For fun…

Categories: Big Questions · Books · burning questions · Connections · CreativityTags: · · · · · · · · Leave a comment

We teachers have full, wonderful lives outside of teaching. I think. Sure we do! YES! We most definitely do! And why let all the wonderful folks such as Barack Obama create a list!? Here’s my challenge, inspired by @jarredamato, the leader of #ProjectLit: What if all leaders — politics, education, business, you name it — shared their own lists each year? https://t.co/6N9bkDI2aY — Jarred Amato (@jarredamato) December 28, 2018 When a friend posted Obama’s list today, I immediately went to i-Tunes and grabbed some of the songs I liked. Dang, I used to be such an aficionado of new music!…

Dogmatix.

Categories: being a better colleague · Being a better teacher · Big QuestionsTags: · · · Leave a comment

For the past two years, I’ve shared Julian Treasure’s two powerful TED Talks about listening and speaking.  I wish my PLC would watch them together and come to some understanding of how we can communicate to our full potential and then was reminded there is no magic wand or quick fix. And, we’re not broken either, just new and working out our particular personalities. But I can have my students watch them, gleaning the best advice he offers. All my students shared in an interest survey they would like quiet when reading or writing — heavy cognitive demands. And yet, those who…

Relevance.

Categories: Big Questions · Media and Mischief · New NewsTags: · · · Leave a comment

You may all think I am evangelizing the mighty gospel of gaming, but that is not true. What I am promoting is relevance. My brother-in-law works for Blizzard games. He has been working 60-90 hour weeks for months on end. He is extremely talented and intelligent, like all of the Love brothers. He sent this e-mail about his work on Diablo III yesterday afternoon:  http://eu.blizzard.com/diablo3/world/systems/runestones.xml The above link has some breakdown videos of various player skills in Diablo III. We just released this info to the public today. I did all of the special FX for these, except for the…

Leveling up: Pathways to reading

Categories: Being a better teacher · Big Questions · book recommendations · burning questions · Reading · Reading Strategies · TechnologyTags: · · · · 1 Comment

Wonderful colleague posts this question to the universe: Calling ALL opinions: students are reading below grade level (anywhere from 5 to 1 year behind) and I want to do a book study to meet some CORE standards. Can I use one that isn’t at grade level? Or is that just making it too easy? Is it OK to use any book as long as it is higher than their current level of performance? Weigh in…and not just teachers! My quick response:I have a lot to say about this, but Lucy Calkins said it well: “I want to know when I…

Got Imagination?

Categories: Big Questions · Burning Questions Book Lists · Exploration · Media and Mischief · New News · Reading · Technology · Tell A Story · Too Good To Miss Assignment · writing promptsTags: · · · · · · · Leave a comment

Smith’s book, How to be an Explorer of the World, is a feast for the mind and soul. Don’t live in a world of grays and browns – wake up and smell the creativity!