tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37393462458743115362024-03-18T03:02:40.112-07:00Life of an Educator - Dr. Justin TarteJustin Tartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00366317292926231579noreply@blogger.comBlogger568125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739346245874311536.post-66092801273939148712017-01-28T15:59:00.000-08:002017-01-28T15:59:00.276-08:0010 easy ways to make the world a better place<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
1). At the end of the day, <b><i>send a short thank you or complimentary email to someone who helped you or did something great that day</i></b>. For teachers, send a quick email or make a short phone call to a parent about their child. Bonus, do a hand-written personalized note and hand deliver it...<br />
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2). <b><i>Find some information or resources for someone who you know is either looking for assistance or struggling with a particular situation</i></b>. This may include finding someone else who excels in this particular area and asking them to reach out to this person to help them through this process.<br />
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3). <i style="font-weight: bold;">Surprise a colleague and do something that is typically on their job responsibility list</i>. This is only effective when the intent and purpose are to help. Don't use this as an opportunity to outshine or one-up, or you risk turning a positive gesture into a negative.<br />
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4). <b><i>Stand up for someone who you know is right and struggling to make progress against the masses</i></b>. This could be as simple as saying something publicly in a meeting or sending an email and including others on that email. The key here is to show your support and help to validate the points that are being shunned. Bonus, by doing this you may empower and embolden others who feel their voice is not being heard...<br />
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5). <i><b>Commit to doing something in the future that will help someone to do something in the present</b></i>. There are countless times when others need a little support and encouragement to get them over the hump of trying to do something or change something. Your gesture of commitment in the future is just what they need to get the ball rolling in the present.<br />
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6). <b><i>Find something funny and share it with others</i></b>. You can't ignore the power of laughter and when presented at just the right time, a good laugh is the difference between an average day and a great day.<br />
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7). <b><i>Finish the task you said you would finish</i></b>. You would be surprised at how often we say we will do something to only finish half of the promised task. Be the difference and go the distance by finishing what you said you would finish... this means a lot to people.<br />
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8). <b><i>Present someone a challenge you think they can handle and would be excellent at overcoming</i></b>. Present this challenge in a way that highlights the strengths of others, and remind them that you believe their skill set is perfectly aligned to tackling this challenge. The key here is to empower and send a boost of confidence to someone who may be lacking of late.<br />
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9). <i><b>Start saying 'yes' and 'why not' more than 'no' and 'that's not possible.'</b></i> Be careful with this, because if you always say 'yes' then you will become overwhelmed and over-committed. In the same breath, don't always say 'no' because you will become the person who nobody approaches with new ideas or possible changes. Help someone by embracing their creativity and innovation by giving them a green light.<br />
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10). <i><b>Be yourself and don't try to be someone you aren't</b></i>. Far too often we try to be who we think others think we should be, and in the end we ultimately disappoint both them and ourselves. Be yourself and others will be greatly appreciative.<br />
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Justin Tartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00366317292926231579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739346245874311536.post-77791902086658652782016-11-13T13:01:00.000-08:002016-11-13T13:01:08.887-08:0010 thoughts on school culture:<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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If you want to know about the culture in your school, see how the adults greet kids & you will learn a lot. via <a href="https://twitter.com/ToddWhitaker">@ToddWhitaker</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/education?src=hash">#education</a></div>
— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/796735642998833152">November 10, 2016</a></blockquote>
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School culture isn't a problem to be solved; it's the process your school uses to solve problems... via <a href="https://twitter.com/stevegruenert">@stevegruenert</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hr?src=hash">#hr</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/leadership?src=hash">#leadership</a></div>
— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/796743433528414209">November 10, 2016</a></blockquote>
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The culture in your school will dictate the types of conversations that faculty in your school have... via <a href="https://twitter.com/stevegruenert">@stevegruenert</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/edchat?src=hash">#edchat</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/education?src=hash">#education</a></div>
— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/796780183370002432">November 10, 2016</a></blockquote>
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We all have members of our team we'd like to part ways with... question: Did you hire them that way or did your culture change them? ~ SG</div>
— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/796746531705671680">November 10, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Think about this... when teachers go observe other teachers, they never steal the worst ideas... via <a href="https://twitter.com/ToddWhitaker">@ToddWhitaker</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/education?src=hash">#education</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/edchat?src=hash">#edchat</a></div>
— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/796762419779555329">November 10, 2016</a></blockquote>
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If the best teachers are uncomfortable with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/change?src=hash">#change</a>, you're probably going in the wrong direction; your worst are uncomfortable, keep going.</div>
— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/796765245519855616">November 10, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Chew on this statement about school culture: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/education?src=hash">#education</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/edchat?src=hash">#edchat</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/leadership?src=hash">#leadership</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/stevegruenert">@stevegruenert</a> <a href="https://t.co/UCAVA30lXS">pic.twitter.com/UCAVA30lXS</a></div>
— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/796745572648701953">November 10, 2016</a></blockquote>
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If we want to have a 'safe' environment for kids to make mistakes, then that means we can't average grades. via <a href="https://twitter.com/stevegruenert">@stevegruenert</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/education?src=hash">#education</a></div>
— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/796792792982884352">November 10, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Be nice tomorrow... you help the climate. Be nice every single day for the foreseeable future... you help the culture. via <a href="https://twitter.com/ToddWhitaker">@ToddWhitaker</a></div>
— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/796810347508273154">November 10, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Find a kid tomorrow whom you might think can't be trusted. Give them a task & put your trust in them. Give them the opportunity to shine.</p>— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/674055738621210626">December 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Justin Tartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00366317292926231579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739346245874311536.post-42934758770807005712016-10-30T08:39:00.000-07:002016-10-30T08:39:15.651-07:00Our kids need different, not more...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We've all been there and we've all done it.<br />
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As the teacher, we teach something but the students don't understand it.<br />
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In our minds the material and skills are quite simple and straight forward, but for some reason the students just aren't grasping the information.<br />
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Our natural instincts take over and we do what makes sense to us...<br />
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Maybe if I talk louder and more slowly and repeat myself 4 times the students will understand it.<br />
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Maybe if I give more homework problems for practice the students will eventually work themselves into understanding the material.<br />
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Maybe if I explain it a few more times the information will begin to sink in.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDyZjswboehPNfij67ROQKYHVRcgda2V_MydiBlTQmjYhGekNmnTfES5Tv9baT_t-T0p5Y4Y39CQlDEDCh1autMPaNkDdWlYPyK5Y5I2WNFBj-juP5X-DOJHXo1UQOf9qNUv5sl1R4P0RJ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-12-17+at+11.49.20+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDyZjswboehPNfij67ROQKYHVRcgda2V_MydiBlTQmjYhGekNmnTfES5Tv9baT_t-T0p5Y4Y39CQlDEDCh1autMPaNkDdWlYPyK5Y5I2WNFBj-juP5X-DOJHXo1UQOf9qNUv5sl1R4P0RJ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-12-17+at+11.49.20+AM.png" height="131" width="200" /></a><i>And then... with all these maybes, we still don't see results.</i><br />
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So, then we do once again what makes sense to us...<br />
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Let's repeat all those maybes because something's bound to stick if we do it all again.<br />
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It's like a bad recurring dream and we've ALL been there and we've ALL done it.<br />
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As educators we tend to believe that kids need 'more' of whatever we are doing if it's ever going to make sense to them.<br />
