What Educators Can Learn from Choose Your Own Adventure Books

Douglas KonopelkoBlog, Differentiate Better, Engage Better, Innovate Better, Lead Better, Lesson Plan Better

Originally published at ASCD.com: https://www.ascd.org/blogs/what-educators-can-learn-from-choose-your-own-adventure-books This post was co-authored by Greg Bagby. TL;DR: Choose Your Own Adventure books provide lessons we can apply to the educational world. Learning and trying new things can be complicated and messy, but it is worth the journey. Everything doesn’t always go the way you intend, but you learn from all of your experiences. Having … Read More

Engage and Elevate Better with Data

Martin SilvermanBlog, Differentiate Better, Engage Better, Lead Better, Lesson Plan Better, Manage Better, Reflect Better

TL;DR: Data drives many of our decisions in education. It comes from a variety of sources and is more than just numerical information from test scores. The use of data needs to be intentional and involve not only educators but students and families as well. Elevate data by using it to not only help you see progress but to help … Read More

Take Ownership: It’s Leadership!

Nilmini Ratwatte-HenstridgeBlog, Connect Better, Differentiate Better, Engage Better, Lead Better, Reflect Better

TL;DR: Take ownership to speak up when there is injustice and make a difference. Equitable practices in education mean change sparked by reflection. Consider our biases and use picture books to introduce the 7 “isms” to start the conversation: ableism, classism, ageism, religion as an ism, racism, homophobia/heterosexism, and sexism. Take ownership: It’s leadership! Leaders speak up when there is … Read More

Delighting in Inclusion

Brad HughesBlog, Connect Better, Differentiate Better, Engage Better, Lead Better, Lesson Plan Better, Manage Better, Reflect BetterLeave a Comment

TL;DR: Melinda Arnost is an educator, author/illustrator, and inclusion specialist. She was recently a guest on the Good News, Brad News Podcast. Her advocacy for inclusion started in high school inviting other students to join their Breakfast Club. As a teacher, Melinda trusted her gut and started teaching outside of the box in order to meet the needs of students. … Read More

There Is NO Hacking Life

Aaron ElseBlog, Differentiate Better, Engage Better, Innovate Better, Lesson Plan Better, Reflect Better

TL;DR: When working towards success, “hacking life” is not the solution. Many self-help leaders and other successful individuals did not start that way. They had to overcome obstacles and put in the time to get where they are. Perfection can be achieved over time with hard work and persistence. Teachers are demonstrating this with their creativity and determination. There Is … Read More