In the winter of 2013, SchoolWorks partnered with Vital Source Media to create a series of videos illustrating Common Core-aligned instructional strategies and leadership activities for the EngageNY website. While the short term objective of the work was the production of videos, the long-term goal is to impact the practice... read more
Recently, I had the privilege of visiting a school that shall remain unnamed – the penultimate visit in an eight-part series that is examining consistently strong performers across a network of schools. Last week’s school was filled with joy and rigor in a way I truly haven’t seen in many other places, and I felt... read more
We have a diversity initiative going at SchoolWorks, and I think of this as a way to ensure that we are having conversations which move our team forward in our understanding and practice. After a couple of ‘sessions’ with my colleagues I am even more motivated to have honest conversations with folks and talking... read more
The Book Whisperer – A Commercial Message I read The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller because I’m trying to learn as much as I can about elementary instruction in the new Common Core environment. This was a suggestion from the elementary Principal whom I coach and I recommend it if you are a middle grades ELA/SS... read more
“Shoulders square. Chest out. Wrists on hips.” These are the directions that recently I saw a principal giving to a second year teacher who has been struggling with classroom management. This occurred during a role play of a technique for insisting on student compliance with directions. The Principal had done the role... read more