25th January 2023

Growing a Culture of Learning (Part 10 of 10) - The care & feeding of your culture of learning

Peter Senge (2006) said, “When teams are truly learning, not only are they producing extraordinary results, but the individual members are growing more rapidly than could have occurred otherwise.” That’s what happens when a culture of learning is growing! To truly grow this culture you must commit, virtually or in person. At the end of each week, check in with yourself: • What worked well this week and why? • What was challenging and why? • What might happen next week if …?

17th January 2023

Growing a Culture of Learning (Part 9 of 10) - Growing Learner Practice

10th January 2023

Growing a Culture of Learning (Part 8 of 10) - Planting Intentionality

In Robert Thaler’s (2008) nudge theory, he tells us that we can organize context for learner decision-making and that small details impact behavior. As teachers, how can we be intentional so that our learners become intentional? If we look at nudge theory and know that context is the setting, how do we set things up (intentionally) so that our culture is learner-centered?

3rd January 2023

Growing a Culture of Learning (Part 7 of 10) - Learner Curiosity

What if we asked learners what they are curious about? What if they developed the focus questions for learning, even if we provided the topic? Tapping into learners’ curiosity helps deepen the connection to a topic and adds value to assignments.

21st December 2022

Growing a Culture of Learning (Part 6) - Growing Learner Support

What do you need to put in place to make trust, a growth mindset and empowerment happen? You’ve heard about the “gradual release of responsibility,” right? What if we think about it more like the gradual increase in responsibility? What would it take for that to happen with your learners?

13th December 2022

Growing a Culture of Learning (Part 5) – Empowerment

How do we empower learners differently in a learner-centered culture? Think engagement and in 3 ways – • Voice & choice • Collaboration • Challenge In a learner-centered culture, scholars need voice and choice to direct their learning. These opportunities move beyond who they work with or what they work on and may also include where they work and how they show what they know (or are assessed).

5th December 2022

Growing a Culture of Learning (Part 4) – Growing Mindsets

Mindsets benefit from the power of “yet.” For some learners, this requires a focus on changing habits of mind from one that sees intelligence as fixed to one that sees that they have control. It is a simple shift from “I can’t do this!” to “I can’t do this YET!”

16th November 2022

Growing a Culture of Learning (Part 3) – Trust

Trust is gained when learners see that you believe in their abilities enough to provide - opportunity to take risks - opportunity to fail - feedback they can use to improve and grow

8th November 2022

Growing a Culture of Learning (Part 2) – The Elements

What's been your best learning experience ever? Take a minute and reflect. What made that particular learning experience the best for you? Was it. . . - the people? - the place? - the topic? - the goal? - the mode of learning? - or something else?

1st November 2022

Growing a Culture of Learning (Part 1)

While many elements comprise a culture of learning, a handful rise to the surface:  Trust  Mindset  Empowerment  Support  Curiosity  Intentionality  Practice These elements empower students to transform into learners. They foster self-regulated learners.

10th October 2022

Critical Thinking – A Durable Skill

Did you know that critical thinking is something that can be taught? While it is domain-specific, the general thinking skills and dispositions support all domains. Why this is important is because if we teach students these skills, students will use them in their careers and personal lives beyond their time in school. Critical thinking is a skill that helps leaders make the right decisions.

4th October 2022

Strategy Stretch: To Pre-Assess or Not

Pre-assessment has both advocates and critics. I am an advocate. That said, I firmly believe these assessments should not be graded; they are formative in nature.

28th September 2022

The Advantage of a Portfolio

Self-assessment, self-evaluation and communication skills are essential and a primary focus in teaching learners to use portfolios to document their learning process and track their learning progress.

29th August 2022

Strategy Stretch: Expanding Your Think-Pair-Share

We use Think-Pair-Share for several reasons--to give learners time ...

23rd August 2022

Thriving at School

Recently on Instagram, I saw Dr. Hayley Lewis’ visual about the theory of thriving at work. It illustrates the work of Gretchen Spreitzer et al (2005). What struck me was the similarity between the needs of workers and students to thrive. The needs and outcomes are similar, and for me, highlight critical elements of the culture of learning and formative assessment practice when it comes to building self-regulated learners.

11th August 2022

What’s really bothering your kids?

Kids have been exposed to a lot in the past two years – the pandemic, remote learning, masks/no masks, and school shootings. Some have been hesitant to return to their school buildings, places they thought were safe. But before we assume that one of the awful aspects of life listed above is what has your child concerned this fall, you may want to ask.

26th July 2022

Standards Supporting Assessment and Assessment Literacy

Standards to guide assessment practice in the classrom

21st July 2022

Well-being: Focus from the start

Re-engaging learners (and the school community) as school begins this fall provides an opportunity for creating a learning environment that fosters well-being – for both students and adults. What if we re-purpose time and energy to focus on well-being? What if we actively establish structures, implement strategies and plan time to develop trusting relationships and a sense of safety for everyone who enters our schools?

EducationInvestor Global • 12th April 2022

Advertorial: Learning Together = Greater Gains

This article has been written by Edmentum which offers education technology that teachers can trust. Edmentum boasts over 60 years of experience in K12 digital education solutions and supports educators globally in delivering world-class pedagogy to drive students’ academic growth. Educators need a well-planned professional learning programme that supports them in developing their skills, in order to help their students on their own journey to success. The move from discussing professional dev

Edmentum International • 25th January 2022

Supporting English Language Learners and Preparing for PISA 2025

In 2025 PISA is offering an optional foreign language assessment for the first time. Around the world, countries have similar and differing reasons for foreign language learning. As you think about why your school or government supports foreign language learning, does it appear on this list? What would you add? In 2025 PISA is offering an optional foreign language assessment for the first time. Geared to provide educators and policymakers students’ foreign language competence and insights into