Click above to listen to Podcast Episode 57: “Uses for Technology in the Classroom to Engage Students“ In today’s global society, students want to learn how to use the technology around them while understanding how classroom technology connects to life outside of school. Before exploring how to measure student engagement through digital tools, let’s examine … Read more
When teachers first encounter experiential education, they are often optimistic, yet a lingering question remains: Do the benefits of experiential learning truly last? In an era of shifting educational trends, this skepticism is valid. No educator wants to invest time in methods that lack long-term promise. The truth is that the experiential learning benefits cannot … Read more
As a classroom community, we often begin the year with an icebreaker so students can get to know one another. While some of these are tried and true, others can be, let’s face it, a bit cringeworthy, especially as our students get a little older. However, activities like these should span the school year, not … 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
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
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