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So we give them more... and more... and more... more right up until the kids are disgusted and we the educators have forgotten why we are even doing what we are doing.<br />
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The more we give the further our students get from actually understanding or mastering the skills.<br />
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Let's ditch the 'more' and start focusing on ways we can get the same information or skills across 'differently.'<br />
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<i><b>Our kids don't need more of something they don't understand... they need what they don't understand presented differently.</b></i><br />
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Oh, and while we are at it, let's commit ourselves to allowing our students to have a voice in determining what different might look like.<br />
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You never know, their version of different just might make all the difference...<br />
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Justin Tartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00366317292926231579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739346245874311536.post-2337479947393071752016-10-24T04:52:00.001-07:002016-10-24T04:52:43.224-07:0010 thoughts to get you thinking about #education...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I'm tired of hearing 'let's prepare our kids for the real-world.' Let's start talking about empowering our kids to make it a better world. <a href="https://t.co/hI6tx5hU74">pic.twitter.com/hI6tx5hU74</a></div>
— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/790298102154440704">October 23, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Lighting someone else's candle won't make yours any less bright... spread the light. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/leadership?src=hash">#leadership</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/life?src=hash">#life</a> <a href="https://t.co/mFAw43WMeX">pic.twitter.com/mFAw43WMeX</a></p>— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/785648315090087938">October 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">If you as an educator enjoy spending time w/ your family or exploring an interest or hobby in the evening, then reconsider giving homework.</p>— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/783496105023582208">October 5, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Don't make the mistake of thinking culture & climate of a building are just the responsibility of the principal; each adult plays a role.</p>— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/782754265836040193">October 3, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We can't have conversations around technology until we are ready to have conversations around learning. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/education?src=hash">#education</a> <a href="https://t.co/lKuBnrNmQj">pic.twitter.com/lKuBnrNmQj</a></p>— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/777679804988477440">September 19, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The best compliment a teacher can receive from a student is 'No matter what I did wrong or what poor choice I made, you never gave up on me'</p>— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/782245983660838912">October 1, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The most untapped resource in our schools is our students. Their presence represents huge potential & opportunity. <a href="https://t.co/ddzcfVmQos">pic.twitter.com/ddzcfVmQos</a></p>— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/776174543538941952">September 14, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">When a student makes a poor choice (which we all do), it's the conversation, not the consequence, that makes all the difference. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/edchat?src=hash">#edchat</a></p>— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/782205162794483713">October 1, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Be the educator who believes in your students before they start to believe in themselves... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/education?src=hash">#education</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/edchat?src=hash">#edchat</a> <a href="https://t.co/EXmKQUYr1O">pic.twitter.com/EXmKQUYr1O</a></p>— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/775136589731160064">September 12, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Some kids go an entire day at school without anyone saying their name. Be the teacher who speaks to each student by name. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/edchat?src=hash">#edchat</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/education?src=hash">#education</a></p>— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/780188129009414144">September 25, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Justin Tartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00366317292926231579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739346245874311536.post-40798902947016118862016-08-12T13:50:00.001-07:002016-08-12T13:51:31.724-07:0010 ways technology transforms student learning:<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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1). Technology elevates the depth and scope of learning that can occur in the classroom.<br />
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2). Technology brings relevance and a certain level of ‘freshness’ to the content.</div>
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3). Technology shifts the role of the educator and empowers students to take control of their learning.</div>
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4). Technology provides opportunities to amplify student voices and expand overall reach.</div>
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5). Technology connects experts and those ‘in the know’ to students and their learning. </div>
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6). Technology increases the speed and accuracy of students getting feedback to further guide their learning.</div>
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7). Technology provides opportunities for students to get a more personalized learning experience.</div>
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8). Technology builds independence and capacity to be a self-learner.</div>
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9). Technology creates a platform for students to raise awareness about a cause and/or initiate change toward a cause.</div>
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10). Technology becomes a bridge between what kids hope for and what is currently possible.<br />
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Justin Tartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00366317292926231579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739346245874311536.post-17168466345292891102016-07-08T03:40:00.000-07:002016-07-08T03:40:45.487-07:0010 things students want all teachers to know<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><i>1). Students want you to actually spend the time to get to know them...</i></b><br />
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Get to know your students by name as soon as possible. Learn something unique about them and find out what makes them tick. Students know when teachers don't know anything about them, so make getting to know your students a top priority.<br />
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<b><i>2). Students want to have a voice in the learning process and want to share 'their' way of doing things...</i></b><br />
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Students want learning to be done 'with' them... not 'to' them. Schools are idea factories with a seemingly limitless amount of new and fresh ideas, so it's time we start tapping into that potential. Also, students bring unique perspectives and ways of thinking about life, so let them move up from passenger and let them drive the bus from time to time.<br />
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<b><i>3). Students want to be treated with respect and dignity...</i></b><br />
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Students don't magically become motivated when they are embarrassed. They also don't appreciate it when you call them out to make a point and use them as an example. If you wouldn't like somebody doing it to you, then don't do it to your students.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuA2rq0SfXgtRuZ24xFay7AGmvwhZ8LQfEyQYYRVP2ZXKT8Z84wAi7VVh6jGLruM9NE5lCGE-2P8hKjA8xW03hyKvh-g0QhP1qC5iErzX18hpTU0LFLTrzZLeeete34YImPXEjlMEM29l7/s1600/87825802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuA2rq0SfXgtRuZ24xFay7AGmvwhZ8LQfEyQYYRVP2ZXKT8Z84wAi7VVh6jGLruM9NE5lCGE-2P8hKjA8xW03hyKvh-g0QhP1qC5iErzX18hpTU0LFLTrzZLeeete34YImPXEjlMEM29l7/s1600/87825802.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<b><i>4). Students want to be 'appropriately' challenged with meaningful and relevant learning experiences...</i></b><br />
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Students learn pretty quickly the differences between meaningful and productive work and mindless busy work. Students want you to push and challenge them with learning that provides them the skills to succeed. Additionally, students want and need the necessary supports as they struggle and navigate these more challenging learning experiences.<br />
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<i><b>5). Students want educators to know that they too have bad and off days...</b></i><br />
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We all have bad days, and students are no different. Also, some students have quite a lot occurring in their lives outside of the education world. With that, education is at times understandably just not a top priority for them. Empathy and understanding go a long way in the classroom.<br />
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<i><b>6). Students want their interests and passions to be infused into the learning that occurs in the classroom...</b></i><br />
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All students have interests and passions that go beyond the traditional school setting. It's these interests that students want you to integrate and combine with the learning that occurs in your classroom. When students are able to explore and further develop their interests while simultaneously meeting classroom learning objectives, great things are possible.<br />
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<i><b>7). Students want educators to be truthful and honest...</b></i><br />
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When students feel you are being truthful and being honest, they can start to trust you. When students trust and respect you there are few things they won't do for you. This two-way street takes time to develop, but will yield significant dividends in the long-run.<br />
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<b><i>8). Students want to be partners with you when it comes to the learning process...</i></b><br />
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Students don't want a 'teachers' vs. 'students' mentality in school. Students are looking to you for partnership and camaraderie in regard to learning and growth. It's this shift in traditional mindsets that really strengthens trust and collaboration between teachers and students.<br />
