Why Motivating Students Should Not Be Our Goal
To be clear, motivation is an important element of learning. We cannot make students learn. We cannot learn for them. …
In the Aftermath of Trauma and Tragedy, What About the Adults?
When violence comes to schools (even when only threatened), adults act immediately to place the physical safety of students at …
Why We Need to Tap Purpose to Drive Learning
Small children often have a favorite question. It consists of just one word: “Why?” As adults, listening to and responding …
The Crucial Need to Build Learning Skills
The design of our schools assumes that learning occurs as a result of being taught. While it is true that …
Five Reasons to Be Thankful We Are Educators
The experience of being an educator today can generate a wide variety of emotions. Not all of them may be …
If Standards Go Up, Does Learning Rise Too?
Over the past two decades we have invested substantial public resources and engaged in seemingly endless discussion and debate over …
What is Right with American Schools?
I have been thinking about how infrequently we hear what American schools are doing right. We far more often hear …
Supporting Students in the Wake of Hate Crimes and Threats
The events of the past week have shocked our collective consciousness. Hate-based threats and actions have once again intruded upon …
Why I Became an Educator
During a middle school career exploration project in the spring of 1965, my teacher, Mr. Kitch, changed the direction of …
Missed Opportunities in Response to Parkland
The immediate aftermath of last February’s tragic mass shooting in Parkland, Florida featured vigorous discussion about how to prevent such …