Category Archives: Teaching

Entertain, Engage, Educate, Enlighten

My post this week was already going to be about engagement, even before Taylor and Travis shared their exciting news. But not that type of engagement. Stepping back into the classroom, I’ve been more focused “student engagement” the latest in the long line of widely known but recently discovered solutions to cure all that ails public education.

Is Writing The Hill To Die On?

As the dust settles and the smoke clears following the opening forays of artificial intelligence into the world of PK-12 and higher education, the battleground is becoming clear. Writing is the line in the sand that cannot be crossed, the tract of land that must be defended at all costs. But is writing the right battle to fight?

On Our Best Behaviorism

Whenever I see the word “behaviorist” written in a post, article, or even a chapter I co-authored, I can feel the derision and condescension being expressed. But much like the ongoing debate about validity I wonder whether we are missing the forest for the trees when we focus too much on the role of behaviorism v. cognitive science in instruction and student learning.

A Tip Of The Cap To The Other Teachers

Each year during teacher appreciation week I enjoy reading all the testimonials to those remarkable teachers who had a profound impact on people’s lives. But what about all of the other teachers toiling in the classroom. This teacher appreciation week, let’s show them a little love, too.

Calculus in High School – It Doesn’t Add Up

Each year, I make a list of possible topics to address in the blog. Each year, the absurdity of top high school students with zero interest in mathematics sitting through calculus makes the list, but not the blog, because well, it’s calculus. Who really cares?  But as 2024 draws to a close, calculus suddenly is in the headlines. It’s a Newton-mas Miracle! LFG

All Kids Can Learn. Therefore, …

You spend all summer thinking about what to write for blog post #300 and then spur of the moment, ripped from the headlines post #299 becomes your 6th most read post all-time (#3 not TS or NAEP related). It’s absurd, but we embrace it and we move on.
Because it’s a new school year and all around me I see and hear “All kids can learn!” But what does that phrase really mean?

When am I ever going to use this?

When am I ever going to use this? It’s a question that I still ask myself several times per week as my quest to reclaim the house from three decades of cumulative clutter enters its fourth year. Following a modified version of the KonMari Method, I have cycled through clothes, books, and papers three times,Continue reading “When am I ever going to use this?”