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<i><b>9). Students want to know the work they are doing and the time they are committing to school will actually make a difference in the world...</b></i><br />
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Students spend a significant amount of time in school as they grow up, so it's only fair and appropriate that the time they spend and the work they do actually goes toward making the world a better place. The disconnect between doing something that makes a difference in the world and simply just doing something, makes all the difference.<br />
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<i><b>10). At the end of the day, all students want to know their existence matters and that they are important...</b></i><br />
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Don't we all...?<br />
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Justin Tartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00366317292926231579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739346245874311536.post-90748667536838302112016-06-23T05:13:00.001-07:002016-06-23T05:13:53.799-07:005 ways to gauge student engagement: #edchat <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Student engagement... a topic that is commonplace in schools and school districts around the world. The goal being that we want to have highly engaging classrooms where our students are intimately and passionately engaged in whatever task they are working on.<br />
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Engaged classrooms are where learning occurs and one of the defining characteristics of a great teacher is the ability to have his/her students engaged in learning.<br />
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But...I find student engagement to be a tricky and slippery slope at times because <i>how we define student engagement can vary from educator to educator</i>.<br />
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For example, when looking at a student who is working and doing what they are supposed to be doing, can we automatically assume they are engaged? <i><b>Are they cognitively engaged or are they merely compliant and obedient?</b></i> What about the kid who is passionately doodling and completely ignoring whatever the rest of the students and class are doing? <i><b>Do we assume the student is not cognitively engaged because the student isn't compliant and obedient?</b></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5D6r2z-AIrw24Fe8-7fmwxJhPAyTd7rUmP_xk-_G9b2xFiLsC4lswyEbIfHM6X9Jo-j5Tku8MphDDxho43rYTtB-iPa1M3EPmUGkJ2PARW1xQoZUrne8vpIzngEhINQ8En2seFppRiw0J/s1600/800_Series_Test_Gauge_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5D6r2z-AIrw24Fe8-7fmwxJhPAyTd7rUmP_xk-_G9b2xFiLsC4lswyEbIfHM6X9Jo-j5Tku8MphDDxho43rYTtB-iPa1M3EPmUGkJ2PARW1xQoZUrne8vpIzngEhINQ8En2seFppRiw0J/s1600/800_Series_Test_Gauge_large.jpg" width="145" /></a>My point is simple... student engagement and the gauging of student engagement really aren't as easy or straightforward as some would think.<br />
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Also worth noting... <i><span style="color: blue;">I believe most of our kids are truly engaged at most times during the day. The question is... are they engaged in what we are wanting them to be engaged in...</span></i><br />
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Having said all that, <b>here are 5 ways I feel pretty confident about in terms of knowing if your students are truly cognitively engaged in the learning occurring in your class</b>.<br />
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<i>1). Your students are asking in-depth questions that are specific and relevant to the learning occurring in your class and the questions go beyond simple yes and no answers.</i><br />
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<i>2). Your students are curious about the topic and are expressing an interest in exploring the topic further beyond even your original intent.</i><br />
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<i>3). Your students are taking the initial and baseline information and are creating and designing something completely different and completely new.</i><br />
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<i>4). Your students are able to explain the purpose and reasoning behind learning what they are currently learning and see how it relates to their lives and the bigger picture.</i><br />
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<i>5). Your students can clearly explain and articulate where they are in terms of their learning progression... they know where they are doing well and they know where they are still struggling.</i><br />
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<b>What other signs and indicators would you say constitute true student engagement?</b><br />
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Justin Tartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00366317292926231579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739346245874311536.post-69227818506078190732016-06-23T04:52:00.001-07:002016-06-23T04:52:55.946-07:0010 questions every teacher should ask themselves: #edchat #ntchat<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
1). What percent of your students are going beyond just compliance and are actually cognitively engaged in deep self-driven and relevant learning?<br />
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2). How often are students in your class offered the opportunity to move around and get 'the blood' flowing with some type of physical activity?<br />
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3). How often are kids in your class able to work in teams and work collaboratively on some type of group learning activity?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWNXHThzDn75T6NNuovsjRFFAeOyjjoRM9dMlMsDolVWfBG6e2mtaSEFGMwLU0D2Pm-n5XC5ZWUNV1k-YcMQTFnbcDz4R-aGlFhuzSK6fmdKqmc8eCV5SNc9X6K-1VBBXaSU0paqIzY4/s1600/Question-mark1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWNXHThzDn75T6NNuovsjRFFAeOyjjoRM9dMlMsDolVWfBG6e2mtaSEFGMwLU0D2Pm-n5XC5ZWUNV1k-YcMQTFnbcDz4R-aGlFhuzSK6fmdKqmc8eCV5SNc9X6K-1VBBXaSU0paqIzY4/s1600/Question-mark1.jpg" width="127" /></a></div>
4). When was the last time you read a professional book or article and you tried something new as a result of what you read in the book/article?<br />
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5). If you had to describe the perfect and ideal classroom, what would be your top three most important characteristics?<br />
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6). How confident are you that your students could tell someone who doesn't teach what you teach specifically where they are struggling and where they are succeeding in regard to their learning?<br />
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7). Let's assume audio was recorded for an entire week in your classroom. Of all the voices that are heard during that time, whose voice do you believe would be heard the most?<br />
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8). If you eliminated all the grades in your classroom, do you think students would still actively participate and continue learning?<br />
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9). If a group of teachers from another school district who taught a similar content/grade came and observed your classroom, what do you think they would say in their post-conversation?<br />
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10). If you were the principal for the week and you got to observe every classroom in your building, what would you want to see in all the classrooms?<br />
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<i>BONUS: What's the ratio of consumption to creation in your classroom when it comes to the work students are doing?</i><br />
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Justin Tartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00366317292926231579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739346245874311536.post-67056390990154587112016-06-16T09:28:00.003-07:002016-06-16T09:28:50.924-07:00Subjectivity in grading ... #sblchat<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_4UD9HwnWJE_Y_0Rz2ILz0leQwUjXNpQ4xJozsQWqDGGEFXymTGOGoL7Qshboz6K2Ca7LzqPAVfOiSZi6xRMklmCUD3tqIOLumshW_lMrkSSOOevBE8nPh2zWVQoLtnZUz1Xbmj-4sps/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-06-13+at+9.21.26+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_4UD9HwnWJE_Y_0Rz2ILz0leQwUjXNpQ4xJozsQWqDGGEFXymTGOGoL7Qshboz6K2Ca7LzqPAVfOiSZi6xRMklmCUD3tqIOLumshW_lMrkSSOOevBE8nPh2zWVQoLtnZUz1Xbmj-4sps/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-06-13+at+9.21.26+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_4UD9HwnWJE_Y_0Rz2ILz0leQwUjXNpQ4xJozsQWqDGGEFXymTGOGoL7Qshboz6K2Ca7LzqPAVfOiSZi6xRMklmCUD3tqIOLumshW_lMrkSSOOevBE8nPh2zWVQoLtnZUz1Xbmj-4sps/s640/Screen+Shot+2015-06-13+at+9.21.26+AM.png" width="520" /></a></div>
Take a moment to read this excerpt below from a <a href="https://goo.gl/hS0TRP" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue;">Tom Guskey</span></b></a> article:<br />
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If you're a <b><u>student</u></b>, are these results realistic to what you experience in your classes with your teachers?<br />
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If you're a <b><u>teacher</u></b>, would you agree with these two studies based on conversations you've had with your colleagues?<br />
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If you're an <b><u>administrator</u></b>, how could you ever truly support and defend your teachers in an environment like this?<br />
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If you're a <b><u>parent</u></b>, how confusing could these levels of subjectivity be in understanding what your son/daughter actually knows?<br />
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This level of grading subjectivity is plaguing classrooms all over the world...<br />
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<i><b>Maybe this 100 year old study should be 'refreshed' and reintroduced.</b></i><br />
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Justin Tartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00366317292926231579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739346245874311536.post-55844781123078800322016-05-24T09:16:00.000-07:002016-05-24T09:16:44.654-07:0010 reasons why it's a great time to be in #education<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As many of us are ending a hopefully successful school year, it's a great time to reflect on where we are as educators. Additionally, it's never too early to start looking toward next school year. Having said that, we have much to look forward to and much to be excited about. Here are 10 reasons why I believe it's a great time to be in education:<br />
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1) - <b><i>Global competition is increasing and the pool for career opportunities is becoming more fierce</i></b>. As the world seems to get smaller, students are being forced to compete with an even larger pool of applicants for colleges, for jobs, and for life in general. It's my belief that through this increase in competition, both schools and students will rise to the occasion to ensure all kids are prepared to be successful regardless of what path they choose in life.<br />
