A Principal's Reflections

MAY 10, 2020

Education will not be the same. Through all this adversity, educators have risen to the occasion and have begun the tedious process of redefining education and what real learning really should be. While educators across the world stepped up and have made it work, support now, and in the future, has to be prioritized.

Leadership 512

Leadership Education Pedagogy Cultures 512

TCI

NOVEMBER 12, 2024

Civic education is the cornerstone of a functioning democracy, yet recent evaluations reveal significant gaps in how it is taught across the nation. However, recent studies indicate that many states are falling short of providing students with the educational foundation needed for active civic participation.

Civics 98

Civics Teaching Civic Engagement Social Studies 98

The Hechinger Report

FEBRUARY 10, 2025

But a growing chorus of education advocates has been arguing that phonics isnt enough. Some educators are calling for schools to adopt a curriculum that emphasizes content along with phonics. Some educators are calling for schools to adopt a curriculum that emphasizes content along with phonics. Weve all been there.

Teaching 136

Teaching Charter School Social Studies Geography 136

Digital Promise

FEBRUARY 3, 2025

The event attracted educators from across the country and around the world. However, what I experienced was far different and far better: It put people at the center of the technology and helped me expand my views on how technology can and should be used in school settings as a tool for education and not as a replacement or goal of education.

Education 148

Education EdTech Humanities Critical Thinking 148

ED Surge

MARCH 19, 2025

In the 2021-2022 academic year, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce found more than 43,000 individuals with active teaching credentials were not employed as teachers or staff members in a public school. Our principal recruits and advertises open teaching positions only to receive zero applications most of the time.

Education 106

Education Professional Development Charter School Lesson Plan 106

ED Surge

MARCH 26, 2025

Looking back on my educational journey, I recently reflected on my classroom experiences from kindergarten to fourth grade. The summer before I entered the fourth grade, my mother informed me that I would be attending a new school in my same community with one caveat: it was a class in the gifted and talented education (GATE) program.

Education 108

Education Advocacy Middle School Cultures 108

ED Surge

OCTOBER 16, 2024

Although I knew I had a passion for teaching before entering college, I always had this idea in my head that teaching K-12 education wasn’t a real or appropriate profession for an Ivy League, engineering graduate like myself. On the spectrum of professional experience for K-12 teachers, I am decidedly on the greener side.

K-12 134

K-12 Teaching Professional Development Leadership 134

A Principal's Reflections

JUNE 16, 2019

Tom Murray and I presented a call to action, highlighting the need to transform teaching, learning, and leadership in Learning Transformed to meet the demands and challenges inherent in the 4th Industrial Revolution. Now more than ever, the importance of education cannot be overstated. However, things do need to change at scale.

Education 401

Education Leadership Critical Thinking Economics 401

Catlin Tucker

SEPTEMBER 8, 2021

September 8th is International Literacy Day, a great time to think about promoting a class culture that values reading. Below are strategies and resources I’ve used to cultivate a reading culture in my classroom. Some educators love them; others loathe them. Cultivating a culture of reading doesn’t happen overnight.

Cultures 199

Cultures Controversial Topics Library Tradition 199

A Principal's Reflections

SEPTEMBER 13, 2020

Throughout the pandemic, educators have embraced new opportunities that have materialized and taken advantage of a clean slate. Below I will address six specific areas that can help to create an empathetic teaching and learning culture. However, this is not all doom and gloom. Even though they are similar, there is a difference.

Pedagogy 543

Pedagogy Cultures Tradition Leadership 543

ED Surge

MARCH 27, 2025

In a survey of more than 1,000 public school teachers done through Samsungs partners at DonorsChoose a whopping 96 percent said AI will become an intrinsic part of education within the next decade. They can start with mastering spreadsheets, coding languages like Python or teaching students to use AI chatbots.

K-12 115

K-12 Education EdTech Lesson Plan 115

Studies Weekly

MARCH 10, 2025

Teaching Irish American History Mar. 10, 2025 By Studies Weekly NEWSLETTER You only need to walk into a store and see St Patricks Day decorations to know Irish Americans have profoundly impacted our countrys culture. This overview of Irish American history can help you teach students why they see so many Irish influences today.

American History 90

American History History Teaching Primary Sources 90

ED Surge

FEBRUARY 10, 2025

To support improved student outcomes, educators increasingly look to technology. Recently, EdSurge spoke with Kelly Mitchell, Digital Learning and Teaching Facilitator with Onslow County Schools in North Carolina. What advice would you give other educators looking to build a culture of authentic engagement using technology?

