Friday, November 22, 2013

Humanizing Data

I was never really that friendly with Data.  It’s not so much that I disliked Data, but I use to feel like it was always trying to steal attention away from my students, as if it knew more about them than I did.  Over the past few years, I have had to work with Data more closely, and I am realizing it’s not that bad.  Sure, sometimes I strongly disagree with its methods, but it has good intentions.  Sometimes I don’t like what it has to say, but that can be true in any relationship.  Data is definitely going to be around for a while and so am I, and that is why we have decided to try to work together.  Who knows, we might make a really good team!

  • Data has a way of getting initiatives started
  • Data is great backup at any meeting
  • Data can give me information that I need in order to make decisions
  • Data can draw attention to issues that need to be addressed
  • Data can tell me if what I am doing is working
  • Data can motivate students
  • Data helps me keep parents informed
  • Data has good intentions
  • Data is there in good times and bad
  • Data never claims to have all the answers


Tuesday, November 12, 2013

10 Things You Might do After a Lesson Goes Horribly Wrong

Highly recommended…

  • Reflect on the experience and determine why it happened
  • Think about changes you will make next for time
  • Survey the students to discover their perception of the lesson
  • Seek support from a colleague or administrator
  • Approach the next lesson with optimism


Highly discouraged…

  • Make excuses and cast blame
  • Overreact and make impulsive decisions
  • Let it affect the other aspects of your day that are going well
  • Ignore it
  • Sulk or dwell on it

Saturday, November 2, 2013

What would you do with an extra hour a day?

Before we go to bed tonight we move our clocks back an hour, and almost magically gain time.  Wouldn't it be amazing if we had the power to add an hour whenever we wanted to during the school day?  If you asked students what they would do with an extra hour I'm willing to bet that the vast majority would want more recess or lunch, but what would you do more of with an extra hour?  Here’s my list.

  • Service Learning Projects
  • Healthy Debates
  • Read Aloud
  • Logic and Critical Thinking Puzzles
  • Passion Based Learning
  • Technology Exploration
  • Current Events
  • Guest Speakers
  • Team Building
  • Study World Cultures