I loathe PBIS even more than I loathe Accelerated Reader, and friends, that’s a high bar. Why I think PBIS is a terrible idea To be fair, it’s not just PBIS. It’s all of the same type of behavior management systems that use often elaborate systems to punish and reward
Need Some Differentiation Advice? Have you ever wanted some differentiation advice from real, live teachers in real, live classrooms? How can teachers who are comfortable with a differentiated classroom support and encourage teachers who are new to differentiation or struggling with differentiation? I’ve got answers! I recently had the wonderful
Interested in a great new reading strategy for your classroom? I’m excited to share this new twist on an ancient reading strategy with you, and I can’t wait to hear how it goes in your classroom! First, the backstory. Books & Podcasts I love books, and I love podcasts. When
Reader Request I love responding to reader requests, and I recently solicited some questions on my Facebook page. This question came in from a parent in Pennsylvania, and I think it’s a common issue for gifted kids (and adults, really). In the interest of full disclosure, I actually have met
I love great quotes, and when I saw this Tweet from Shay Carl come through my Twitter feed: I knew it would make a great poster. Astute observers will notice it’s taken me awhile to create the poster. I have a list of blog post ideas three miles long. #hyperbole
How it all began with Fish for Schools I began teaching 3rd grade. Have you ever taught 3rd grade? It’s fun. The kids are adorable. I mean, they are seriously cute. Like you want to take them all home with you cute. (I’m aware that time may have blurred my
Deep Work by Cal Newport just might change your life. The book should come with a warning: be prepared for a sea change. It’s one of the business books I’ve read to try to make myself a better educator. If you’re a teacher, you need this book. If you have
Looking for an easy classroom management strategy that A) makes sense and B) empowers students to make good choices and save face? Have I got a freebie for you! My Depth and Complexity Rules Cards are super easy, super effective, and super cheap. Depth & Complexity Rules Cards You may
Monitoring students as they work independently or in groups can be tricksty. Here are issues I’ve encountered: I can’t tell who’s done and who’s not. Students who have questions raise their hands and sigh loudly when I don’t magically appear next to their desks. (Bonus for heavy sighs followed by
Classroom management strategies don’t have to be complicated to work well. I’ve got a simple card system I created to help my classroom run smoothly. I was sharing it at a training in Lewisville, Texas, and some of the teachers there asked that I share the cards. I have three
Explaining differentiation to parents can be tricky. As a society, we value fairness above almost all things, and a differentiated classroom can look unfair from the outside if the definition of fairness is “sameness.” One important step teachers should take in the beginning of the year is to share their
I know how to teach kids about money. That may sound simple, but parenting is fraught with difficulty, and there are few things I can say for sure I did really well as a parent. Teaching my kids about money is one of those few things. One of the best
