Effective Decision Making: Using Core Values as the Filter

Teach Better TeamBlog, Connect Better, Lead Better, Manage Better, Professional Development

TL;DR: Reflecting on our core values helps us filter through the decisions we make to ensure they are purposeful and effective. Involving team members in decision making can help to increase the likelihood that all members support the outcome. Using core values to make decisions helps to prevent decision-making fatigue. Research shows that adults make an average of 35,000 decisions per … Read More

Assessing and Addressing Student Needs

Jennifer AppelBlog, Lead Better, Manage Better

TL;DR: 3 steps to ensure we are addressing the needs of our students, including tips for assessing the situation, coming up with a plan, and re-evaluating. Assessing where our new students are using a Google form, and using that information to meet their individual social and emotional needs. I LOVE the first day of school.  It is something that I … Read More

Grading in the New Normal

Teach Better TeamBlog, Engage Better, Manage Better

TL;DR: Maintaining student motivation and accountability in a gradeless classroom. Using grades to communicate and provide feedback. Grading practices that promote a passion for learning, a willingness to take risks, and an increased investment in progress. Education has undergone monumental shifts over the past few months. Whether you are in the classroom, in a leadership role, a district office, or … Read More

Remembering YOU in Times of Uncertainty and Change

Maggie GiffordBlog, Connect Better, Manage Better, Self Care Better, Survival

TL;DR: Embrace the disruption to your routines. Reconnect with yourself by starting a journal, creating fun videos and songs for your students, finding a way to laugh everyday, or using your talents to help someone else. You are important.  I don’t know if anyone has told you that today.  Or yesterday.  Or even in the last week.  But you are, … Read More

Routine vs. Schedule

Becky ThalBlog, Lead Better, Manage Better, Self Care Better

TL;DR: Establishing a flexible routine for children includes your morning routine, work routine, downtime routine, and evening routine. Kids can either follow a strict schedule or a daily routine. It’s important to remember that life happens—circumstances and emotions change day to day. Now that I am a few weeks into remote teaching with both my students and my own three … Read More