Collaborative planning is a strategy whereby teachers sit together to develop cohesive, aligned lesson plans for all subject areas. Schools utilize this process in various ways which impacts the results. When expectations differ among school sites, the effectiveness of the developed lesson plans differ within the same district. Over time, poor collaborative planning habits create…

Right size PD (professional development) refers to shortening the dose of learning for teachers. Often times, they need to spend more time in their classroom prepping for lessons and analyzing data to better support students. As a result, long learning sessions tend to be hard to schedule and ill received. It turns out that micro…

The power of PD (professional development) is tremendous when executed correctly. When schools intentionally plan, prepare and deliver high quality learning experiences for teachers, they increase instructional effectiveness and student learning outcomes. This post will cover building and executing quality professional development while also providing additional tips for success. Building Quality PD Building professional development…

PD on Demand is a way in which school leaders provide ongoing learning opportunities for teachers without the cost of time. Being able to increase teacher skillset and knowledge without it requiring extensive amounts of time is a winning solution. Why do we need micro PD options for teachers? One thing that seems to be…

Professional development [PD] can be a bore for teachers so infusing joy with Buzzword Bingo will keep them asking for more. Since educators have to attend a certain amount of learning hours to keep their licenses active, PD can not be avoided. However, PD can be enhanced and upgraded so that it is not only…

To reinvent a classroom management strategy takes intentional planning and execution. This ensures we do not repeat our current struggles. Reinventing a strategy that creates an environment where students can thrive while learning takes multiple iterations to ensure it produces the desired results. Teachers and leaders can follow a 5 step process to successfully reinvent…

Community partnership is necessary for the success of a school. Educating a child is not a singular job, it’s a team effort. By leveraging community partnerships, schools will reach new levels of success. The California Department of Education says: “Family and community engagement greatly increases the likelihood that students will learn and thrive. Students are more…

Adhesive wall art is a simple way to inspire students while learning in the classroom. Students spend at least six hours a day on average for 36 weeks learning in a classroom. Not everything students learn is from what their teachers say or do, but from the environment the teachers create. This can be in…

Managing a large workload can be exhausting for educators. Just when you think you completed a task, a handful more are added to your plate. Some days, you’re just not sure how you will get it all done. The reality is that the workload will not stop coming each day. This post will share a…

Utilizing evidence-based practices is key to improve classroom instruction. Education researchers like John Hattie (Visible Learning) and Robert Marzano (High Reliability Schools) lead the charge with their recommendations on strategies that work in the classroom. In reading the book Impactful Instructional Leadership, a Framework for Success, author Jack Hunter explained six evidence-based practices that are…