I was having dinner with friends last night at a restaurant in Dana Point. The chef came to our private room several times to check in on us as we were happily grazing through the eclectic menu. He was a young chef whose passion for cooking was evident in his face. He was in his … Continue reading Create Your Own Star
Author: Catherine Cabiness-Atkinson, Ed.D.
“One Success Tells Us What is Possible”
This quote is from Payne's (2009) book So Much Reform, So Little Change. I read this book in my Turnaround Leadership class a few years ago, and many elements struck me to the core. A question was posed to me recently: "Do you think the leadership plays a role in the climate of a school?" … Continue reading “One Success Tells Us What is Possible”
Making Retrieval Practice a Force of Habit
As I mentioned in a previous post, students need guidance on how to study. So I instruct them on the various strategies that they can use to help them remember the information as well as make connections across concepts. To that end, I use checks for understanding as well as various types of activities that … Continue reading Making Retrieval Practice a Force of Habit
Teaching How to Study
It is no secret that testing is part of the learning process, and it doesn't matter whether you call it a check for understanding, quiz, formative assessment, pencil game...whatever. Teachers know what they want their students to learn. And students (ideally) should know what they are supposed to demonstrate mastery of, too. So if teachers … Continue reading Teaching How to Study
What Makes PD Worthwhile
It doesn't take a genius to know what motivates teachers when it comes to professional development... But just in case that notion is elusive, I'll let you in on a secret...what motives a person to seek professional development centers on the ideas of choice and empowerment. I won't bore you with the numerous times that … Continue reading What Makes PD Worthwhile
Reflecting on Reflecting
So...I finished reviewing the first reflection assignment I challenged my GATE/PreAP students to complete, and I have to say that I am quite impressed with the results! https://media.giphy.com/media/prsVOti94aE2k/giphy.gif As I mentioned in an earlier blog post, I ended up giving my students several options for their blog assignment: Individual or with partnersBlog (written) or vlog … Continue reading Reflecting on Reflecting
What is Fair?
At church today, our pastor was reviewing the passage in Matthew 20 of the parable of the workers in the vineyard. In this parable, groups of workers agreed to work for the landowner for a certain wage. Some groups were hired early in the morning, whereas others were hired towards the end of the day. … Continue reading What is Fair?