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2) - <b><i>Everyone thinks they know what is best for education</i></b>. Now, some would argue this is a bad thing, but the reality is, everyone and their mom (I love you mom) seem to think they are an expert in education. On the positive side, this has brought education to the forefront as one of the most important and pressing issues facing society. The fact that everyone has a past education experience means education will always remain a top priority.<br />
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3) - <b><i>Technology is changing the way the world does business</i></b>. Technology is enabling things to happen that were never before possible. This has huge implications for education as a whole. Education systems are no longer limited to what they can or can't do; they are limited to their creativity and their ability to think innovatively.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLd9KMYdERHCQo37s5bvAcvObU0aJWC4IHADZqSS4FgXPO22D1gZpSy3deJoZ16GiuzeMfaNJ0O-8GVv3XkXq9Upf4J5U5bMkXsastkPNthW7DOshnP3rFwofzTddQfSihLm3ZFyhKgi-/s1600/banner-chids-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLd9KMYdERHCQo37s5bvAcvObU0aJWC4IHADZqSS4FgXPO22D1gZpSy3deJoZ16GiuzeMfaNJ0O-8GVv3XkXq9Upf4J5U5bMkXsastkPNthW7DOshnP3rFwofzTddQfSihLm3ZFyhKgi-/s320/banner-chids-01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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4) - <i><b>Students are bringing more and more knowledge and experience into the educational setting than ever before</b></i>. When in history have students been able to teach the teachers and be an instrumental part to the educational process as much as they are now? This shift has continued to push the mindset that educators are no longer simply dispensers of knowledge; but rather are facilitators and instigators of self-directed learning by students. In this environment, educators can learn just as much from their students as the students can learn from them.<br />
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5) - <b><i>College education programs are getting better and better</i></b>. Now, I'm not saying we can't continue to improve here, but I believe college education programs are doing a better job of preparing young teachers to be successful in an education career. This includes moving education programs away from just theory and approach to actual hands-on learning alongside mentor teachers. More college education programs are getting future teachers into classrooms earlier on and pairing them with more experienced mentors. Not perfect yet, but definitely getting better.<br />
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6) - <i><b>More and more districts are collaborating with local businesses</b></i>. This is a very exciting aspect of education now. Local businesses and the overall business industry have a vested interest in seeing kids who are prepared and are ready for the work force. The more partnerships that are formed between school districts and the business industry, the better prepared our kids will be upon entering the job market.<br />
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7) - <i><b>We are learning that money is not the single determining factor for student success</b></i>. It's easy to believe and often misleading when people say that money is the most important factor when determining overall student success. First off, we need to discuss what 'student success' means, but secondly, there are countless examples of schools and districts that are finding success who would not be characterized as 'wealthy' schools or districts. Of course, money does help, but don't assume if you don't have money you can't find success. Success may not be easy to find, but I assure you it comes in more forms than just the green type.<br />
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8) - <i><b>Schools are once again becoming the center and hub of the community</b></i>. Too often there is a disconnect between the schools and the communities in which they serve. This is slowly but surely changing. Our schools in our districts are becoming centralized hubs of not only student learning, but also learning for parents and people within the community. If schools aren't there to serve the community, then how could we ever say we are truly serving our students?<br />
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9) - <i><b>Innovation and creativity are all around us</b></i>. Keep your eyes and ears open because there are a lot of great things happening in education. As schools and districts continue to do a better job of telling their stories, the positives of education are becoming more and more prevalent. What once was a story dominated by all the negatives, is slowly shifting toward a story that emphasizes the positives and the opportunities around us.<br />
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10) - <b><i>Every single day educators get to impact, influence, encourage, support, guide and help students become the best they can be</i></b>. If this doesn't make you feel that it's a great time to be in education, then perhaps it's best you make room for someone who does...<br />
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Justin Tartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00366317292926231579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739346245874311536.post-34303878200555588932016-04-10T11:54:00.000-07:002016-04-10T12:10:42.387-07:00Financial savvy with Earn Your Future Digital Lab<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Personal finance continues to grow in importance. Though the importance and relevance continue to mount, unfortunately, there are still far too many young folks who struggle with the concept and frankly lack awareness. Furthermore, it's these younger years that often prove to be the most critical, so it's in the best interest of schools to continue our focus on teaching personal finance.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlKwCMYBhjRYpiy3iTb0I8WTUQI6N6cw_yxHqP5IiTvd6-GviTqOUf6h7KTISPEb5e1kQuI4MjV3w7h-Rb0ABaOaSk38njOVMrZuaD9CqNjNWDmdsa4jgiCkYopMZ876-Vcb3umYEjVF4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-04-10+at+1.21.14+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="97" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlKwCMYBhjRYpiy3iTb0I8WTUQI6N6cw_yxHqP5IiTvd6-GviTqOUf6h7KTISPEb5e1kQuI4MjV3w7h-Rb0ABaOaSk38njOVMrZuaD9CqNjNWDmdsa4jgiCkYopMZ876-Vcb3umYEjVF4/s200/Screen+Shot+2016-04-10+at+1.21.14+PM.png" width="200" /></a>The PWC Charitable Foundation has put together a financial literacy program called <a href="https://app.pwcfdnearnyourfuture.org/auth/login" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue;">Earn Your Future Digital Lab</span></b></a>. This program is level/module-based and provides students in grades 3-12 the opportunity to gain valuable skills related to personal finance. </div>
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As an educator, you can sign up and explore the different levels and modules, as well as get your entire class set up.</div>
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There are three different levels that are each designed for a different age group. Level 1 is designed for beginners in grades 3-5. This level is currently not available, but should be soon. Level 2 is intermediate for grades 6-8, and lastly, level 3 is advanced for grades 9-12.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVg_N4TWCZ470L8SY9gsUeOzwS_zE9s81s5U5pqrh3WAycqh1G9JGsl3CwLoaGNq7pM-hfwC53_NbULQrS59cOxp98xgpOb2EJGYd6OBW_WdyaEe6OwmD_biEAWwa5hpjNS0Q19xPnZX7h/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-04-10+at+1.01.05+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVg_N4TWCZ470L8SY9gsUeOzwS_zE9s81s5U5pqrh3WAycqh1G9JGsl3CwLoaGNq7pM-hfwC53_NbULQrS59cOxp98xgpOb2EJGYd6OBW_WdyaEe6OwmD_biEAWwa5hpjNS0Q19xPnZX7h/s400/Screen+Shot+2016-04-10+at+1.01.05+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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When you start exploring the different modules within the levels, you start to see the true value in this program. Whether it is related to mortgages, saving money for that cool new phone, dabbling in the stock market, or applying for that first credit card, there's something for everyone within these levels and modules.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1CBTphkoqm__NgPis4dAaclMD9sP5xlCPVRxHyBkMzPpz-hqxyW1A0Co81DV4CHCHrWqji9Ask28btLmFiVqedL6kj7_GW69VX8g9a087m4IRed5gXls-NGaPxrh_NnRBooAx1D_euDZC/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-04-10+at+1.23.18+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1CBTphkoqm__NgPis4dAaclMD9sP5xlCPVRxHyBkMzPpz-hqxyW1A0Co81DV4CHCHrWqji9Ask28btLmFiVqedL6kj7_GW69VX8g9a087m4IRed5gXls-NGaPxrh_NnRBooAx1D_euDZC/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-04-10+at+1.23.18+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3bCny-9BevJSNl5lUXryTnI_pc8L2lsqnHf1V8e22RO_ERajwZL4e1krP8gwM3OS3hGqIamqESpsU2CKE8cXThyphenhyphenUwWNd7g7UEUegVFZnmpRy7y6XVfKVqoCYbVI7YRGHdzUhkklFB1mE/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-04-10+at+1.23.30+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3bCny-9BevJSNl5lUXryTnI_pc8L2lsqnHf1V8e22RO_ERajwZL4e1krP8gwM3OS3hGqIamqESpsU2CKE8cXThyphenhyphenUwWNd7g7UEUegVFZnmpRy7y6XVfKVqoCYbVI7YRGHdzUhkklFB1mE/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-04-10+at+1.23.30+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYH8fwzVWGsPjqGOYRGIxiNbh42o9ri70xZe4A_RwxqV_KoLgmS6EizjrvUrz9dXCj1XY3qH3sHcEdNOXdsPO7LacOMS_kPuyZ5CdaFRQJPMvbMIjZ82uSR4jPPeovPH69ZvvdMAtxSGcT/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-04-10+at+1.23.51+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYH8fwzVWGsPjqGOYRGIxiNbh42o9ri70xZe4A_RwxqV_KoLgmS6EizjrvUrz9dXCj1XY3qH3sHcEdNOXdsPO7LacOMS_kPuyZ5CdaFRQJPMvbMIjZ82uSR4jPPeovPH69ZvvdMAtxSGcT/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-04-10+at+1.23.51+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Another really neat feature of this program is the 'badge' system where students acquire new and different badges based on their learning and progress. When students go through the levels and modules, they will experience relevant and applicable scenarios that all students can relate to. Additionally, the modules provide students 'drag and drop' scenarios along with some basic and simple math computation scenarios.</div>
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Lastly, at the end of each module, students get a 'key learning points' summation to bring it all together. It's a great way to recap all the highlights from the module to ensure the information is retained by students.</div>
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In closing, this program does an excellent job of ensuring students can work at their own pace. There's nothing limiting the students to one level or module at the same time, which is critical to creating a personalized learning experience for students. </div>
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PWC has created a viable program here which undoubtedly can help us as we work to provide key exposure and learning for our students when it comes to personal finance.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This is a sponsored recommendation and I have received compensation for writing this blog post.</span></h4>
