In the Classroom

The best part about teaching primary school students is that for those first years, so many of them are excited about learning. Every day is a new adventure and it isn’t as difficult to get student buy-in for whatever silly lesson you have planned for that day. This doesn’t mean that lesson planning for the … Read more

Many school districts have implemented the Marzano observation model of teacher evaluation. The Marzano Focused Teacher Evaluation Model was one of the first formal observations to be implemented in schools across the country. It was created to address concerns with teacher evaluations and provide specific criteria for what should be observed during an evaluation. The … Read more

Over time, teacher observation models have changed the landscape of classroom observations. We wanted to provide a tool for teachers and their mentors that can be used when creating OTES 2.0 goals examples so they may examine the effectiveness of their instruction. The online tool, Ohio Teacher Evaluation System (OTES), was created in 2011 by … Read more

There are specific elements to keep in mind when preparing for a NIET Observation. The NIET Teaching Standards Rubric, based on research-based criteria, makes it easy to give feedback regarding a teacher’s instruction and encourages collaboration around a shared goal that corresponds with student performance. NIET Observation criteria aim to produce a concise, accurate, and … Read more

As teachers, we are constantly trying to find ways to make our lives just a little easier. A great option for this is to look into easy grading assignments, like those that utilize student self-grading. Now, this is much more than just having students trade papers with one another as you read an answer key out … Read more

Teachers often have an interest in experiential learning theory not because of what it is, but because of what it does. Experiential learning theory is an umbrella term for a collection of similar theories rather than one singular theory, but there are some commonalities. Most important is the idea that learning through experience is better or more … Read more

We know that learner-centered education is all the rage in education circles, but are there actually hands on learning benefits that outweigh the time it takes to craft these lessons? While we constantly hear about the benefits of hands-on learning, we often end up questioning whether this is really an effective way for young children … Read more

Click above to listen to Podcast Episode 55: “Engaging Classroom Activities for Middle Schoolers“ There are many fun activities for middle school students that are not only great options but can be used in school, at home, or at after-school activities. Developing engaging classroom activities for middle schoolers which are fun and interesting can help … Read more