Category Archives: Educational Change
Rethinking Alphabet Charts
Check out this alphabet chart. H is for chicken, Q is for people, R is for flower, S is for dessert, J is for drink, N is for spaghetti and Q is for queue. What??? This chart (and many like … Continue reading
Re-imagining our teaching practice: how do we begin?
Dana’s words, “Who dares to teach must never cease to learn” serve to open this conversation about how a teacher’s ongoing professional learning can and should modify, enhance or wholeheartedly change their teaching practice. Let’s get that conversation started. Accept … Continue reading
Does the image of an apple hold back educational change?
The purpose of an iconic image is to create and sustain a message. So, why does an apple represent education? It might be a reference to Newton’s apple, which certainly reflects the search for knowledge, but here’s what most people … Continue reading
What Does Growth Mindset Look Like?
Growth mindset, first mentioned by Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck, is a simple but powerful idea with tremendous impact. In essence, people with a growth mindset have a “not yet” attitude. Rather than thinking “I don’t know it”, a person … Continue reading
Rethinking lesson planning
(from lesson plan templates / Google images) Writing lesson plans is an integral component of a teacher’s daily practice. The lesson plan template is designed to communicate the topic of the lesson (the curriculum focus), the activities of the lesson … Continue reading
Let’s Do Our Homework About Homework
A change in thinking about homework is upon us . . . and it can’t come fast enough. Here are some articles to start this conversation: Homework Alert: How Much is Enough? Council of Ministers of Education, Canada Rethinking Homework … Continue reading
Developing a Common Understanding of Growth Mindset
If you were to create a top 10 list of this year’s professional conversations about teaching and learning, we’re pretty sure that Carol Dweck’s work on Growth Mindset would be at the top of the list. When any topic becomes … Continue reading
Building a Positive Work Environment at School
The work environment of a school has a huge impact on the emotional well being, productivity, and professional engagement of teachers. For those teachers and administrators who work in a positive work environment, take a minute to appreciate your workplace, … Continue reading
When Students Think They Can’t Read
We share the following script, taken from a teacher’s real experience, as a discussion starter about high school students who see themselves as non-readers. As you and your professional colleagues read “I Can’t Read” (or maybe ask some colleagues to … Continue reading
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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