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Justin Tartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00366317292926231579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739346245874311536.post-57597558384268222092016-03-12T07:21:00.002-08:002016-03-12T07:21:40.686-08:005 ways to make your classroom student-centered<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><i>A student-centered classroom allows students to be an integral part of the assessment development process.</i></b> This doesn't necessarily mean every assessment is created and designed by students, but it does mean there is a collaborative and joint venture of teachers and students in the planning and implementation stages of assessments. Students who help to design and create their assessments will find the assessments to be more meaningful, and typically students end up creating assessments that are more challenging than what teachers would have created anyway...<br />
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<b><i>A student-centered classroom focuses on finding solutions to real-world problems.</i></b> Too often our classroom focus is on solving problems that lack relevance and purpose in the eyes of students. The student-centered classroom addresses real-world problems that affect or will affect students. This in turn will provide meaning and context to student-driven learning, which then will increase levels of engagement and overall student involvement.<br />
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<i><b>A student-centered classroom is not about what the teacher is doing or what the teacher has done; it's about what the students are doing and what the students can do in the future.</b></i> We all have experienced the teacher observation model that focuses just on what the teacher is doing, but more and more models are now focusing on what the students are doing. Obviously, what the teacher does affects and impacts what the students are doing, but the most important piece is what the students are doing or are able to do as a result of what the teacher is doing.<br />
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<b><i>A student-centered classroom embraces the notion that there are multiple ways to accomplish an individual task. </i></b>When we limit and confine students to following a certain and specific path, we ultimately end up limiting their levels of ownership, innovation, and creativity. A student-centered classroom allows, encourages, and embraces the multitude of paths one can take to solve a given problem. This also allows for students to follow their strengths and their interests when completing a task.<br />
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<b><i>A student-centered classroom firmly believes that there is a partnership and a strong level of trust between educators and students.</i></b> The teacher no longer is and hasn't been for a while the 'smartest' person in the room. Because of this, we need to continue forging a partnership between the teachers and the students and accept an equal playing field when it comes to learning, exploration, and discovery. This partnership is built on trust, and trust happens when we are vulnerable and open to learning with and from others...<br />
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Justin Tartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00366317292926231579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739346245874311536.post-42621339869791498312016-02-28T17:41:00.001-08:002016-02-28T17:41:23.360-08:0010 reasons it's time to move beyond textbooks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
1). Paper is getting more and more expensive and textbooks frankly aren't very environmentally friendly.<br />
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2). Because the typical history book has just a few pages on the Civil War and when I google the 'Civil War' I get 870,000,000 results in .047 seconds.<br />
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3). I have never seen a textbook that wasn't written with bias or written free of errors. So all the folks who believe that textbooks are 'reliable' and 'unbiased' resources, are sadly mistaken.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfohkc9BEX11rp7INXhz4N9tcObXQSQbGZ8HpODUnEI9gjDJtJZ11aAvconCck0xn6YJATBEQjAMWu8jtbTM8CFffBqbOtvbHfulGlQw7k2WiLvR7Gw0i664kZ94YkSASZk9acsukIPzv/s1600/DSCF0367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfohkc9BEX11rp7INXhz4N9tcObXQSQbGZ8HpODUnEI9gjDJtJZ11aAvconCck0xn6YJATBEQjAMWu8jtbTM8CFffBqbOtvbHfulGlQw7k2WiLvR7Gw0i664kZ94YkSASZk9acsukIPzv/s1600/DSCF0367.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
4). Textbooks can't be adapted and can't be updated once they are printed.<br />
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5). There are so many relevant and up-to-date resources that are available for free or for very low cost. When it comes to personalizing and differentiating instruction, textbooks aren't the best choice because they offer a one-size fits all approach.<br />
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6). Let's be honest, kids aren't going home and 'reading' textbooks. Also, if kids are doing worksheets and answering questions from a textbook, it's time to reevaluate your instructional practices.<br />
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7). Textbooks are quite expensive when compared to similar resources and instructional materials, and when school budgets are being stretched, the money should be spent elsewhere.<br />
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8). Textbooks are heavy, bulky, taste good to dogs, and lead to student back problems... I'm not seeing much positive here!<br />
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9). Real life doesn't come with a textbook, so why are we so focused on believing that kids need a textbook to learn...?<br />
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10). 1,000 different textbooks on 1,000 different topics can be replaced by one single device with access to the internet... enough said.<br />
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Justin Tartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00366317292926231579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739346245874311536.post-71789099607709177802016-01-24T17:20:00.001-08:002016-01-24T17:20:11.438-08:00Kids don't need to be ready for school... schools need to be ready for kids<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Dan French shared this wonderful tweet that really got me thinking:<br />
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School readiness should be about schools being ready for students not students being ready for school. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/vted?src=hash">#vted</a></div>
— Dan French (@danfrench) <a href="https://twitter.com/danfrench/status/623554521877344256">July 21, 2015</a></blockquote>
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This really got me thinking because we spend so much time telling kids they need to do <i><b>this</b></i> or they need to do <i><b>that</b></i> so they can be successful in school. We project this mentality that if kids aren't prepared to <u>experience this</u> and aren't <u>able to handle that</u>, they're doomed to fail.<br />
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We inadvertently transfer the pressure and accountability onto our kids and all the while, we tend to forget that they are just that... kids living in a rapidly changing world.<br />
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We also, somewhat arrogantly, assume we know exactly what is best for kids and know exactly what they need to do to be successful in life.<br />
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But, what if it were reversed and schools spent their time ensuring schools were ready for what kids were bringing to the table...?<br />
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What if kids started talking to schools about what schools needed to do to be prepared for them...?<br />
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What if schools were feeling the pressure from students rather than the other way around?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4OVr79z6acfBalSygCjL-Q4Mln2PKmqcyK6jzGJIzEoibwkfIfm2kIX3HeedrVKTH9XuIv4R5A6mvoOVxpUQKiPEVIlvfEToEo_U2ykGh389D27bLg-wu7a_mijb5WMJB_UgL_6Lyb9uO/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-07-23+at+4.49.59+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4OVr79z6acfBalSygCjL-Q4Mln2PKmqcyK6jzGJIzEoibwkfIfm2kIX3HeedrVKTH9XuIv4R5A6mvoOVxpUQKiPEVIlvfEToEo_U2ykGh389D27bLg-wu7a_mijb5WMJB_UgL_6Lyb9uO/s200/Screen+Shot+2015-07-23+at+4.49.59+PM.png" width="180" /></a>We know life and the world around us are changing more quickly than ever before. And, it's these <i>kids who come to our schools <b>wanting, needing and DESERVING</b> a system that's ready for them and is able to meet their needs.</i><br />
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And as a new parent and educator, I have no idea what my son <a href="https://twitter.com/Emorytarte" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue;">Emory</span></b></a> will need in 5 years when he starts his formal schooling... but I hope at least someone will ask him and consider what it means to be ready for him.<br />
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So, the next time you get together with your colleagues, focus on ensuring your school and/or classroom are ready for kids and not the other way around.<br />
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<i>Maybe the conversation will be the same... maybe it will be completely different. :)</i><br />
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Justin Tartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00366317292926231579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739346245874311536.post-84556440903546986782016-01-06T12:50:00.000-08:002016-01-06T12:50:33.858-08:0010 dreams I have for my son's #education<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My wife and I celebrated our son, <a href="https://twitter.com/emorytarte" style="color: blue; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">@emorytarte's</a><b style="color: blue;">, </b>1st birthday just a few weeks ago. Having a young man moving around the house has been quite the experience to say the least. :)<b style="color: blue;"> </b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87GP6TO4x92eNhdfoiW6DEtss0qJvv4lb9Foi3gmp6iirmwzsewOhNWQsxK2_6GHX6GNLQzxqeMaiplUM0pNthmZF7Vg3KmY2Zy4n_tK5HIH_DxvqI6AZkaZYgjBU8OR5QSe8O5eYbh-r/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-12-07+at+8.23.41+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87GP6TO4x92eNhdfoiW6DEtss0qJvv4lb9Foi3gmp6iirmwzsewOhNWQsxK2_6GHX6GNLQzxqeMaiplUM0pNthmZF7Vg3KmY2Zy4n_tK5HIH_DxvqI6AZkaZYgjBU8OR5QSe8O5eYbh-r/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-12-07+at+8.23.41+PM.png" width="200" /></a></div>
I now can call myself an educator AND a parent, and the statement, 'you're not a parent, so you don't understand,' no longer applies.<br />
