Putting Play in PD

BreAnn FennellBlog, Connect Better, Engage Better, Innovate Better, Lead Better

TL;DR: Sometimes professional development doesn’t use the research-based teaching strategies that we know are super impactful. Learn how to use play both in your classrooms and when planning professional development for colleagues.  Discover four ways to merge technology and play. Put the play in PD. Get excited about Teach Better 22 Conference! Professional Development That Doesn’t Align With Research There … Read More

Effective Tools for End-of-Year Student Conferencing

Dana GoodierBlog, Differentiate Better, Lesson Plan Better, Manage Better

TL;DR: Make sure to purposefully include time for student conferencing in your plans. During a conference, the student is able to monitor their progress and get clarification about assignments. The teacher is able to guide the student to use individualized study strategies. They can also monitor the students’ progress and help them set attainable goals. As we go into the … Read More

3 Tips for High Quality Student Conferences

Lindsay LyonsBlog, Differentiate Better, Grade Better, Lesson Plan Better, Mastery Done Better

TL;DR: Make student conferences a part of your unit arc. Give high quality feedback outside of your conferences. Invite students to lead and give them ownership in conversations about their grade. These tips can support the regularity, efficiency and effectiveness, and student ownership of conferences. For the last half of my teaching career, weekly student conferencing has been a staple … Read More

Reinventing Student/Teacher Conferencing in 2021

Kristen KoppersBlog, Lesson Plan Better, Manage Better

TL;DR: The purpose of conferencing is generally to discuss a student’s strengths and weaknesses. A structure for effective conferencing with large classes is shared. Questions to ask during conferences can include: What are your questions? In what way can I help you? What will you improve on? Unfortunately, while I had some great teachers in the past (both K-12 and post-secondary), … Read More

Facilitating Small Group Instruction to Meet Student Needs

Katelynn GiordanoBlog, Differentiate Better, Manage Better

TL;DR: Small group instruction and one-on-one conferences are possible this year. Five tips to make these types of instruction happen – whether you’re fully virtual or hybrid. In my classroom, like many others, small group instruction is a cornerstone of our structure. In fact, a majority of the teaching I do is done in a small group model. I work … Read More