It's time to work smarter, not harder. James Marzano said it would take 25 years to teach the elementary school curriculum if we were to do to right.
We've rendered the phrase "the art and science of" almost meaningless by using it to describe nearly any endeavor. But "art and science" is a nuanced way to think about the unique properties of teaching, one of the most important endeavors in any society.
If we don't want education to be dressed in a culture of defensiveness and excuses, then we must take them away by welcoming such classroom foibles as authentic opportunities to flourish, not as shortcomings to bemoan.
The idea of "learning by doing" stretches back to education legends Maria Montessori and John Dewey, both of whom felt teachers should act more as guides to students' independent discoveries than as founts of information.
Over the past 20 years, the teaching force has become larger, grayer, greener, more female, more diverse and less stable, according to a study publis...
Help children to excel in math and their perception of school can be improved. What's more, their view of themselves, their abilities, and their very potential to learn, can all be transformed.
In a day when activities and education methods get replaced year after year with the "next big thing," music will remain a constant to which every student (year after year) will form a connection.
Just like I encourage my sons to "read the book" before they see a movie, I encourage students to experience concepts through real-life exercises before they play with technical simulations. Tie knots. Fold origami. Play with Legos.
Nowadays, we are seeing the topic of genocide being covered even in the elementary grades and there is no consensus on when it should be introduced or taught. In my opinion, the topic of genocide should not be discussed prior to grade six.
We have to equip students for a world that does not exist. We can't prepare them for the world of tomorrow because we have no idea what it will look like!
I spotlighted Jennifer Isbell, a teacher from Central Coast New Tech High, who was using her summer to collaborate as she prepared to be a founding teacher at this new public high school, which opened its doors last week.
Folks often said to me, "Oh, you're a teacher -- that's so great! You must love it! It must be so much FUN!" and I would look at them, force a smile, and decide if this person was worth an explanation on what teaching is really like.
Boredom is the enemy of education. Students who are bored in class learn only one thing: that they are at the mercy of their instructor.
The problem seems evident in the language. We 'adopt' programs. We 'purchase' materials. We 'integrate' technology. We even 'train' teachers. For all of the changing programs referenced, how many teachers actually changed their practice?
Mortimer and Alfred Adler shared the same last name -- but more importantly, they shared a deep belief in the value of the individual and the ability of each of us to grow through learning.
Did you hear about that philosophy final where the professor came in and wrote "Why?" on the chalkboard? And a student got an A+ by answering "Why not?" I guaran-effing-tee you this has never happened in the history of college.
Yes, it's true that we do keep things somewhat impersonal in class, and sometimes we are many decades older than students, but that does not make us any less real.
Caution: You may be underwhelmed if you read this from a mental perspective; this post is an offer to your body and spirit.
The story of unconventional Chicago art educator and artist Jackie Seiden invites us to reimagine the limits of the classroom's influence.
When we think of solving complex problems, we normally turn to engineers. And higher education is facing some tough issues. So what if engineers tackled those problems?
Considering how wide the differences between reading on one's own and reading in a class are, I'm interested in how educators might take some aspects from the former to let high school students read just to read.
Radically different approaches to teaching and learning change the equation. They demonstrate why small classes matter.
In Santa Monica, Calif., one school is testing out a new method of learning that focuses more on gut decisions than guidelines. It's called "percept...
Here are six ideas that, in my view, can help shape the encouraging national conversation that is currently taking place about teaching excellence.
I don't know why these kids lack basic knowledge across all subjects. They haven't seen much outside their own neighborhoods. They don't read or listen much to the news. But they come to class.