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Having said that, I've worked in education for almost 11 years and I've seen the system from the classroom to building administration to district administration, which gives me a rather unique perspective on how education is done.<br />
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Now, in a little less than 5 years, my son will be entering the education system, so here are 10 dreams I have that will hopefully be realized by the time he is ready to begin his formal education.<br />
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1). I dream of an education system that will <i><b>never sacrifice play for more instructional time</b></i>. Play is said to be the best form of research, and I want my son to do plenty of research.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIx6rXZ6nlGI41-vJcBZvJoyEbOoXW6ob5irHe5sD8AUaLRlRtVULiWuCM7jyBfBAk05fQsp5fU1ts-udO07DChQNCZhNFEbNw0lx_RLThu20nL_FN9dDeufaQmLeAI469yxgEPF6jBMCM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-12-07+at+8.31.36+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIx6rXZ6nlGI41-vJcBZvJoyEbOoXW6ob5irHe5sD8AUaLRlRtVULiWuCM7jyBfBAk05fQsp5fU1ts-udO07DChQNCZhNFEbNw0lx_RLThu20nL_FN9dDeufaQmLeAI469yxgEPF6jBMCM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-12-07+at+8.31.36+PM.png" width="150" /></a></div>
2). I dream of an education system that really <i><b>stands behind their statements of differentiation and personalized learning</b></i>. My son is unique just like every other child out there, so I want him treated as such. Too often we treat these strategies as 'events' rather than the way we conduct business.<br />
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3). I dream of an education system that <i><b>boldly recruits and goes after the most innovative and creative thinking folks in society</b></i>. I want my son to learn with educators who think big and dream of what could be. I want my son's teachers to build their lessons around the question, 'what if?'<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7NboPU2bgzCLZQyNE-zsJYiVvJ6y7oXuegGqqPU4MstJVmQwPo8EG5W3LSwbRXYu9Bmejn2Lh1YLWpXNBsNucRgqkQzHITtz3Kk7MKwMDg1keHG678EsPd8gJe-xvrkNorWSoGyvDhS5/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-26+at+6.32.37+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7NboPU2bgzCLZQyNE-zsJYiVvJ6y7oXuegGqqPU4MstJVmQwPo8EG5W3LSwbRXYu9Bmejn2Lh1YLWpXNBsNucRgqkQzHITtz3Kk7MKwMDg1keHG678EsPd8gJe-xvrkNorWSoGyvDhS5/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-26+at+6.32.37+PM.png" width="196" /></a>4). I dream of an education system that <i><b>physically looks completely different from the current education system</b></i>. The architectural layout of most schools just isn't conducive to the types of learning experiences kids need, so it's time schools revisit and retool as needed to account for new approaches.<br />
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5). I dream of an education system that <i><b>commits to creating and designing authentic learning experiences that go far beyond the walls of the actual school and community</b></i>. The world is getting smaller and global connectedness is the future. My son deserves the opportunity to see beyond his own community.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7yOscMzSXG-BsfOujpBKZI1krWzE6yS41xAbwM78SBmEPHg0U7uKYhMizE4yUg8VMcCRs9nlCE95bVYqbDsT4Xet98Nm6bb6LR9W6G3SFYrlGi9gViTPB5dnzCGBHVRRj_lhA_xXoyuA/s1600/Capture+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7yOscMzSXG-BsfOujpBKZI1krWzE6yS41xAbwM78SBmEPHg0U7uKYhMizE4yUg8VMcCRs9nlCE95bVYqbDsT4Xet98Nm6bb6LR9W6G3SFYrlGi9gViTPB5dnzCGBHVRRj_lhA_xXoyuA/s200/Capture+1.JPG" width="158" /></a>6). I dream of an education system that <i><b>solves problems that will make our world a better place</b></i>. There's no shortage of serious problems facing society, so why not tap into all the knowledge and brain power we have entering our schools every single day. I want my son working on these problems that will ultimately affect him as he gets older.<br />
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7). I dream of an education system that <i><b>views my son's learning as holistic in nature and not compartmentalized into tiny different learning units</b></i>. Education is a fluid process and isn't and can't be contained and most certainly shouldn't be siloed.<br />
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8). I dream of an education system that <b><i>doesn't get in the way of itself</i></b>. Far too often we know what we need to do and we know what is right, but yet we fail to do anything because the system we've built prevents us. My son can't wait for the red tape to be cleared.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwPmGZ05lQjgqhI87vfrkGNXPglFoJ5ij0iaoIiIAeXD_TvT1t6bazw23xg5kMdVFby0FEJgn8kV0FyIwlMMkAE2uOzXMdCyVccHpl75707BrceqTTkVoL9FNY3wFFZ6lmvy7N_fOfyU_/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwPmGZ05lQjgqhI87vfrkGNXPglFoJ5ij0iaoIiIAeXD_TvT1t6bazw23xg5kMdVFby0FEJgn8kV0FyIwlMMkAE2uOzXMdCyVccHpl75707BrceqTTkVoL9FNY3wFFZ6lmvy7N_fOfyU_/s200/Capture.JPG" width="132" /></a>9). I dream of an education system that <i><b>focuses more on creation than consumption</b></i>. Sure, my son will need some basic knowledge, but in the end he will need and will be expected to create something with that basic knowledge. I don't want my son limited to just eating... I want him to be able to cook too.<br />
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10). I dream of an education system that is <i><b>flexible and adaptable enough to meet the ever-changing needs of my son</b></i>. What he needs to know now vs. what he will need to know later aren't the same, and I expect his education system to recognize that.<br />
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Justin Tartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00366317292926231579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739346245874311536.post-74924676373624471922016-01-02T09:25:00.000-08:002016-01-02T09:25:22.647-08:0010 images to share at your next faculty meeting<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEeB0kSOOAb6x370L5w8Dogr8ZCQzuFiE030vnHC11Q9JYay5NLNSJYDUwTABbkwAZwDHNhovVXkBhfH3bnqlItZM_9rcvB9fG7PzxP25YICvYa9GnIR04445rm104YMO5tbMk42Hzb_vH/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-12-31+at+9.27.50+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEeB0kSOOAb6x370L5w8Dogr8ZCQzuFiE030vnHC11Q9JYay5NLNSJYDUwTABbkwAZwDHNhovVXkBhfH3bnqlItZM_9rcvB9fG7PzxP25YICvYa9GnIR04445rm104YMO5tbMk42Hzb_vH/s400/Screen+Shot+2015-12-31+at+9.27.50+AM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Should we be averaging grades...? via @tguskey</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKqAMlUMqFRzvRfe82oN6YB_z9XkyWQs-5GjYqHgsxMMfU-FLXsf65bz_IU4CEcRLXoZmkEuI7Z5reD92FAnqNmeHeqUtLJdG3tNgt6YpiAN6viSGThxsZf46Fke6xjoTno1QknCZUkNV/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-12-31+at+11.14.06+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKqAMlUMqFRzvRfe82oN6YB_z9XkyWQs-5GjYqHgsxMMfU-FLXsf65bz_IU4CEcRLXoZmkEuI7Z5reD92FAnqNmeHeqUtLJdG3tNgt6YpiAN6viSGThxsZf46Fke6xjoTno1QknCZUkNV/s400/Screen+Shot+2015-12-31+at+11.14.06+AM.png" width="397" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via @davidgeurin</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_V8xCePVgNqn1o-k97CSzXAUfDpt6ZxwxEJkapVneWY2lwv89F6Ew7IVPjIR0ZqisasPw8Kiej1mjNtRcrC-YW576O20TTMe2ykUmtclDH4y7nt1uyuH8xTlUhpVpJZr5PPHqVFcTurj/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-12-30+at+8.18.10+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_V8xCePVgNqn1o-k97CSzXAUfDpt6ZxwxEJkapVneWY2lwv89F6Ew7IVPjIR0ZqisasPw8Kiej1mjNtRcrC-YW576O20TTMe2ykUmtclDH4y7nt1uyuH8xTlUhpVpJZr5PPHqVFcTurj/s400/Screen+Shot+2015-12-30+at+8.18.10+PM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via @jurgenappelo</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via @toddwhitaker & @stevegruenert</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via @starwarsintheclass</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Change your grading mindset vocabulary... via @mssackstein</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feedback is the key to student learning... via @grantwiggins & @edutopia</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The real world... via @alicekeeler & @sylviaduckworth</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via @teachergoals</td></tr>
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Justin Tartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00366317292926231579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739346245874311536.post-87086263450549358052016-01-01T17:49:00.001-08:002016-01-01T17:53:41.914-08:0010 most read blog posts of 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLiLGvazeqVIx7m5By-yEmvkrP3grW7ptCK9ONj23ru5IWukuKT3Tq1XWmudLPasYb5QTi3v_A2xDiayylao3wyhitoIaylKwT36m983QqTsImWAU9DGelB9bYrwVi2-93diCGwkWLYA-q/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-01-01+at+7.43.49+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLiLGvazeqVIx7m5By-yEmvkrP3grW7ptCK9ONj23ru5IWukuKT3Tq1XWmudLPasYb5QTi3v_A2xDiayylao3wyhitoIaylKwT36m983QqTsImWAU9DGelB9bYrwVi2-93diCGwkWLYA-q/s200/Screen+Shot+2016-01-01+at+7.43.49+PM.png" width="200" /></a></div>
2015 was a good year and marks the 6th year for my blog, Life of an Educator. I finished the year with a total of 86 blog posts and have amassed a collection of 550 total blog posts over the last 6 years. I continue to find enjoyment and value in being open with my thoughts while being transparent about the work I'm passionate about in education.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Check out below my most read blog posts of 2015:</span></b><br />
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69,673 pageviews: <b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.justintarte.com/2015/03/10-images-to-share-at-your-next-faculty.html" target="_blank">10 images to share at your next faculty meeting</a></span></b><br />
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19,186 pageviews:<b> <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.justintarte.com/2015/09/should-all-classrooms-be-like.html" target="_blank">Should all classrooms be like kindergarten classrooms?</a></span></b><br />
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17,490 pageviews: <b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.justintarte.com/2015/08/still-not-sure-about-redosretakes-then.html" target="_blank">Still not sure about redos/retakes... then read this</a></span></b><br />
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16,455 pageviews: <b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.justintarte.com/2015/08/dear-principal-few-things-id-like-you.html" target="_blank">Dear principal: A few things I'd like you to know</a></span></b><br />
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16,339 pageviews: <b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.justintarte.com/2015/06/the-engaged-student-vs-compliant-student.html" target="_blank">The engaged student vs. the compliant student</a></span></b><br />
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14,934 pageviews: <b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.justintarte.com/2015/09/10-signs-theres-grading-problem-in-your.html" target="_blank">10 signs there's a grading problem in your classroom</a></span></b><br />
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14,199 pageviews: <b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.justintarte.com/2015/01/the-grading-system-our-kids-deserve.html" target="_blank">The grading system our kids deserve</a></span></b><br />
