Professional Learning
Superman Meets Learning Forward Academy Class of 2019
Last Friday morning at the Marriot Conference Center in Denver, Colorado, I found myself at the Superman-themed table introducing myself to six other educators who would become my new teammates. I had never met any of them prior to that day. I was there, along with three of my other colleagues from the AIMS Center,… Continue Reading
AIMS Facilitators Institute
Some of the most common requests the AIMS Professional Learning division is called upon to help a schools or districts with are: To help teachers close student learning gaps. To help teachers change instructional practices helping their students to learn and achieve at higher levels. To help teachers have a deeper level of understanding about… Continue Reading
Yosemite Learning
My first visit to Yosemite National Park happened last weekend. I was absolutely wowed by the park as I marveled at the landscapes. Somewhat surprisingly, I also came away professionally inspired and energized. As I thought about the history of Yosemite, and the awesome natural environment I was in, I found myself making comparisons. I… Continue Reading
New York Science Workshops Part 2 – Supportive Teaching Cultures
New York non-public school educators came together last week at Iona College in New Rochelle, New York for three days of AIMS hands-on Science Professional Learning. I was lucky enough to be there in person to spend time with all of the participants and our team of AIMS Facilitators. There were three different grade span… Continue Reading
Three Days In New York
Do you think of summer as a time to grow and learn? Being an educator, I have always filled my summers with adult learning opportunities. Summer is my time to refresh and reboot and learn new and and exciting approaches to every new school year. This week I have the opportunity to be with three… Continue Reading
Science in Three Dimensions
One of my goals when I started teaching was to create an inquiry-based science classroom for my students. To do that I used hands on science activities through which students could develop knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, as well as an understanding of how scientists studied the natural world. Much of the time, I… Continue Reading
What Will You Read?
Children ran from school buses with shrieks of excitement and expectations of what the next two and a half months might bring, the telltale sign that school is out for the summer in my town. Teachers have left their classrooms for a well-deserved break. Over the next two and half months they will imagine, think… Continue Reading
As The Craze Turns, My Two Cents Worth
Fidget spinners have suddenly become one of the hottest topics in education right now. They are the current craze with students all over the United States. Touted as a low-tech toy, they are perceived as being either helpful or harmful, depending who you ask. Countless articles, blogs, podcasts, interviews, etc. can be found each day… Continue Reading
Success is Collaboration
I just read a good article about teaching students to collaborate, and just last week I shared some thoughts about students and collaboration. For three decades or more we have been working on being better at teaching students to collaborate, as well as working to be better at it ourselves. Regardless of where we are… Continue Reading
“Hidden Figures” – Never on Our Watches
I watched “Hidden Figures” on a plane ride home after facilitating a recent workshop. I am not real comfortable blatantly crying on a plane, but this time it did not matter!! While the film made me realize I have never been so sure that the work I do and the profession I chose thirty-five years… Continue Reading
