Depth of Knowledge and leading PD [NAESP]

Depth of Knowledge and leading PD [NAESP]

by | Jan 23, 2025 | Learning and Teaching, News and Events, Podcasts | 0 comments

Liz Garden, my co-Fellow for the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) Center for Innovative Learning (CIL), and I had a chance to sit down at the NAESP / NASSP UNITED conference last July and talk with Erik Francis. If you’re not familiar with Erik’s work, he is a Depth of Knowledge (DOK) virtuoso. He regularly stretches my thinking about how to use and think about DOK in schools (and many schools are using it incorrectly). That NAESP podcast episode is now available. Erik is extremely practitioner-oriented and practical. Be sure to also check out his latest books!

Happy listening!

Previous NAESP CIL podcast episodes

AI in elementary and middle schools [NAESP]

AI in elementary and middle schools [NAESP]

by | Jan 22, 2025 | Learning and Teaching, News and Events, Podcasts, Tech Integration | 0 comments

Liz Garden, my co-Fellow for the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) Center for Innovative Learning (CIL), and I had a chance to talk with Holly Clark about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in elementary and middle schools. Holly is a bestselling author and speaker who is in extremely high demand regarding AI usage in schools. That NAESP podcast episode is now available. Be sure to also check out Holly’s latest book, The AI Infused Classroom. She is a wonderful thought partner!

Happy listening!

Previous NAESP CIL podcast episodes

Building a new, student-centered school [NAESP]

Building a new, student-centered school [NAESP]

by | Jan 21, 2025 | Leadership and Vision, Learning and Teaching, News and Events, Podcasts | 0 comments

Liz Garden, my co-Fellow for the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) Center for Innovative Learning (CIL), and I had a chance to talk with Bryan Byerlee about school redesign. Bryan is the principal of Garden City Elementary School in Cranston, Rhode Island. He shared with us how redesigning a school is a unique opportunity to empower students, shape school culture, and improve overall learning. That NAESP podcast episode is now available.

Happy listening!

Previous NAESP CIL podcast episodes

The power of children learning outside [NAESP]

The power of children learning outside [NAESP]

by | Dec 17, 2024 | Learning and Teaching, News and Events, Podcasts | 0 comments

One of the schools that I visited for my Deeper Learning in Elementary and Middle Schools (DLEMS) book project was Down to Earth Forest School in West Linn, Oregon. Down to Earth Forest School is a phenomenal outdoor learning experience for the children that it serves. The students and teachers meet every day in the local city park – rain, snow, or shine! – and are deeply immersed in nature as they learn together.

Liz Garden, my co-Fellow for the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) Center for Innovative Learning (CIL), and I had a chance to interview Heidi McKay, the Director of Down to Earth Forest School. That NAESP podcast episode is now available.

Happy listening!

Previous NAESP CIL podcast episodes

DLEMS: The visits are complete!

DLEMS: The visits are complete!

by | Dec 15, 2024 | Leadership and Vision, Learning and Teaching, News and Events | 0 comments

I officially wrapped up all of my school visits for my Deeper Learning in Elementary and Middle Schools (DLEMS) book project last week. I have seen some incredible schools the past two years and am excited to finish writing up what I have learned. I am hoping to send the book to a publisher in Spring 2025!

The list of schools is below. I tried to get a decent mix of settings: 13 elementary schools, 16 middle schools, and 16 K-8 schools. 15 traditional public schools, 14 public charter schools, 3 public magnet schools, and 13 independent schools. I also oversampled Colorado a little bit…

  1. Anastasis Academy, Centennial, CO
  2. High Tech Middle Media Arts, San Diego, CA
  3. High Tech Middle Chula Vista, Chula Vista, CA
  4. Design39, San Diego, CA
  5. Vista Innovation & Design Academy (VIDA), Vista, CA
  6. Creative City Public Charter School, Baltimore, MD
  7. City Neighbors Hamilton, Baltimore, MD
  8. Science Leadership Academy Middle School (SLAMS), Philadelphia, PA
  9. Centre Learning Community (CLC) Charter School, State College, PA
  10. Delta Program Middle School, State College, PA
  11. Hudson Valley Sudbury School, Kingston, NY
  12. The Randolph School, Wappingers Falls, NY
  13. The Island School, New York, NY
  14. Reggio Emilia Schools, Reggio Emilia, Italy
  15. Watershed School, Boulder, CO
  16. Eminence Elementary School, Eminence, KY
  17. Explore! Community School, Nashville, TN
  18. Clayton-Bradley Academy, Maryville, TN
  19. Drayton Mills Elementary, Spartanburg, SC
  20. Anderson Mill Elementary, Moore, SC
  21. The Mount Vernon School, Atlanta, GA
  22. Drew Charter School Elementary Academy, Atlanta, GA
  23. STEM School, Highlands Ranch, CO
  24. Embark, Denver, CO
  25. Mountain Academy, Jackson, WY
  26. Impact | Puget Sound Elementary, Tukwila, WA
  27. Highline Big Picture Middle School, Burien, WA
  28. The Cottonwood School of Civics & Science, Portland, OR
  29. Down to Earth Forest School, West Linn, OR
  30. Cascades Academy, Bend, OR
  31. Peak Expeditionary School, Wheat Ridge, CO
  32. Jeffco Open School, Lakewood, CO
  33. King Middle School, Portland, ME
  34. Breakwater School, Portland, ME
  35. Miscoe Hill Middle School, Mendon, MA
  36. Atrium School, Watertown, MA
  37. South Middle School, Harrisburg, SD
  38. Minnesota New Country School, Henderson, MN
  39. Avalon School, St. Paul, MN
  40. Wingra School, Madison, WI
  41. Polaris Charter Academy, Chicago, IL
  42. EPiC, Liberty, MO
  43. Compass Community Collaborative School, Fort Collins, CO
  44. Fred Tjardes School of Innovation, Greeley, CO
  45. Grace M. James Academy of Excellence, Louisville, KY
Deeper Learning New York! (DLNY)

