joel I started my teaching career in 2002. Our world and the digital landscape have changed dramatically since then. Navigating this new landscape can be challenging for teachers who want to engage students with the latest technology, but also protect themselves from some of the pitfalls that this always-connected world brings with it. Here are four … Read more
I have heard about Pinterest for years but never got into it. I don’t need new recipes or DIY projects to not do, so why even bother? Well, I was wrong.As I have been getting back into blogging in recent months, I’ve begun to see some of the value in Pinterest. As I explore it, … Read more
If you’re anything like me, you gained a great deal of academic knowledge about your content area in college and very little actual knowledge about getting students to stay quiet long enough to learn from your abundant knowledge base. Over the years, I have observed young teachers enter the profession and make many of the same mistakes. I have … Read more
Rigor Grit The “10,000 Hour Rule” Growth Mindset We hear these buzzwords thrown around a lot in educational circles these days. Why? Because they’re catchy! But what do they mean? The concepts are interrelated, and they stem from a series of recent research projects. Today we’ll look at a few new books about the science behind … Read more
July 2016 was a great month as I continue getting back into the blogging groove of things. Below are some highlights. I discovered Pinterest and began to see that many of the articles on my site don’t look so great on there. As a result, I began making images to go along with my new … Read more
So you got that elusive first teaching job. Congratulations. If you experience is anything like mine has been, you now get to spend a few days learning district policies, and then get thrown into the classroom with minimal further instructions. Over the last decade or so, I have been very interested in helping new teachers navigate … Read more
As the new school year approaches, many new teachers find themselves entering the ranks of professional educators for the first time. Maybe that’s you. Or maybe you’re a college student beginning your student teaching process. Or a new teacher who experienced a bit of frustration last year. Whatever the case may be, the new school year brings … Read more
Many students like to argue. It’s a fact of life. And arguing is normal, isn’t it? Or is it? This article explores some ways to avoid arguing with students. Great teachers don’t have arguers Have you ever noticed how you can walk into a classroom and hear the teacher talking, and the students being quiet? They are … Read more
We’ve all had our share of students whose purpose in life seems to be making our own life miserable. If you haven’t, well you’re in luck. Here is a list of ways to make students hate your class. 101 Ways To Make Students Hate Your Class Be boring Be mean Be inconsiderate Be confrontational Be negative … Read more
As music educators, we often focus our advocacy attention on the curricular benefits of music and gloss over many of the aesthetic benefits. The power of music is tremendous. Music inspires. Music comforts. Just last week, Darryl McDaniels (DMC from the group Run-DMC) spoke about how Sarah McLachlan’s music helped bring him back from the brink of suicide. … Read more