Ed-lightenment

As part of the Global Studies team on Semester at Sea, preparing students for our first Port of Call in Porto, Portugal.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/05/22/challenge-index-schools-jay-mathews/

Perspective | How does a high school full of low-income kids become best in U.S.? Columnist Jay Mathews has published his latest Challenge Index of the nation's most challenging high schools.

Excited to be part of this opportunity with Oxford University Press.

I am excited to be part of this Oxford University Press initiative. Join us as we play with concepts and demonstrate how concept-based instruction can change the learning experience for teachers and students.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/is-it-time-to-stop-segregating-kids-by-ability-in-middle-school-math/2020/10/16/eaacc4f8-0fcc-11eb-8074-0e943a91bf08_story.html

Is it time to stop segregating kids by ability in middle school math? New York school district limits tracking by perceived ability while parents push back.

A good article for these difficult times:

Khan Academy’s Sal Khan shares advice for online learning: Do less, and turn off the camera Sal Khan, head of the Khan Academy and one of distance learning’s early pioneers, shares tips on how to make the most of learning from home during a pandemic.

At this time, more than ever, we must listen to our professional teachers as to how best to serve the needs of our students during such unprecedented times with COVID.

Perspective | The school reopening debate reveals that we don’t listen to teachers about schools Unlike other professionals, we give teachers remarkably little autonomy.

Some great tips to help structure learning at home:

7 Guiding Principles For Parents Teaching From Home Understanding the “why” behind teaching practices can help parents create meaningful and effective at-home learning opportunities during the pandemic.

I had the great pleasure to give a presentation on Creative and Transfer Thinking Skills to the staff of the International School of Bologna this past Tuesday due to a great coincidence. A few years ago I lead a workshop in Vancouver and two wonderful teachers and IB Coordinators (Helen Exler and Nazanin Nikanjam) from the Bologna school attended. It was great getting to know them at the workshop but who knew then how our paths would cross again. While waiting at the airport in Denver to board my flight to Bologna, I posted my upcoming trip and Helen saw the post and instantly contacted me. I got to visit the school last week and they invited me to give a workshop to the staff during their professional development time this past Tuesday. It was a great experience for me and the staff enjoyed the various activities to enrich creativity in their classrooms. Hopefully this will not be my last visit to the school as we are already discussing the possibility of a longer workshop for January.

Not a new concept to education, but can be applied in a new way where students master concepts and higher order thinking skills rather than just the acquisition of new information. Take away the grading and focus on progress toward reaching competency in critical thinking and concept-based learning skills.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/11/nyregion/mastery-based-learning-no-grades.html?smprod=nytcore-ipad&smid=nytcore-ipad-share

A New Kind of Classroom: No Grades, No Failing, No Hurry Mastery-based learning allows students to learn at their own pace.

A great two days working with staff at Pahokee MS. Teachers working to get ready for the start of a new school year.