Teacher Transformation Remaking Professional Development Professional development in education is defective and I think almost everyone knows it...PD tends to promote fads, one-and-done workshops, and the latest district initiative that fails to make any long-lasting change. Chris McNutt 28 Dec 2019 • 7 min read
Teacher Transformation Honoring the truth: The Dishonor in Spiritual Bypassing the State of Education Overpositivity betrays the veracity of the challenges faced in high-poverty schools. The dismissal minimizes the reasons to institute broad changes to the school system. Traci Nicole Smith 2 Dec 2019 • 4 min read
Teacher Transformation Waiting I stepped back into my classroom for the 11th year after another summer of learning and growth. I was armed with new ideas, a thicker suit of armor to protect my sensitive empath soul, and, of course, a heart full of unconditional love. Lisa Biber 8 Sep 2019 • 4 min read
Teacher Transformation Small, big changes I have seen every single one of my students move forward as readers and writers in measurable ways. I’m talking about kids who went from never reading so much as a letter of a printed page on their own to finishing two or more novels this year... Lisa Biber 27 May 2019 • 6 min read
Teacher Transformation On failure But this past week, as I sat in front of my gradebook and frowned at a 6% (6% of what?), I realized that although my grading practices have evolved, my definition of failure has not. So I ask you: what does it mean to fail? Lisa Biber 19 Mar 2019 • 5 min read
Teacher Transformation The Real World What is the “real world”? And how do you know when you’re there? Lisa Biber 3 Mar 2019 • 5 min read
Teacher Transformation You Can…Until You Can’t Can they turn that in late? Can they retake the test? Can they use resources? Can they demonstrate differently? In many classrooms, yes. But in the “other many,” kids confront cannots. Monte Syrie 22 Feb 2019 • 2 min read
Teacher Transformation Assurance I’ve rarely discussed progressive education without this question. Yet the assumption always is that students, parents, and educators reject these ideas. I don’t think this is the case. Instead, it is a lack of understanding. Chris McNutt 2 Jan 2019 • 7 min read
Teacher Transformation Finding Your Purpose in Education Finding my purpose in education was born out of an immense frustration with education itself. Chris McNutt 25 Nov 2018 • 6 min read
Teacher Transformation Work's Worth And while I didn’t always appreciate the lessons from work when I was younger, I proudly acknowledge the impact they had on shaping the person I am today. Hard work matters. Monte Syrie 20 Nov 2018 • 4 min read
Teacher Transformation Being the Serious Teacher Who Doesn’t Take Traditional Seriously Educators face this scenario daily: by doubling down on progressive practice, their unwillingness to embrace the traditional delegitimizes their class. Chris McNutt 6 Oct 2018 • 6 min read
Teacher Transformation A Superhero Teacher's Lament Every passionate teacher enters the classroom with boundless, optimistic energy. They never think they’ll become the sarcastic, aloof, dismissive type. But, when push comes to shove — it seems like it happens to everybody. Chris McNutt 5 Jul 2018 • 5 min read
Teacher Transformation The Path to Discovery: Providing Real Choice in Schools As far as I knew, this was “great teaching” — not only had I known my students “were learning” but often my lessons were engaging and at least better than what I remembered in school. Chris McNutt 5 Jul 2017 • 9 min read