I'll admit it. I've used them before. Worksheets. I have wasted paper and provided everyone the same work on those worksheets. I have taught with them, assessed with them, and used them under the guise of differentiation. We all make mistakes, right? Let's break apart the word worksheet. Work. Sheet. Worksheets are designed to give students something … Continue reading Step Away From the Worksheets-#BLOG365 Day 76
Curriculum
The Heart of Understanding – #BLOG365 Day 73
I have been thinking a lot lately about what it means to get to the heart of a subject, the essence of a subject. I don't know that we are doing enough of this in classrooms today. I was rereading Making Thinking Visible this weekend and the authors recommend making a list of all the things you do … Continue reading The Heart of Understanding – #BLOG365 Day 73
Using Art to Teach Reading – #BLOG365 Day 65
Over the last few days I have shared Picturing America a few times with colleagues. It's funny how resources float in and out of your mind. I don't think I had thought about Picturing America for months. But, yesterday I asked a friend "do you ever using art to teach history?" Today I have … Continue reading Using Art to Teach Reading – #BLOG365 Day 65
Museum Monday: Object Stories – #BLOG365 Day 60
I have written a few times about using object stories in the classroom. Most recently in this blog post for ASCD Inservice. One of my favorite apps to do this with is Voicethread. There are plenty of apps (Chatterpix and Explain Everything), but I like Voicethread because it allows people to comment on the object … Continue reading Museum Monday: Object Stories – #BLOG365 Day 60
Boo! Grades! -#BLOG365 Day 55
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h4GD2feZ8Q&app=desktop The scariest thing this October isn't the spooky Halloween costumes or frightful decorations. It's not haunted houses or zombies. It's our grading culture. The Wicked Witch of Education! Look, there's been a lot of research on grading and grading systems. Despite the fact that these studies show grades actually demotivate students, we continue … Continue reading Boo! Grades! -#BLOG365 Day 55
Assessment for Learning – #BLOG365 Day 54
I read this post from Meghan Everette a few days ago on class size that made me think of a study by Sir Paul Black and Professor Dylan Wiliam. They found that assessment for learning had a bigger impact than class size on student achievement. Assessment for learning relies heavily on pre-assessments, clear communication … Continue reading Assessment for Learning – #BLOG365 Day 54
Museum Monday: Quick Tips for Using Objects in the Classroom – #BLOG365 Day 53
Last week I did a blog post for ASCD Inservice. I love this info graphic created from my writing. Check out my post, Unleash the Power of Objects in Your Classroom, here.
Piling On – #BLOG365 Day 49 #IMMOOC
I am not that far removed from the classroom. Just a little over a year ago I was in the classroom teaching World History. I strive to keep the perspective of a teacher as an important element in my daily practice. I have worked in urban and suburban schools. Both environments offer their own … Continue reading Piling On – #BLOG365 Day 49 #IMMOOC
Is Our Instruction Respectful? – #BLOG365 #IMMOOC Day 48
I've been thinking a lot about what it means to be a respectful educator. I don't mean respectful with our colleagues. I mean with our students. For me, this goes beyond how we speak and act with our students. It is much deeper. Being a respectful teacher also means we are positive, polite, and reflective … Continue reading Is Our Instruction Respectful? – #BLOG365 #IMMOOC Day 48
Museum Monday: Hoosier-Style Kitchen Cabinet-#BLOG365 Day 45
This weekend I made a bit of an impulse buy at the antique store. Not completely out of character for me. As I mentioned in a previous post, we are in the process of restoring an Antebellum home, built in 1836. I have decided to celebrate my kitchen's small size and play up the history … Continue reading Museum Monday: Hoosier-Style Kitchen Cabinet-#BLOG365 Day 45
Jill Cross 