Teacher Talk
Teachers vs. Tech: Putting an Old Adversary to Good Use
By: Dr. Jerri Ward-Jackson | Aug 9, 2023
Since the first clunky cell phone rang in a silent classroom, technology’s place in education has been hotly debated. Does its potential for good outweigh its potential for disruption? Do kids need more screen time than they already get at home? Is educational technology actually beneficial or is it just a dazzling, counterproductive novelty?
To Dr. Jerri Ward-Jackson of the University of West Alabama’s College of ...
7 Questions in Designing Coherent Instruction
By: Jon Konen | Oct 2, 2017
Is the ability to design instruction an art form, or is it a science? I argue teachers have to be artists while thinking about the science of not only the make-up of their classrooms, but what information should come next in the learning process. Robert Marzano talks about the art ...
Demonstrating Knowledge of Resources
By: Jon Konen | Sep 18, 2017
Out of the 1000s of textbook companies and instructional resource providers in the United States, how many do you think cover 100% of your states designed teaching standards?
Whether your state uses the common core or if your state has decided to design its own standards there is only a handful ...
8 Questions to Tackle in Setting Instructional Outcomes
By: Jon Konen | Sep 10, 2017
The tale of two districts…as told by an over active planner!
One district spent all its money on a new elementary building, but not updating curriculum. The other district spent all its money on curriculum and the school buildings were in major need of repair.
As a new teacher, I navigated creating ...
9 Questions to Tackle in Demonstrating Knowledge of Your Students
By: Jon Konen | Sep 10, 2017
Magic can be seen and heard…I can prove it!
Teachers who can connect with any student, even those hard to like students, is something special. You can see them talking, hugging, high-fiving, and complementing these students. In fact, they do it so well, that the student cannot help himself or ...
10 Questions to Tackle in Demonstrating Knowledge of Content and Pedagogy
By: Jon Konen | Sep 6, 2017
In the late 90’s, many new educators created portfolios to show prospective employers when they went job hunting. It was thought that these employers would spend time digging into the portfolio contents and make a decision on hiring one of us! While I hope many administrators did this, I feel ...
Get OUT of the BOX! Our Kids Aren’t Succeeding
By: Mary McLaughlin | Sep 6, 2017
Horrified. Saddened. Ticked off. Annoyed. Frustrated. Angry. Stymied. Discontented. Foiled. Irked. Dismayed.
These are the words which sit heavily upon my mind today. Ya see, as my good friend (I wish) Jimmy Buffett and his pal Martina McBride once sang, I’ve made a “trip around the sun” enough times to know ...
Popping the New School Year Bubble
By: Mary McLaughlin | Aug 22, 2017
School started for us a week ago. It was a shock to my system after having taken three graduate classes over the summer as well as having a treasured month of fun with my second-oldest grandson. At eight years old, he is like every other boy in America—he wants to ...
Daily 5 and Alternative Seating: 4 Reasons Why They Are a Perfect Fit Together
By: Amy Konen | Aug 6, 2017
After an 11-year break from the classroom, I am finally stepping back into that world and I would not be giving the whole picture if I said it did not make me nervous. I am excited to put in action all the ideas I know are best practices for kids ...
Eight Ways to Teach Empathy
By: Jon Konen | Aug 1, 2017
Back to the main Bully Prevention Guide.
Teaching empathy may be the most effective strategy that we can use to raise socially conscious students. Empathy crosses all curriculum areas and can be used to empower students to think, be responsible, and advocate for themselves and others. In fact, devising curricular experiences that ...
One School Wide Philosophy: High-Trusting Relationships
By: Jon Konen | Jul 31, 2017
Back to the main Bully Prevention Guide.
PU #52 - School-Wide Philosophy
Regular teachers are really done with school, just like many of the kids that cause problems in their classrooms. These teachers start sending more kids to the office than ever before. It seems what was once tolerable, manageable, and not a ...