Winter Campaign

Hybrid roles to support teachers and administration

dhodum kudos icon + dhodum
I have begun discussions with my central administration about creating hybrid positions within the district in order to help support a number of different initiatives that we have on-going. For instance, we are piloting a teacher evaluation system this year, and it goes live next school year. Between the administrators also having a new evaluation program, there is simply not enough capacity to support teachers learning... more »

City Farmington

State Maine

Voting

4 votes
Active

Winter Campaign

Begin Engineering Education in Early Childhood

Community Member kudos icon + Community Member
Young children are naturally curious and born to engineer. Testing and reconsidering the world around them using play-based learning, engineering is the natural vehicle for children to learn science and mathematics, in order to design, build, and test their theories. Engineering is perceived as a subject where educators need deep levels of specialization and requires certain curriculum. Most children are not exposed to... more »

City Pasadena

State CA

Voting

0 votes
Active

Winter Campaign

Veteran Teachers Providing Novice Teachers with the Best Strategies to Handle Difficult Situations with Parents

omwhesu kudos icon + omwhesu
There is a need to create a PLC (Professional Learning Community)of veteran teachers who are able to provide novice teachers with the best practices to use when effectively communicating with parents in difficult situations. Although educators attend teacher prep programs to obtain the proper tools on becoming teachers, there is a lack of best strategies provided to these novice teachers on how they can effectively communicate... more »

City richmond

State Virginia

Voting

2 votes
Active

Spring Campaign

Restructure Schools with Inclusive, Strategic Process

maureenprattdevlin kudos icon + maureenprattdevlin
To move schools forward, schools have to analyze roles, routines, and structure. To promote this process, school communities need to first decide on a targeted mission/vision. Next, they need to make the time to analyze current roles, routines, and structures with regard to that mission/vision--what's working and what is not working? After that they need to create an action plan to restructure their school to better meet... more »

City Framingham

State MA

Voting

0 votes
Active

Winter Campaign

Grade Level Collaboration

dku1 kudos icon + dku1
Bringing your leadership skills into your grade level collaboration meetings will set a positive framework for the many changes that are upon us as we embrace the Common Core Curriculum. It is important to have at least one teacher leader in a grade level to maintain balance, listen to concerns, and guide the change process. Teacher leaders should present change with an open mind and be prepared to hear ideas from all... more »

City San Ramon

State Ca

Voting

0 votes
Active

Winter Campaign

Clear Path to Leadership

metrar kudos icon + metrar
I know the responsibilities of school administration are endless and they are always working on improving school environment and student achievement, but what happens to career development for teachers? To further clarify, I’m not referring to another professional development or post observation conference, I’m talking about your goals in this profession and how one can be of assistance on your journey.

I remember... more »

City naples

State fl

Voting

4 votes
Active

Winter Campaign

Writing Menu for the Classroom

dbratcher kudos icon + dbratcher
Using your state's writing standards and your district's writing initiatives, create a "Writing Menu" similar to the reading "CAFE" menu. This menu is displayed in the classroom. As writing topics are discussed and put into practice by the students, add these items to the writing menu for future reference throughout the year, and as a quick reminder of the tools used by writers to produce an excellent piece of writing.... more »

City Anderson

State SC

Voting

2 votes
Active

Winter Campaign

Vertical Articulation: Big Ideas Across the Grades in Elementary Mathematics

mawurl kudos icon + mawurl
It is often said that math instruction in the United States is "a mile wide and an inch deep." Still, there are major concepts that are introduced at each grade level, and mastery of these concepts forms the foundation that students will need for the algebra and geometry they will encounter in middle school (and higher level math beyond). We'd like to engage teachers from K-6 in our building to analyze these major concepts,... more »

City Falls Church

State VA

Voting

3 votes
Active

Winter Campaign

Use chess to support CCSS Math Practices

Community Member kudos icon + Community Member
Many students struggle with math practices, which are apart of the common core. Students, across grade level spans, are asked to persevere in solving problems and communicate about their problem solving (in addition to critiquing the reasoning of others). This presents a challenge for many students who struggle with completing problems and explaining their thoughts. While many teachers are improving their teaching techniques... more »

City El Cerrito

State California

Voting

0 votes
Active

Winter Campaign

Using Peer Observers to Support Educator Effectiveness and Leadership

Community Member kudos icon + Community Member
Educator to Educator feedback on teaching and learning is an effective tool for increasing educator effectiveness, for both the peer educator and observed educator, and supports educator leadership through the identification of peer educators.

Our idea supports the use of peer educators, as Qualified Peer Observers (QPOs), to provide feedback to our educators who are on peer observation portion of a two year educator... more »

City Dover

State Massachusetts

Voting

9 votes
Active

Winter Campaign

Just Ask

Community Member kudos icon + Community Member
There are so many different ideas and opinions about how to improve schools, teaching, and learning. We hear from parents, educators, administrators, policy makers, and everyone who has access to a soapbox. The one voice we rarely hear is that of students. This idea is to institute a regular questioning process with students to gather insight into a school's progress, to collect new ideas for new directions, and to empower... more »

City Alameda

State CA

Voting

0 votes
Active

Winter Campaign

Teacher Network

Community Member kudos icon + Community Member
Sometimes beginning teachers do not have the support system of a mentor, or a PLC, or an immediate colleague, to help them create innovative teaching. Immediate inspiration could be achieved by the "I.N.S.P.I.R.E. Nation Network" and could be the uncomplicated resource to help new teachers find the help they need, immediately. District Professional Learning departments simply create a "go-to" online site on their main... more »

City Edinburg

State Texas

Voting

3 votes
Active

Winter Campaign

Aligning Preschool Curriculum With Common Core Instruction and Assessment

drosso kudos icon + drosso
In September 2012 our public preschool teachers and administrators began the process of aligning all aspects of our preschool programming with the Pre-K Framework for English Language Arts & Literacy and Mathematics Incorporating the Common Core State Standards. Although in the beginning our work focused on redesigning our preschool curriculum for children who are three – four years old, over time it expanded to include... more »

City Melrose

State MA

Voting

12 votes
Active

Winter Campaign

A Twist on Peer Observations

hstrand kudos icon + hstrand
I value the importance of Peer Observations in the world of education. However, typically it is done with someone of alike content, a mentor, etc.
It is important to remember the value of learning from any professional.
When proposed the task of Observing a peer, suggest someone in a totally different content area. For example, when I did this (I am a Health Sciences teacher), I paired up with a Business Education... more »

City West Fargo

State ND

Voting

4 votes
Active