Habit 2 - Begin with the End in Mind
This habit teaches our students that mental creation precedes physical creation. It is the thought that you live life by design, and not through default. In essence it is teaching students the...
View ArticleWhat is a Professional Learning Community (PLC)?
This is an article I shared with my staff as we began our journey this year of formalizing our PLCs. Obviously it is based off the work of DuFours :). PLC, MCA, RtI, CFA - it seems like you cannot...
View ArticlePLCs and Leadership
PLC7 HABITSTeachers establish common, concise set of essential standards and teach them on roughly the same scheduleHabit 1: Be Proactive, Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind, Habit 3: Put First Things...
View ArticleFocus by Mike Schmoker
I just finished reading Focus by Mike Schmoker for the second time. If you have not had a chance to read this book you need to find time. I love the fact he preaches simplicity. I truly believe we...
View ArticleSingle Story
Two of the teachers I work with led our staff through some powerful learning at our staff meeting today. Our discussion centered around the concept of a Single Story, and how these Single Stories...
View Article7 Habit Rap
Below is my rap that I performed for the students during our leadership assembly. Sung to Paul Revere by the Beastie Boys.Now here’s a little story I got to tellAbout 7 cool habits you’ll learn so...
View ArticleHow Digital Learners Prefer to Learn
I have started reading Understanding the Digital Generation: Teaching and Learning in the New Digital Landscape by Jukes, McCain, and Crockett. I am through the first four chapters and the distinction...
View ArticleMaking Math Facts Stick
Getting students to learn their math facts can be a very trying process. Teachers and parents are always looking for ways to help students learn their facts. To me, this has become even more...
View ArticleHomework and Grading for Learning
While following #edchat last night on Twitter there was a lot of discussion around homework. So it got me thinking about some of the things I have read and how it has impacted my view on the use and...
View ArticleHow Can Gamification Help Improve Instruction?
This is a great Ted Talk by Gabe Zichermann. Gamification brings together game mechanics (game thinking)and marketing to create engagement and solve problems. I had a change to list to Zichermann...
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Flipped Classroom
I just got back from a school visit at Lake Elmo Elementary School in the Stillwater Area School District. We had the opportunity to hear about their pilot program, and go into classrooms and see what...
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Simplify "Reform"
This is an e-mail I wrote to the legislator from my district in Minnesota after getting into a discussion on Twitter regarding education reform.Pat,Sorry this took so long to get to you, but it has...
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Inquiry - Let the fun begin!!
Our district had the opportunity to have Steph Harvey come and speak to all our K-8 teachers on a staff development day. The foundations for our K-8 buildings is leadership (based on 7 Habits of...
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Committed Sardines
I received this from a teacher in our building - it is awesome!!What's a Committed Sardine? First, an aside. A blue whale is the largest mammal on earth. An adult blue whale is the length of 2 1/2...
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Are you a victim of TTWWADI?
As educators we must change the way we deliver instruction to our students. The school system most of us currently work in is based upon decisions that were made for another time. Most people in...
View ArticleCreate A Culture of Failure
I want to create a culture of failure in the teachers and students I work with on a daily basis. You may be thinking what?? This is the age of standardized testing and accountability!! In some...
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Testing Season is Almost Over
This Friday will mark the end of the testing season here at Lincoln Elementary. Since the middle of February we will have had only four weeks where our students have not had some sort of state...
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Article 7
Now that school is almost out for spring here is some of the things I learned during my first year as a principal (I am sure these are similar to what others have learned, but this was good...
View ArticleDefending American Education
If you have not seen this video it is very good. Diane does a great job of dispelling myths that are used by various reform movements. There is no doubt changes need to be made to our education...
View ArticleArticle 5
I just wanted to share the video from our Identity Day. Students took all the pictures and one of our teachers put the video together. Each person in the building (staff and students) created a...
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