I share the same philosophy with my students that my dad taught me: •Surround yourself with 4 confident people, and you’ll become the 5th. •Surround yourself with 4 hardworking people, and you’ll become the 5th. •Surround yourself with 4 fools, and you’ll become the 5th.

The idea that kids learn better when teachers step back from teaching them directly is one of the dumbest, most persistent myths in modern education. Kids don’t magically absorb knowledge through group work and vague questioning. They need clear, structured instruction from an

Get the cell phones out of public school classrooms.

Zach Groshell What ice is there to break? We’re already here. Just start the thing.

Kids should read out loud in class.

I promised this a while back and then got too busy/lazy to follow through, but since the release of the NAEP scores in January, and the usual chorus of naysayers claiming we don’t have a reading crisis in America or that “Basic” is good enough or that “Proficient” is too high of

As always, Sean Morrisey shows us what good vocabulary instruction is.

-Pen & paper > iPads & Chromebooks -Whole (physical) books > excerpts -Human (well-trained) teachers > apps -Desks in rows > desks in groups -Teacher-led instruction > student-led learning -Recess & P.E. > SEL -Clear, consistent discipline > restorative practices What else?

Can’t read? Give them a Tablet Not engaged? Give them a Tablet Bored? Give them a Tablet Zero attention span? Give them a Tablet Anxiety? Give them a tablet Maybe the tablet isn’t the solution but the problem.

Get the cell phones out of the classroom.

Okay teachers here’s an interesting question for you. If you could SOLVE (as in it’s totally gone) only one of issues in this poll which would it be? Think carefully before you choose. Share for more exposure. Let’s get a good sample size.

5 hours left on this poll. Great discussions happening in the comments. I’ll share my thoughts at the conclusion as I don’t want to skew the results one way or another.

Alright, now that the poll is closed I will share my thoughts. Apathy and disruptions are both huge issues in our classrooms. However, I believe if we could solve the apathy issue much of the disruption would cease for two reasons. 1. Students who care about their learning as

But can Google solve the problem it’ll create when kids don’t have the grit, perseverance, and problem solving skills, that are gained by solving complex math problems on their own without an AI just telling them what to do?

School administrators take note.

Cell phones.

Ok, a random obsession of mine but recess and playgrounds have gotten almost too safe No chasing games. No high climbing. Zero rough housing of any kind. No risk taking but kids need to take risks and fall and hurt themselves and get back up and realize that everything is ok