Deeper Learning New York! (DLNY)

by | Jul 8, 2024 | Learning and Teaching, News and Events | 0 comments

The folks who put on the annual Deeper Learning conference in San Diego, California have started sponsoring regional and global events under the umbrella label of DL Global. The main event each year is amazing, and the DL Global events also are incredible and well worth attending. For instance, the RemixED Conference in St. Paul, Minnesota was such a hit that it will be returning this October 16 through 18, with Dr. Gholdy Muhammad as the primary keynote. Deeper Learning LATAM (Latin America) happened last month in Medellín, Colombia. Deeper Learning China will be occurring on November 29 through December 1.

AND…

If you’re anywhere near the Hudson Valley in New York State, Deeper Learning New York (DLNY) is next week (July 16 and 17)! My new friend Peter Harris, who is the Assistant Superintendent of the Ulster BOCES, is a huge advocate for deeper learning and is on the planning team. Dr. Chris Emdin is going to be the keynote speaker, and Hannah Gallivan will be the featured student voice. 

If you’re within reasonable driving distance or have some travel funds, I hope that you can attend. Your learning experience will be fantastic!

July 1 fantasy baseball update

July 1 fantasy baseball update

by | Jul 1, 2024 | News and Events | 3 comments

For those of you who love baseball like I do, happy Bobby Bonilla Day!

We have eight weeks left in my two fantasy baseball leagues. Amazingly, the records for both of my teams are exactly the same. Unfortunately, both teams – and the job I’m doing as a manager this year, apparently – are decidedly mediocre. Ugh.

BlogBall

2024-07-01 BlogBall

Rounding for Home

2024-07-01 Rounding for Home

I am the defending champion in Rounding for Home. This is ugly…

We occasionally need new managers. If that’s ever of interest to you and you’re an educator, drop me a note!

[BFTP] The one question I’m asking at ISTE 2013

[BFTP] The one question I’m asking at ISTE 2013

by | Jun 20, 2024 | Leadership and Vision, News and Events, Student Agency and Voice, Tech Integration | 0 comments

[ISTELive 2024 starts this week so I am resurrecting three blog posts from previous years. Below is Blast From the Past (BFTP) #3 from 2013!]

Here’s my guiding question for the ISTE conference this year (for both presenters and vendors). If you’re at ISTE right now, I encourage you to ask this question too!

Jumpforjoy

Image credit: Because I’ve never told him he can’t fly, Lotus Carroll

Hot for Teacher (LIVE and podcast!)

Hot for Teacher (LIVE and podcast!)

by | Jun 19, 2024 | News and Events, Podcasts | 0 comments

One of the most unique educational events I know of is Noah Geisel’s annual Hot for Teacher meetup. This year the gathering is being held in conjunction with ISTELive in Denver on Saturday, June 22, at 7:00pm. You can get tickets here.

Here is a description of the event:

For storytelling fans, H4T is a lot like The Moth, just the stories told on our stage all take us back to school. 

While these educators are showing up at night to turn in some late work, no hot topic is off-topic (though sources may not be cited). Whether it’s tales about field trips, detention, substitute teaching, parent conferences, caught cheating or passing period, you can count on these teacher storytellers to make the grade and entertain.

Noah also has launched the Hot for Teacher podcast and the first few episodes are on their way. Subscribe to hear the REAL stories of educators!

Hope you can make it on Saturday and happy listening! 

[BFTP] 5 thoughts from ISTE weekend

[BFTP] 5 thoughts from ISTE weekend

by | Jun 19, 2024 | Learning and Teaching, News and Events, Tech Integration | 0 comments

[ISTELive 2024 starts this week so I am resurrecting three blog posts from previous years. Below is Blast From the Past (BFTP) #2 from 2015!]

Katie

Five thoughts from the first couple of days here at the 2015 ISTE Conference…

  1. If “it’s not about the technology, it’s about the learning,” then why are we centering so many of our sessions on the tools?
  2. Are there uses of technology with students that would offend the majority of us so much that we would stand up and shout, ‘No! We should never do that!’? I see things here and there that concern me but many others seem to be pretty blasé about them or simply accept them as inevitable parts of the landscape (for example, behavior modification software, draconian Internet filtering of children and educators, and drill-and-kill systems ‘for those low-achieving kids,’ just to name a few)
  3. The work of transforming school systems is difficult work. School transformation stems from personal transformation, not from devices or apps or software. How many of us can say that we’re truly transforming more than a small handful of other educators?
  4. The work of transforming school systems is slow work. Some of us have been at this for a decade or two (or longer). How do we invest in and energize both ourselves and each other so that the frustrations, sluggishness, and setbacks don’t win?
  5. We should have more babies at ISTE. Who doesn’t love babies?!