When 'grades' are not the goal, but LEARNING, students take active roles in the learning process. This should be the goal in education at all levels.

A good read on homework. I have taught for 15 years, grades 6-12, math, history, & AP US History classes. I have never assigned homework for many of the reasons in this article. Inherent inequalities alone should cause one to question homework practices. humanrestorationproject.org/writing/this-i…

A very good read with 3 straight forward strategies to look at in moving forward with more equitable and valid grading practices. theconversation.com/every-teacher-…

This is one of my favorite quotes about working with struggling students. 🧡 Check out my PD: buff.ly/3LRETyh

Just arrived from Eye On Education & Jason Kennedy Jason Kennedy | Stop Teaching & Design Learning! I am hooked & still in chapter 1! Recommend for everyone, especially for those ready to shift the paradigm away from how school has been done for over a century & focus on designing student learning opportunities!

"Grades are not only statistically useless, they have been acting as academic gatekeepers for millions of students, unjustly sorting, sifting, and selecting which students get to go where and why. " humanrestorationproject.org/writing/gradin…

Mindset starts with the adults in the building. 📷 Unknown

NEW: 8 Ways to Help Tweens Take Academic Risks. AMLE #middleschool Tweens think in polarities & will go to great lengths to avoid embarrassment at school, writes Phyllis Fagell, LCPC. Here are 8 ways educators can help them learn to take academic and social risks. middleweb.com/49544/8-ways-t…

First day for 6th grade scholars to choose their own activity for Flex Time at the end of their day. A great day from #FCMSWellbeingforall! @FCMSPrincipal ScottLykins_WSIS

Tried out Kahoot! new game mode The Lost Pyramid today. Scholars enjoyed the game, the strategy involved, and the teamwork aspects!

As part of a group looking at grading practices, I find this timely. The last section on Starting Points for Grading Reform could be the starting point when looking to move from grading practices that are often over a century old. ascd.org/el/articles/wh…

Spent the day being inspired by Thomas Guskey with fellow Frederick County Public Schools - Virginia colleagues as he provided thought-provoking ideas in how to make grading and grade reporting more meaningful and authentic for all. Looking forward to this journey!

6th grade scholars celebrating as we begin the final push to a great year at Mac's Skating Rink! @FCMSPrincipal ScottLykins_WSIS #FCMSwellbeing4all

FCMS 6th Grade Scholars reenacting Pickett's Charge and the advantage of the high ground with the Union defending with water balloons. @FCMSPrincipal ScottLykins_WSIS #FCMSwellbeing4all #FCMSweconnect

Welcome to FCMS to our new 6th Grade Scholars. A day to explore, get to know, and enjoy what will be your building for the next three years! We enjoyed meeting you! @FCMSPrincipal ScottLykins_WSIS #FCMSwellbeing4all

FCMS 6th Grade Scholars work in small groups attempting to create a model of the geographic features using play-doh. @FCMSPrincipal ScottLykins_WSIS #FCMSWellBeing4all

The 2025 version of the FCMS 6th Grade reenactment of Pickett's Charge is in the books. The weather held off for our water balloon reenactment. FCMSDeanBoothe ScottLykins_WSIS

It’s easy to confuse cause and effect—especially in schools, where we often focus on the outward behavior (the effect) without addressing what’s actually driving it (the cause). When we mistake the effect for the cause, we end up trying to “fix” the behavior—through consequences,

“When we look at students through the lens of Maslow before Bloom—then Gardner, Jung, and Goleman—we stop asking only ‘What can they achieve?’ and start asking ‘What do they need, how do they shine, who are they becoming, and how can they connect?’ True education meets the whole

One of the best things a teacher can do in the course of the day is to have a conversation with a student about something other than school.