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13,630 pageviews: <b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.justintarte.com/2015/02/10-questions-every-educator-should.html" target="_blank">10 questions every educator should always be thinking about</a></span></b><br />
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13,364 pageviews: <b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.justintarte.com/2015/03/10-images-to-share-at-your-next-faculty_29.html" target="_blank">10 images to share at your next faculty meeting: part 2</a></span></b><br />
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12,812 pageviews: <b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.justintarte.com/2015/08/10-questions-to-ask-yourself-before.html" target="_blank">10 questions to ask yourself before giving an assessment</a></span></b><br />
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Justin Tartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00366317292926231579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739346245874311536.post-67508061931901660392016-01-01T06:17:00.002-08:002016-01-01T06:17:49.976-08:00There's no such thing as 'just' a teacher...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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You all know that child who doesn't have someone advocating for them. <i><b>As a teacher, you are in a position to advocate for and fight for what is best for that child</b></i>. Wow... what an awesome responsibility.</div>
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Where else in the world do you get to work with so many different personalities, egos, and varied life experiences all in the course of one day. <i><b>If as a teacher you can't find something to learn from your students, then you aren't looking hard enough</b></i>.</div>
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In what other profession can you literally witness the growth and development of a child on a daily basis? <i><b>You are in a position to see first-hand the progress and growth that takes place every single day in classrooms around the world</b></i>. You are able to take a student who possibly knows very little about his/her interests, and then help them discover and explore those interests while simultaneously watching them change before your eyes.</div>
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How many other professions can say they are a punching bag for the media and the sole reason for all the problems in society (joking here)? Educators seem to be getting all the attention... <b><i>how cool is that to always be in the limelight!</i></b> On a serious note, if what you were doing wasn't important, then people wouldn't notice and people wouldn't care.</div>
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<i><b>Some of your students will get to know you better than anyone else in their lives</b></i>. You will spend more time with some of your students than even their own family members. You will get to experience all the highs and the lows right alongside your students. Being this much a part of the lives of your students definitely makes this an awesome job.</div>
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<b><i>In what other profession can you continue to learn and grow in the areas you are passionate about and say that it's a part of your job</i></b>. Then on top of that, you get to share your passion and interests with others while getting paid to do it. Sounds like a win-win to me!<br />
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<i><b>Research is quite clear in that a great teacher has a tremendous impact on the life of a child</b></i>. This is not just related to academic achievement, but to all facets of their life. When you think something you might do or might not do doesn't matter, remember this research and keep it fresh in your mind.</div>
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<i><b>You get to be an entertainer, actor/actress, and a Gumby-like person almost every day!</b></i> I know the 'edutainment' mindset is not the most popular at times, but aren't you first trying to sell yourself? If the kids aren't buying into 'you,' then they will never buy into what you are trying to accomplish in the classroom. Take full advantage of this wonderful opportunity!<br />
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So, please remember, there's no such thing as 'just' a teacher...<br />
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Justin Tartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00366317292926231579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739346245874311536.post-13194002737145909562015-12-31T07:12:00.000-08:002015-12-31T07:12:06.166-08:00Is it time we stop 'averaging' grades? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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What message are we sending to students when we average grades over a quarter or a semester?</div>
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This is definitely a hot topic question for those who are involved in work around grading and assessment.</div>
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<b>What about the statement below?</b></div>
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<i>'When we average grades over time, we are basically saying that our teaching doesn't have any impact on student learning.'</i> via <a href="https://twitter.com/leeannjung" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue;">@leeannjung</span></b></a><br />
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That's a pretty powerful and bold statement!</div>
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Also, consider this image of seven students and their performance over a period of time:</div>
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<i>Do we really feel each student is at the same place in regard to their learning?</i></div>
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<i>Do we really feel each student is receiving a grade that most accurately reflects their current level of mastery?</i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgakMEPAdLz_zROqsw9mjiMHCc42_wqtdDajATjCU7kCbenUep8SGHoDXQPPoCk8wO2EuyLe5B1HLslaVKt5q3wFd65QUwOaCzoHNXyeamyngmDaHnAxAddat0nJN-PrDNUZc4xECQ5x41A/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-06-24+at+10.15.35+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgakMEPAdLz_zROqsw9mjiMHCc42_wqtdDajATjCU7kCbenUep8SGHoDXQPPoCk8wO2EuyLe5B1HLslaVKt5q3wFd65QUwOaCzoHNXyeamyngmDaHnAxAddat0nJN-PrDNUZc4xECQ5x41A/s400/Screen+Shot+2015-06-24+at+10.15.35+AM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">image via @tguskey</td></tr>
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Next, consider the football team in preparation for the game on Friday night (thanks for this great example <a href="https://twitter.com/mctownsley" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue;">@mctownsley</span></b></a>...)</div>
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<b style="text-decoration: underline;">Team A:</b> Works extremely hard all week at practice and has done everything possible to prepare for the game on Friday night.</div>
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<b><u>Team B:</u></b> Takes it easy at practice all week and really didn't put forth a lot of commitment to prepare for the game on Friday night.</div>
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The reality is that both teams will start the game on Friday night with zero points. The team that worked hard doesn't get an advantage from the start and the team that didn't work hard doesn't start off with a disadvantage. <i><b>Grades are about what kids know at that given point in time... same thing as on the football field.</b></i></div>
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Last thought... do we really want the initial learning students do in the beginning (when the skills and/or content are brand new) to affect a student's grade later on down the road? <i>Should students be able to escape the mistakes and roadblocks they faced in the beginning or should these mistakes haunt them the entire grading period?</i></div>
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So, is it time to stop averaging grades?</div>
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Justin Tartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00366317292926231579noreply@blogger.com0Grover, MO 63040, USA38.5726288 -90.62515409999997538.522971299999995 -90.705835099999973 38.6222863 -90.544473099999976tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739346245874311536.post-21919473882428075382015-12-30T07:03:00.000-08:002015-12-30T07:03:06.543-08:00Top 15 #education tweets of 2015: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rigor vs. difficulty... via <a href="https://twitter.com/kdworkshops">@kdworkshops</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/edchat?src=hash">#edchat</a> <a href="http://t.co/wQCqi1QgqH">pic.twitter.com/wQCqi1QgqH</a></p>— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/591395779857801220">April 24, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Give a kid a grade & the learning stops. Give feedback & extending questions & the learning goes deeper. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/edchat?src=hash">#edchat</a> <a href="http://t.co/ckkrGMrKld">pic.twitter.com/ckkrGMrKld</a></p>— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/645033204894838785">September 19, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Too often we give children answers to remember rather than problems to solve... