For the past several years, teachers have been leaving the classroom at an alarming rate. The COVID-19 era exacerbated existing fractures, and today the entire system strains under persistent teacher shortages, struggling with both teacher retention and recruitment. While some school districts appear to be getting it right by focusing on mental health and finding ways to give … Read more
In modern education, small-group instruction is not new. Yet, despite decades of research supporting its efficacy, a persistent grey area remains about what constitutes best practices for making this educational model effective for individual students and lesson objectives. By 2026, the conversation has shifted dramatically. It has moved beyond whether small groups work and toward … Read more
Click above to listen to Podcast Episode 18: “Structure in the Classroom with Bridget Burlage” In the ever-evolving landscape of education, the concept of a classroom environment transcends the traditional four walls. The best teachers understand that the physical structure of a learning space, whether physical or digital, is not merely about where desks are placed, but about how … Read more
Listen to Episode 13 of the Student-Centered World Podcast above, “What Do You Do With a Toxic School?” I once saw on Facebook the plight of a teacher who had a total, unannounced administrative observation the morning after returning from winter break. This is the stuff of school culture nightmares. That first day back from … Read more
We know that, as teachers, we often wear so many different hats in the classroom, many of which have nothing to do with the curriculum we are tasked with teaching. Sometimes it is difficult to juggle all of this, and many in education are struggling to find a way to balance it all. The key (and … Read more
Ask ten teachers what classroom management means, and you’ll get ten different answers. Some will tell you it’s about student behavior. Others will say it’s about building a classroom community. A few might even argue it’s really about academics in disguise. The truth? It’s all of those things woven together. Classroom management is what turns … Read more
For the record, before we get started, I have redirected every page on my site that discusses an AI-based program to this page. When AI seemingly blew up out of nowhere a few years ago, it seemed like such a great way to save so much time in everything from work to everyday tasks. I … Read more
We are in a weird time in education. Not only are the pressures on the profession at an all-time high, but teachers by nature put their heart and soul into their work 24/7 while the school year is in session (and much of it often carries over when the year is not in session). Teacher burnout rates … Read more
Click above to listen to Podcast Episode 20: “Classroom Engagement Ideas for Easily Adapting the Classroom with Steph Sperber” Steph Sperber, a 14-year teaching veteran, said something in our Student-Centered World mastermind group back in 2020 that stopped me mid-scroll. She mentioned that when her school shifted online, she actually found herself with more time on her … Read more
I talk frequently about self-grading assignments, but sometimes that moves too quickly. It is important to answer the question, “What is self-grading?” before moving on to how to use it in the classroom. With that answer, you can develop a self-grading system that works for both the teacher and the student. Most of us know … Read more
The Expanded ADEPT Support and Evaluation System was designed with a specific purpose: to help teachers grow, reflect, and improve their practice over time. ADEPT stands for Assisting, Developing, and Evaluating Professional Teaching, and that name matters. It’s not just about evaluating professional teaching; it’s supposed to be about supporting it. Principals, instructional coaches, or … Read more
All teachers are expected to have a classroom management philosophy, but what does this actually mean (and what should it look like in a 21st-century classroom)? The answer depends on three things: the teacher’s purpose, the learners’ needs, and a good understanding of how young people develop in a digital age. In other words, classroom … Read more
Most of us are trying to tackle the wrong one…and we’re starting the school year at a deficit instead of our nervous systems being back to 100%.
Find out what type plagues you the hardest and develop a plan to change it ⬇️