Category Archives: Educational Change

The Power of Mime: learning language through silence

Language learning depends on establishing a familiar context. Once learners can identify with the context, they can build on known words and language structures. Mime It / Talk About It is one way to do this. This learning strategy is … Continue reading

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Culturally Inclusive Teaching and Learning

What Does a Culturally Inclusive Classroom Really Look Like? When we talk about culturally inclusive classrooms, it’s important to remember that identity isn’t one-dimensional. It’s complex and layered—shaped by race, gender and gender identity, socio-economic status, sexual identity, ethnicity, religion, … Continue reading

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Rethinking Alphabet Charts

Take a look at common alphabet charts and think about the children in your classroom. Do they have the experiences or language background needed to connect each letter with the picture shown? Often, they don’t. There’s no such thing as … Continue reading

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When Students Think They Can’t Read

“Non-reader.”It’s a label far too many students attach to themselves—and one that often sticks from an early age. By high school, that belief can feel permanent. The script below is a verbatim-style exchange between a workshop facilitator, teachers, and a … Continue reading

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Appreciative Inquiry: Beyond the Apple’s Applications for Education

There’s a lot of interest in Appreciative Inquiry and its application for educational change. Appreciative Inquiry (AI) was designed by David Cooperrider as a strategic planning tool; its applications in an educational setting are creating a lot of excitement. Here’s … Continue reading

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Effective Listening, the key to success in a professional learning community.

The success of a professional learning community is heavily influenced by how effectively  the participants communicate with each other. Clearly, this is obvious, but what’s not obvious is that it’s not only how we speak to each other, it’s how … Continue reading

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Re-igniting professional learning with a challenge to think

The first 10-15 minutes of any professional learning session provide an opportunity to set the stage for thinking, wondering, and sharing. Before you jump into the content, grease the participants’ thinking cogs by demonstrating a discrepant event. Here’s an example … Continue reading

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