Have technology set…

GED test takers decline with changes

• Ed Week

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — In a state where 14 percent of adults haven't graduated high school, the GED test is a lifeline for many Mississippians hoping to improve their job skills and better their lives.

But changes made to the GED test in 2014 have led to nine times fewer…

What Scotland learned from making college tuition free

Updated by Libby Nelson on October 22, 2015, 

VOX…