I remember a teacher telling me: “When you’re surrounded by superstars… it makes you want to be better than you are.” That’s the power of collaboration -- the power of positive peer pressure. The best teachers don’t just inspire their students; they inspire their colleagues.

In the last 15 years, we’ve molded a school system where the students who follow the rules get the least attention…because all the energy goes into managing the ones who don’t.

Children will rise to the expectations we set. Just as explicit instruction should not be negotiable when teaching novice learners, there should be a non-negotiable expectation that all students display behaviors that support learning. When we don't, it is a clear sign that we

🙋🏼‍♀️ What's the relationship between Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), Universal Design for Learning (UDL), & blended learning in improving Tier 1 instruction? Watch, then explore more about Tier 1 instruction on my blog: bit.ly/4ohYHL3 #edchat #k12 #mtss #udl

Why are so many teachers who use content-rich curriculum still engaging in "surface-level" reading comprehension instruction, as a new study finds? The pressure to "teach" skills-focused ELA standards has a lot to do with it. More in my new post: nataliewexler.substack.com/p/using-knowle…

Mary M. Kennedy reviewed 28 studies on teacher professional development to find out what actually works. She discovered that the best programs help teachers think strategically or discover insights on their own, rather than just giving them step-by-step instructions to follow.

I always wanted to improve my science vocabulary instruction but most of my instructional strategies focused on Tier 3 words such as mitochondria and photosynthesis. It did not focus on Tier 2 words that actually explain the why and how behind these terms.🧵⬇️

🧠 Effective teaching depends on understanding how learning happens. Daniel Willingham’s Simple Model of the Mind provides a practical lens for designing instruction grounded in key insights from cognitive science. It helps teachers move beyond poor proxies for learning and

Differentiation doesn’t have to mean four times the prep. From adapting reading levels ➝ scaffolding processes ➝ offering flexible products ➝ supporting learning environments — AI can help teachers personalize without burning out. youtube.com/watch?v=CKqrVA…

I’ve finally launched my Substack with a piece that reflects a concern I’m no longer willing to soften. Building Sinking Classrooms takes a hard look at Building Thinking Classrooms and the widening gap between instructional popularity and instructional evidence. I believe this

One of the best blogs I've ever read on mastery Becky Allen profbeckyallen.substack.com/p/durable-mast…

Did I understand a single word of it? I did not. Was it a vibe? It was.

💎 100 of the Best Gemini Gems for Schools controlaltachieve.com/2026/02/100gem… 🧭 Curriculum 💡 Instructional Materials 🙋 Engagement 🔑 Support 💯 Assessment & Data 📖 Literacy 🧪 Math & Science 🧒 Student Tools 💼 Professional Tasks #edtech Google for Education Google Gemini

MTSS: Three Paths to Provide Strong Tier 1 Instruction 👉🏻 bit.ly/3DPWaGz #edchat #k12

Here’s a lesson routine for simplifying the explicit teaching of new content I’ve found success with. It may work for you too. It may not. I think it will. Let me know what you think. 1️⃣Introduce guiding questions for lesson reading (3-4 per lesson) 2️⃣FASE read one “chunk” of

If you're supporting math teachers – but never saw yourself as a "math person" – this one is for you. (Via leader Megan Edinger & EL Education) eleducation.org/news-and-event…

How to teach a brilliant writing lesson 1️⃣ The components of an effective writing lesson writing4pleasure.com/2022/07/22/the… 2️⃣ Getting your writing instruction right writing4pleasure.com/2022/04/29/get…

When I got my masters at a large state university I tutored for the football team. They assigned me a player who needed “a little more help”... I asked him to write a paragraph about himself. Not a single correct & complete sentence. He read at the 3rd grade level. The worst

How Should We Plan Reading Comprehension Lessons? shanahanonliteracy.com/blog/how-shoul…

New York is a cautionary tale. You can invest millions in “science of reading,” but if the wrong people are leading it, you risk recreating the same failed systems under a new name. Leadership isn’t optional. It’s everything. hechingerreport.org/new-york-ten-m…