Cultures 81

Cultures EdTech Leadership Teaching 81

A Principal's Reflections

AUGUST 14, 2022

Thriving cultures that produce results make every effort to keep this on the positive side. Pile on the positive feedback Sometimes there is never enough of a good thing when it comes to building up culture. Listening is one of the best tools that can be leveraged to gather crucial information on the pulse of a culture.

Leadership 479

Leadership Cultures Psychology Research 479

TeachThought

SEPTEMBER 3, 2024

Don’t Use Physical Education As Punishment contributed by Dr. Kymm Ballard, Executive Director for SPARK Think about any time you’ve seen “army boot camp” portrayed in pop culture — are you picturing the traditional drill sergeant, ordering his troops to do endless laps and push-ups, as punishment for their errors that day?

Education 300

Education Elementary School Psychology Classroom Management 300

A Principal's Reflections

JUNE 9, 2019

Then there is the most dangerous view in education that the way we have always done it is the best way. We tend to teach the way we were taught and lead the way we were led and, in a sense, become victims of our past. As such, teaching, learning, and leadership must change if growth and improvement are the goals.

Leadership 404

Leadership Cultures Pedagogy Research 404

A Principal's Reflections

MARCH 17, 2024

It thrives under the guidance of a passionate, skilled educator who is constantly evolving alongside their students. Nevertheless, just like their students, educators thrive in personalized learning experiences. Online courses and learning modules allow educators to access content at their own pace and on their own schedules.

Professional Development 469

Professional Development Leadership Cultures Educational Technology 469

Teaching Anthropology

FEBRUARY 3, 2025

Nightingale College, South Dakota, US As I grade my Cultural Anthropoloy classs Emic and Etic Perspectives of Halloween essay, two things strike me: 1. For anyone who has been teaching anthropology over the last two years, the latter will be of no surprise to you. Chloe Beckett, M.A., How do we get them to use AI responsibly?

Anthropology 130

Anthropology Sociology Cultures Educational Technology 130

The Hechinger Report

NOVEMBER 11, 2024

It’s not the first time I’ve cried after class,” the professor, Romi Hitchcock-Tinseth, said later, although she was teaching only her fourth session at the prison. Related: From prison to dean’s list: How Danielle Metz got an education after incarceration Pelican Bay is one of the most infamous prisons in the country.

Education 126

Education Leadership Government Teaching 126

A Principal's Reflections

JULY 4, 2021

No one goes into the education profession for accolades or to make big bucks, although I wish the latter were a reality. The choice one makes to teach and lead is almost always grounded in the innate desire to make a positive difference in a child's life. Culture, in a classroom or school, is built on a strong relational foundation.

Cultures 511

Cultures Economics Tradition Teaching 511

ED Surge

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

Perhaps it is because the virtues of Mexican and Indigenous spiritualities in Texas and Minnesota, where I’ve split my whole life, are so universal that it’s hard to not be drawn to their teachings and practices. As a writer, my Indigenous culture shows up in my poetry. The short answer: it starts with us.

Cultures 138

Cultures Teaching Pedagogy Ancestry 138

ED Surge

FEBRUARY 27, 2024

Jared Ten Brink, a doctoral student in education at the University of Michigan, is an enrolled member of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi. As a former science teacher and instructional coach, though, he was looking for a way to deliver the teachings of tribal elders to a broader audience via distance education.

Cultures 124

Cultures Teaching Heritage Government 124

ED Surge

DECEMBER 18, 2024

Back then, remember your why felt like a genuine invitation to reconnect with the passion that first brought me to teaching; this made it easy to hold on to purpose and to find meaning in the day-to-day connections and small victories. Together, their legacies have shaped my teaching practice.

Education 120

Education Heritage Leadership Tradition 120

The Hechinger Report

OCTOBER 28, 2024

In my career as an arts educator and school administrator, I have met countless families whose children are excited to embark on a college education focused on filmmaking or acting. Given the financial realities regularly confronted by the arts and the high cost of postsecondary education, a bit of hesitation may be natural.

Education 115

Education Economics Tradition Humanities 115

A Principal's Reflections

OCTOBER 22, 2023

It serves as a valuable tool for educators, schools, and districts to refine their skills and improve teaching, learning, and leadership. Whether it comes from administrators, peers, consultants, or self-assessment, feedback offers insights that help educators identify areas for improvement and build upon their strengths.

