“Telling my students the answer does not help them learn; in fact, it stops their learning”. (Carter 2008) Through countless…
Student Motivation
I like it when teachers…
I’ve had the good fortune these past couple of years, of working in middle schools with staff and students, helping…
One person with a belief is equal to ninety-nine who have only interests
“One person with a belief is equal to ninety-nine who have only interests.” – John Stuart Mill As individuals and…
Beat the Blahs by Increasing Student Engagement
As winter transitions to spring in Michigan, students might be losing motivation or struggling to stay focused with the promise…
Learning to Fail
We have all heard the old adage “we learn by our mistakes”. Unfortunately “learning from our mistakes” is not a…
Harnessing the Power of Santa’s Reindeer in Your Classroom
Santa’s reindeer are known world-wide for their charismatic personalities and ruthless determination to get the job done that one special…
Teenage Brains in the Best and Worst of Times
An estimated 50% of Michigan children under six years old now live in low-income households, according to Columbia University’s National…
Remember the ‘Special Sauce’ of Good Teaching
It is one thing to learn a concept, but it is another thing to remember it. A couple things can…
Teacher Topics (May 2013)
One belief shared by most teachers is that engaged students are “learning students.” Student engagement is highly correlated to increased…
Dear Courageous Leader (Feb 2013)
February seems like a great time to focus on motivation. By this time our New Year’s resolutions have likely been…
Teacher Tips: Keeping Students Motivated
Imagine that the Institute for Excellence in Education developed the formula for a potion that would provide all students with…
