100% This post was 100% inspired by the three literacy leaders I affectionately call “The Trifecta,” Stacy Hurst, Lindsay Kemeny, and Donell Pons, hosts of Reading Horizons’ Literacy Talks podcast. In Episode 6 of Season 3, Reading: The Numbers Help Tell the Stories, The Trifecta focuses on the irony of how many numbers are involved … [Read more…]
It takes time. This a phrase uttered in multiple educational arenas when talking about student proficiency. It takes time. I have been reminded of this over and over again in my work as a teacher and as an instructional coach. Most recently, I have been reminded of this with three exceptional learning opportunities: 1) Episode … [Read more…]
In our work with Solution Tree, we often hear about Instructional Tights as related to the PLC process. As defined in Learning by Doing, the suggested “Tight Elements in a PLC” include: Educators work collaboratively rather than in isolation, take collective responsibility for student learning, and clarify the commitments they make to each other about … [Read more…]
The 2022 Wind Down As we get ready to wrap up 2022, I can’t help but take a bit of time to reflect on the past year. ‘Tis the season for reflection and gratitude, right?! It’s always the season for both reflection and gratitude, and this time of year seems to make it even easier. … [Read more…]
Our Work with Kim Cano In our school district’s effort to achieve high levels of learning for all students, we have hired Solution Tree associate, Kim Cano, to steer us in the right direction. The plan is to have Kim work with us for three years, at the end of which will result in a … [Read more…]
Nearly a month has gone by without a blogpost, again. It’s been a minute. And I’m glad to be back at the keyboard. I have definitely come to realize that I feel like I have more clarity when I am writing, even when the writing feels like an obligation, which it does at times. What … [Read more…]
As I listened (two or three times!) to Amplify’s Science of Reading the Podcast, Season 5, Episode 5, I was reminded, yet again, of the importance of educators focusing on universal instruction first. For those outside of the education world, this may seem a bit strange. An outsider may think, “Of course teachers would focus … [Read more…]
As the end of the year dwindles down, I’m witnessing and experiencing the typical May “chaos.” Students are full of renewed, and perhaps irritating, energy. Teachers are lacking renewed energy, and in fact are short on energy, patience, and tolerance. Last May, I wrote about rethinking the end-of year countdown. My reflections in that post … [Read more…]
I’ve been receiving some pretty persistent nudges lately that have to do with finding clarity around where I place my priorities. Some of those nudges have been a bit in-my-face: Bill telling me that I need to “Quit working so much and learn to relax.” (This isn’t a new statement from Bill, but it came … [Read more…]
Commitment to Solutions that Work I had the amazing opportunity to attend Solution Tree’s RTI at Work Institute in Des Moines, Iowa this past week. It was just the rejuvenation I needed as the end of the school year approaches. One of my favorite things about the event was that the information presented fell in … [Read more…]