Like many teachers soon be returning to their classrooms, I’ll be entering a new school where I’ll be a vice principal. New school with new colleagues and new students with new parents in a new community. I’ve been the “new kid on the block” many times in my career. Being new isn’t what is the…
Teaching in the Age of Hustle Culture Teaching, Society, and Shifting Expectations Teaching has always trailed behind broader social and industrial trends. While sectors like business and healthcare often adapt quickly to innovation, education tends to shift slowly—bound by tradition, bureaucracy, and the political apparatus of change. Yet, despite the many common critiques, education has…
Ah, it’s finally here. The school year has wrapped up. Marks are done. The final “i’s” and “t’s” have been dotted and crossed. The necessary plans for next year have been put in place. Yes, it’s summer vacation. As a teacher, I look forward to the few weeks when I can shift away from thinking…
“Learning creates more competence but first, it amplifies our feelings of incompetence.” Seth Godin Continual learning isn’t just about gathering new skills or staying up-to-date on the newest trends, research, or developments. It’s about seeing ourselves as someone who has something to contribute to the world while also needing to continue to develop and grow.…
Hybrid Learning – Introduction On Tuesday, February 15, I took part in the #TeamsEduChat monthly tweet meet exploring Hybrid Learning. One of my friends suggested my name as a host for this month’s chat because of my interested in technology and learning. During the chat, I offered up a few different tools and strategies I…
Today students were doing an assessment. We started the day with a more traditional type of assessment. Despite being online, I have students complete an assessment using OneNote and show their work – either by doing on paper and uploading a picture or by doing the work right in OneNote. I give them the option…
Sometimes the days seem to blend one into another. I find this especially happens at this time of year when it seems like there is still a great deal to get done and the time seems to be rushing past. Even after over 30 years in education, I still have those moments when I get…
Nature. The Great Outdoors. The sounds and sights of being outdoors. Being in an online classroom does present some challenges. One of them is it’s hard to organize to get students outside. It’s sometimes hard to get everyone to go outside as each person is in different circumstances which makes their access to the outside…
I’ve been reading The Practice, Seth Godin’s new book. As I work through different ideas and how much really connects to education and what we do in school, I look at what I am doing in my own online classroom and how our practices might change in different ways to allow students a greater opportunity…
On Thursday my students were taking part in a Retreat while on Friday we had our staff retreat. Teaching in a Catholic school means that faith and discussions of faith are an important part of our daily activities and opportunities such as these are important for students and staff. On Thursday, my students took part…