Math Switch-a-roo
Lately, I've had trouble getting the sequence of high school math out of my head. For example, in Michigan, where I work and live, most students learn math as follows:Algebra 1GeometryAlgebra...
View ArticleMath Dream Sequence A
Here is my first shot at a dream sequence for high school math. It's truly a "dream" sequence: flaws, incomplete stories, and all. My point here is not to hit the nail on the head. I just hope to...
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Roll Your Own Digital Signage
Last fall, I was lucky to have an interesting problem: our newly renovated learning space included eight 42" monitors, each located above a "laptop touchdown station" where students could plug in to...
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Until
Here are the slides and notes from my Ignite talk from yesterday. Please keep in mind that my notes were just that: notes. I did not say these exact words on stage. When the video goes up, I'll update...
View ArticleUntil - Video Edition
The New Tech Network has uploaded the video of my Ignite Talk at the closing session of their annual conference last year. For the record, if I seem nervous and rushed, it's because I am. Ignite...
View ArticleParent Communication 3.0
Imagine it's Sunday night. You're sitting on the couch with your spouse watching a reality show. During a commercial break, you pick up your smartphone to check Facebook and notice you have 3 new...
View ArticleCreating Engaging Classrooms
"Everyone please stop what you're doing, close your computers, and give me your fullest attention. This work we're doing is very important and we all want to do our best. I'm noticing that several of...
View ArticleHelp Wanted
I'm looking for someone to join me in leading a team of teachers on the sometimes insane but always fulfilling adventure of progressive school reform. My district in its first year of a four year...
View ArticleCreating College & Career Readiness
Two years ago, I had the opportunity to start a new high school designed to prepare all learners for college and career. My first task: to define what "being prepared for college and career" actually...
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Bammy Nomination
I'm pleased to announce that I have recently been nominated for a Bammy Award! Presented by the Academy of Education Arts and Sciences International, the Bammy award is a cross-discipline award...
View ArticleTeaching Accountabilty
Last month, at a staff meeting led by Matt Thompson, my team came to the conclusion that we need to close the year focused on accountability. Here's the gist of the conversation that brought us to this...
View ArticleA New Metric for High School Success
This morning, I was drawn to a Michigan news report that East Lansing and Okemos High Schools are among the "top ten" in the state, according to U.S. News & World Report rankings. Curious, I...
View ArticleDiffering Points-of-View
The Detroit News: Michigan’s high school juniors will be required to take the SAT college assessment exam instead of the ACT next spring ... Quoted in the article, here's Wendy Zdeb-Roper, Executive...
View ArticleNo immediate impact
Genevieve Hummer, staff reporter at The Michigan Daily: [The University of Michigan] has long accepted either ACT or SAT scores with admission applications, so there is no immediate impact at UM from...
View ArticleCollege Board president key figure in development of Common Core
Nick Anderson, writing for the Washington Post Back in March 2014: Coleman’s vision for the SAT, with emphasis on analysis of texts from a range of disciplines as well as key math and language...
View ArticleMy Reaction to Michigan's Switch to the SAT? Carry On.
I do not deny that we have a lot to learn about Michigan's switch to a new "college-readiness" assessment and the impact this switch will have on students' admission to colleges and universities. Any...
View ArticleArticle 15
You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete. — Buckminster Fuller
View ArticleFive Rules for Getting Things Done as a Principal
One of the more challenging aspects of school administration is undoubtably managing your time and attention. Between the emails, phone calls, texts, memos, agendas, and chats in the hall, demand...
View ArticleA Teenager's View on Social Media
Insightful article by "actual teen," Andrew Watts: If I could break down a party for you in social media terms, here’s how it would pan out: You post yourself getting ready for the party, going to the...
View ArticleWe Still Don't Know the Difference Between Change and Transformation
Ron Ashkenas, writing for Harvard Business Review: Unlike change management, [transformation] doesn’t focus on a few discrete, well-defined shifts, but rather on a portfolio of initiatives, which are...
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