I’ve wrapped up my 1st algebra unit with my 6th graders and I have to say it was an overwhelming success. Student growth from the pre-test about 6 weeks ago to the post-test a few days ago shows a range of 10-50 percentage point gains with an average gain of roughly 30 percentage points.
For many [...]

The film with the same title as this post is probably one of my favorites because it begs the question…”Is it ever too late to change?”
I often ask my colleagues at what age or stage in life does a student’s refusal to work to their full potential simply turn into that student just being average [...]

Torture numbers, and they’ll confess to anything. ~Gregg Easterbrook
Statistics and data have always been incredibly vital to public education. However, since the NCLB mandate and the Bush era that defines research as being replicable, generalizable, and quantitatively based. As such, school leaders LOVE data, graphs, and Microsoft Excel. I’m all for data and statistics [...]

1. The students.
2. The students.
3. The students.
4. The students.
5. Summer vacation.
6. The students.
7. The students.
8. The stories that the students tell me.
9. Spring break.
10. The students.

1. When the weekend work/extra credit is expertly done and the in class work and quizzes are all over the place….I know a parent has been doing a little too much helping at home.
2. When students are not held at least partially accountable for their own learning. Helplessness is a learned trait. We must stop [...]

The post title is my favorite Einstein quote and the basis of something new I’m trying with my students. Dan has been advocating this for a long time now and I just got on the bandwagon.
I’ll be helping them less. And they’ll be making more mistakes.
I’m trying to transition this class from teacher centered to [...]

Today was one of those days in the classroom when I just wasn’t sure if I was “doing it right.”
I second guessed, thought twice, and questioned myself all day long. I’m not sure if it was the lack of sleep or the fact that I’m taking a big chance by pushing so much of the [...]

I’m doing my budget this morning and wondering if good people make good teachers. Stay with me for a second.
Do people who make the best choices make the best teachers or do people who have made ( and continue to make ) the biggest mistakes make the best teachers ?
I’m sure most parents would prefer [...]