The Educational Cheerleader
We Like PD.
Just not "their" PD.
Just not "their" PD.
It is possible to participate in professional development without hating it. Take our PLNs online, our twitter chats, and our heated discussions with colleagues in the teachers' lounge for examples. We love driving our own learning.
Now, it's up to us to drive our own school and district PDs as well. The Educational Cheerleader is a place to share best practices. Borrow, use, and spread the word.
Our new job in education is to find joy in learning and to model that for our students!
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming
What's New:
Open Your Door
Jennifer Gonzalez suggests that we need to see each other teach more often in order to grow. Click Here.
"Boredom teaches us that life isn’t a parade of amusements. More important, it spawns creativity and self-sufficiency." Click Here.
What should we look for in a modern classroom? Teachthought gives us 8 necessities!
5 Leadership Rules from the Past (that don't work now)!
Top-down leadership? No. Results instead of people? No. Read Garnett's short list of 5 rules to avoid for our leadership teams. Click Here.
10 Creative Risks to Take with
Students This Year
John Spencer questions innovation and the importance of risk-taking in the classroom.
The Good Kid: Compliant or Engaged?
Gallagher questions if we are building engaged "good kids" or simply compliant ones.
Entering the Quiet Zone
What happens when you dedicate a spot in your classroom to quiet meditation and to help children manage their emotions? For more info, Click here.
The Power of Play in Kindergarten
Forget the Common Core, Finland’s youngsters are in charge of determining what happens in the classroom. Timothy Walker challenges American Kindergarten classes. Click here.
Who is Doing the Work in Your Classroom?
Explore the truth of student ownership in the classroom with Catlin Tucker. Click here for more.
Why Use VR in the Classroom?
This great graphic shares the top ten reasons we should use VR in our classes. Click here for more info.
I raised 2 successful CEOs and a doctor—here’s one of the biggest mistakes I see parents making.
Take Esther Wojcicki's advice, raising successful children has a lot more to do with teaching soft skills than with academic work. Click Here.
Are Lawnmower Parents
creating Snowflakes?
If we know that failure leads to success, why are we teaching children that they must be perfect? Click Here
What Are the Benefits of Learning to Code as a Child?
Matthew Lynch explores how coding can affect thinking and benefit our children! Click here.
Are schools taking a page out of Professor Umbridge's teaching manual? This post explores modern education and use of devices in class. Click here.
School Leaders Empower Your Teachers
Teachers have the ability to unify your school when your distribute leadership. Read Katrina Schwartz's post on empowering teachers to build a better school.
Click here for more information.
Combatting Fake News and
Teaching Digital Literacy
Web2.0 shares resources for teaching digital literacies and a few reminders for us as well. Click here to learn more.
The 15 Best Google Add-Ons for Educators
Join Cool Cat Teacher and explore the best add-ons for Google. Did you know that Easy Bib is now an add-on and will do citations for you? Click here for more.
12 Ways to Support ESL
in the Mainstream Classroom
Join Jennifer Gonzalez in implementing strategies to help struggling ESOL students in your mainstream classes. Click Here for more.
Positive Posters for the Classroom
Here are a few great ideas for encouraging positive behavior in class! Click here.
What must happen for meaningful assessment to take place?
A Mild Case of Fish Eye
As a teacher, do you really divide your time equally? Is it the same five students always adding great things to your discussions? Explore the concept of fish eye with Jennifer Gonzalez. Click here to read more.