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
Ever wondered how to keep gifted kids motivated? Ever laid awake nights wondering how to keep gifted kids motivated? Ever torn your hair out wondering how to keep gifted kids motivated? Spoiler: I don’t have the answer. The reason there’s no answer is that the intervention will only work if:
How to help your gifted child If you’ve ever worried you’re going to “break” your gifted kid, have I got a treat for you. I’m often asked by parents how they can help their gifted child. Finally, I have an easy, free answer! I’m sharing a new free ebook written
School award ceremonies are a bad idea, but you’d never know it by how many of them there are. Of all the things people warned me about when I became a parent, no one mentioned the interminable end-of-year awards ceremonies. As I’ve learned more and more about the way our
The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle is a book I’ve wanted to read for a long time. I love exploring the idea of what builds greatness. I felt like it deserved a read alongside other books I’ve read that I think are related, like David Schenk’s The Genius in All of
There is a problem with reading logs that students are expected to keep for school. There is more than one problem, actually, but I’m focusing on one. I’m giving solutions, too, so hold tight. Reader Q: This is part of my Reader Q & A series, and this question comes