Psychology 429

Psychology Professional Development Cultures Leadership 429

A Principal's Reflections

NOVEMBER 24, 2019

In the case of education, the choice is to either adapt or evolve in ways that lead to improved outcomes aligned to teaching, learning, and leadership. The desire or imperative to change depends on a combination of perspective, culture, and achievement. It isn't about one educator, classroom, or isolated practice.

Leadership 429

Leadership Cultures Teaching Research 429

A Principal's Reflections

MAY 24, 2020

During my years as a teacher and principal, I would spend countless hours planning, researching, and attending professional learning events to hone my craft in order to become a better educator. I established hiring practices that resulted in the hiring of a lot of smart educators. Life is all about choices.

Geography 545

Geography Humanities Cultures Professional Development 545

A Principal's Reflections

FEBRUARY 10, 2019

Recently I recently learned about Pocket Points , an app that educators are using to promote better decision-making amongst students with the goal of keeping them off their phones when not being used to achieve learning outcomes associated with the class. I am a huge proponent of harnessing and leveraging mobile technology in the classroom.

Classroom Management 419

Classroom Management Cultures High School Teaching 419

A Principal's Reflections

APRIL 2, 2023

Despite my best efforts, I couldn't visit classrooms as frequently as I would have liked, and the feedback I provided in written reports could have done more to enhance teaching and learning both inside and outside the classroom. This approach also provides a better understanding of teachers' changing role in the disruption age.

Leadership 542

Leadership K-12 Artifacts Lesson Plan 542

A Principal's Reflections

JANUARY 28, 2024

In the ever-evolving landscape of education, the role of leadership is pivotal. The notion of educational leadership extends beyond administrative responsibilities; it embodies the vision, direction, and ethos of a learner-centric environment. This includes teachers, department heads, and even students.

Leadership 389

Leadership Cultures Education Policy Humanities 389

A Principal's Reflections

AUGUST 2, 2020

Equity There have always been issues with equity when it comes to education. Successful remote learning is dependent on the consistent utilization of effective teaching strategies and pedagogy that empowers all kids to think and apply their thinking in relevant ways. Each district is unique in terms of resources and demographics.

Pedagogy 546

Pedagogy Social Justice K-12 EdTech 546

ED Surge

NOVEMBER 20, 2024

I began my teaching career as a Teach For America (TFA) Corps member in Jacksonville, Florida. I was part of a cohort of about 100 first-year educators, all united by a common mission: to serve under-resourced and underserved schools. By the end of that first semester, 10 of my colleagues had already left the program.

Classroom Management 138

Classroom Management Social Justice Lesson Plan Cultures 138

A Principal's Reflections

JUNE 9, 2024

Packed with practical examples, research-based strategies, and stories, any educator can find the most effective way to personalize learning. Here is the synopsis: Not Just One Way Are you an educator stuck in the traditional teaching or leadership mold, yearning for a spark to reignite your passion? Join the revolution.

Tradition 409

Tradition Critical Thinking Cultures Leadership 409

ED Surge

AUGUST 1, 2024

As more instructors experiment with using generative AI to make teaching materials, an important question bubbles up. If students are required to make clear when and how they’re using AI tools, should educators be too? If students are required to make clear when and how they’re using AI tools, should educators be too?

Teaching 145

Teaching Education K-12 Lesson Plan 145

The Hechinger Report

MARCH 2, 2025

As educators, we feel differently. The question to us is less about whether we should teach novels than it is about how to make reading them work for students. Novels are powerful pedagogy because they are hard and time-consuming to teach. Related: Become a lifelong learner. What would you do in this moment?

K-12 135

K-12 Pedagogy High School Cultures 135

ED Surge

MAY 20, 2024

In the post-COVID pandemic educational setting, assessment offers ways to gain crucial insights into student thinking and learning and the areas requiring support for progress toward learning goals. The first step is to consider the idea of school culture and how it underpins the related concept of assessment culture.

Cultures 130

Cultures Professional Development Teaching Research 130

A Principal's Reflections

FEBRUARY 27, 2022

Not only was I not in classrooms enough, but also the level of feedback provided through the lens of a narrative report did very little to improve teaching and learning both in and out of the classroom. Try also to read one education book and another related to a different field such as leadership, self-help, or business.

Leadership 529

Leadership Archiving Lesson Plan Tradition 529