When parents and school personnel build partnerships, the benefits can extend beyond the classroom. These partnerships can take several forms: involvement or engagement. According to the author of Building Parent Engagement in Schools, the main distinction between the two terms is telling versus listening. “ A school striving for family involvement often leads with […]
One Scenario of School Choice What does School Choice look like? Here is one scenario. Parent: I do not approve of the curriculum materials that are being used in my child’s classroom. They are not progressing academically and they are coming home and sharing some ideas that are in opposition […]
No Perfect Union No marriage is perfect. That’s because it is a union between two imperfect people. However, a marriage that focuses on what is good while working on the areas needing improvement will only grow stronger. Meanwhile, a marriage where the focus is primarily on the flaws and imperfections […]
Why? Why did I sign up to be a No Left Turn in Education Chapter President? Someone recently asked me why I am doing what I am doing. I was thinking about that this morning. What is my motivation? The answer is gratitude. I am grateful for my God […]
A previous blog post on active learning presented evidence from several research studies indicating that the “low tech” method of handwriting notes provides certain advantages over the high tech note-taking on tablets and computers. Handwriting notes enhanced the cognitive process, thus resulting in better retention. “The slower hand movements involved […]
A war is waging in English departments around the country regarding the literature syllabus: Should teachers follow the canon of classical literature or encourage student choice of young adult or graphic novels? Choice supports student autonomy and self determination. On the other hand, Classics extend cognitive skills, improve vocabulary, writing, […]