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/edchat?src=hash">#edchat</a> <a href="http://t.co/KKWs3LLv24">pic.twitter.com/KKWs3LLv24</a></p>— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/582664066973356034">March 30, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Greeting students as they enter your classroom increases engagement by 27%: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/edchat?src=hash">#edchat</a> <a href="http://t.co/3oKEuFuUE3">pic.twitter.com/3oKEuFuUE3</a></p>— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/617755442098388992">July 5, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Social media is like water. We can ignore it & watch kids drown or we can teach kids how to swim. by <a href="https://twitter.com/gcouros">@gcouros</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/edchat?src=hash">#edchat</a> <a href="http://t.co/elUHHhPBee">pic.twitter.com/elUHHhPBee</a></p>— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/632506124437225472">August 15, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The culture of any organization is shaped by the worst behavior the leader is willing to tolerate. via <a href="https://twitter.com/ToddWhitaker">@ToddWhitaker</a> <a href="http://t.co/OOnt7iplNs">pic.twitter.com/OOnt7iplNs</a></p>— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/573987010710474752">March 6, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Do our students realize this is the world they live in? If not, we need to teach, NOT ban. via <a href="https://twitter.com/julnilsmith">@julnilsmith</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/edchat?src=hash">#edchat</a> <a href="http://t.co/2hqHITJb8R">pic.twitter.com/2hqHITJb8R</a></p>— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/640315823198969856">September 6, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">If you still don't believe in redos & retakes, then you should read this: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/edchat?src=hash">#edchat</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/rickwormeli2">@rickwormeli2</a> <a href="http://t.co/snsXeCXfb7">pic.twitter.com/snsXeCXfb7</a></p>— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/556470051146960896">January 17, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here's what we are telling students when we don't allow them to redo their work: via <a href="https://twitter.com/rickwormeli2">@rickwormeli2</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/edchat?src=hash">#edchat</a> <a href="http://t.co/noc3WEqVXB">pic.twitter.com/noc3WEqVXB</a></p>— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/627804968116879361">August 2, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Expecting kids the same age 2 learn the same thing is like expecting kids the same age 2 wear the same size clothing <a href="https://t.co/Kr8pkjfMDd">pic.twitter.com/Kr8pkjfMDd</a></p>— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/663077106713288704">November 7, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">When a flower doesn't bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/leadership?src=hash">#leadership</a> <a href="https://t.co/X8hY6k3Rcz">pic.twitter.com/X8hY6k3Rcz</a></p>— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/658110811462701056">October 25, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">10 truths about educating kids that often are ignored... via <a href="https://twitter.com/alfiekohn">@alfiekohn</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/edchat?src=hash">#edchat</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/unionrxi?src=hash">#unionrxi</a> <a href="http://t.co/GLMODlxfnO">pic.twitter.com/GLMODlxfnO</a></p>— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/610043769564467200">June 14, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The best 1:1 device in a classroom has always been and will always be a great teacher. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/edchat?src=hash">#edchat</a> <a href="http://t.co/Cyd8IuEvHu">pic.twitter.com/Cyd8IuEvHu</a></p>— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/586334027704991746">April 10, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Best homework ever... make the world a better place. via <a href="https://twitter.com/peterlynch11">@peterlynch11</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/edchat?src=hash">#edchat</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/moed15?src=hash">#moed15</a> <a href="http://t.co/z320rrXTcX">pic.twitter.com/z320rrXTcX</a></p>— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/625772581925195776">July 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Grades should reflect demonstration & mastery of learning, not compliance and completion of assigned work. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/edchat?src=hash">#edchat</a> <a href="https://t.co/dW05JLpe8J">pic.twitter.com/dW05JLpe8J</a></p>— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) <a href="https://twitter.com/justintarte/status/681839153709883392">December 29, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Justin Tartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00366317292926231579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739346245874311536.post-27454093939613168852015-12-29T17:40:00.001-08:002015-12-29T17:40:45.912-08:005 ways to boost creativity in your classroom<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
1). <b><i>Find opportunities in your class that allow your students to be the lead learners.</i></b><br />
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Our kids come to school with a unique and different skill-set and far too often these wonderful abilities are suppressed under the weight of objectives and learning targets. What would happen if students were able to take their skills and build on the required objectives and learning targets? Better yet, what if students helped to come up with those objectives and learning targets? What if we allowed and encouraged our students to share their genius with others and join the ranks of teachers as facilitators and activators of learning...?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPBKabrxeuZVCVW_bQw2JpVqVE5SfObIvw88Wq7fNe95t-Ciog9F__Sbgg6Dl5ECbzb8XNqBNemJDu8vqV9gUECqPdkTyDioNBgMBuVw3VLbQMk4PptpNUNNQTOClqPd7NCSVcye-ucfW/s1600/n-CREATIVITY-large570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPBKabrxeuZVCVW_bQw2JpVqVE5SfObIvw88Wq7fNe95t-Ciog9F__Sbgg6Dl5ECbzb8XNqBNemJDu8vqV9gUECqPdkTyDioNBgMBuVw3VLbQMk4PptpNUNNQTOClqPd7NCSVcye-ucfW/s1600/n-CREATIVITY-large570.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via the Huffington Post</td></tr>
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2). <i><b>Do whatever you can to change up the learning space and get students to do things outside of the traditional classroom space. </b></i><br />
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The learning spaces and environments that kids experience have huge implications on how they respond and what they are able to imagine. In a traditional four-walled classroom, students' creativity is limited and contained just like the classroom itself. Open up student minds by getting them outside and by getting them in different spaces. A cheap way to boost creativity is simply to keep the learning space fresh and unique.<br />
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3). <b><i>Don't use rubrics for everything and don't tell students what the final objective is.</i></b><br />
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This might sound counter-intuitive and against all typical teacher training programs, but far too often rubrics crush any level of creativity and when the final objective is outlined in the beginning there's no room for flexibility or variation. Let go and don't allow yourself to be consumed with how you are going to assess, grade, and how you are going to hold students accountable.<br />
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4). <b style="font-style: italic;">Encourage risk-taking and embrace failure.</b><br />
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When we tell kids it's not Ok to fail, we are telling them to never take risks and we are encouraging them to focus on playing it safe. Ironically enough, the biggest risk our students and even us educators can take is not taking any risks at all. Playing it safe is actually the most unsafe thing one can do, and it's in classrooms across the globe that we need to encourage kids to take risks. Naturally, these risks will result in failures, but it's in this process of risk-taking and failure that kids are able to take 'what is' and creatively think about 'what could be.'<br />
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5). <i><b>Praise great questions over great answers.</b></i><br />
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The type of environment that breeds creativity is an environment where kids are free and encouraged to ask deep and thoughtful questions. Students are pushed to ask questions that have multiple answers and very rarely do these questions have a correct answer. When great questions are asked great opportunities for creativity quickly become possible. When students think they have an answer to a question, change things up by asking them 'what if...' and change a variable. Students in time will start to anticipate what questions will be asked which will open up their minds to a world of possibility.<br />
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Good luck in creating an oasis of creativity!<br />
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Justin Tartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00366317292926231579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739346245874311536.post-68514802336414723302015-12-21T11:10:00.000-08:002015-12-21T13:04:25.376-08:00The H&R Block Budget Challenge is back! #FinEdChat<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So often we hear about teaching the whole child. Today, more than ever, personal finance knowledge and awareness are a critical part of what it means to teach the whole child.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1NAlGLkis2oB8DBU1POMza2GC6hq_15rzzkKl_8yt1jU46uPz80kM-pAtSzxr9SuZyjLMR9CRFSaEX4v878FgQ8NU8mZPXe3_BjmjFbewjcwbiNiOOQGc0_GDN1vYZiTQ5cvK5KmP2Kn/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1NAlGLkis2oB8DBU1POMza2GC6hq_15rzzkKl_8yt1jU46uPz80kM-pAtSzxr9SuZyjLMR9CRFSaEX4v878FgQ8NU8mZPXe3_BjmjFbewjcwbiNiOOQGc0_GDN1vYZiTQ5cvK5KmP2Kn/s400/Capture.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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What's been made increasingly clear over the last few years is the ever-changing world of finance. Specifically, that the world of finance isn't going to become simpler, but rather more complex. Check out some surprising results about where and to whom kids turn when it comes to getting more information about finance in this <a href="http://goo.gl/OlX8KI" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue;">survey and infographic</span></b></a>.<br />
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><i>Enter the H&R Block Budget Challenge!</i></span></b><br />
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This challenge probably isn't like other challenges you may be familiar with... this challenge is awarding up to $3 million dollars in classroom grants and student scholarships. Not too bad for just another day at school!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrG2SRn7ek0qS4Mv5dqCEjY6LHm9kvy6lWP8SDvTt-AaxMFd6R5KZ3JglLBQmVJRUeY3NJKv-8FSHHYBs0rEqAu-m5f-h4Pb575R_mT4hnIv7e2_bT7jB2rpy8mwBmW83Sjw0lQMk-diu/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrG2SRn7ek0qS4Mv5dqCEjY6LHm9kvy6lWP8SDvTt-AaxMFd6R5KZ3JglLBQmVJRUeY3NJKv-8FSHHYBs0rEqAu-m5f-h4Pb575R_mT4hnIv7e2_bT7jB2rpy8mwBmW83Sjw0lQMk-diu/s400/Capture.JPG" width="248" /></a>Beside the monetary incentive for teachers and students, there's a lot of learning potential with this FREE, fun, real-world challenge. Students get to experience online simulations that require them to go through the decision making process with the types of financial scenarios we adults face on a daily basis.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #444444; line-height: 20.02px;">Things like paying bills, managing expenses, considering tax implications, saving for retirement, and saving for a rainy day, are all situations students will experience in this simulation.</span><br />
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I recall the personal finance class I took while in high school, and I wish the H&R Block Challenge would have been around as I would have thoroughly enjoyed going through these realistic scenarios.<br />
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This challenge is open to all accredited public and private schools, as well as all home schooled students. Students must be 14 years of age or older and must be enrolled in grades 9-12 to be eligible. Did I mention this is FREE?!<br />
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For all you educators out there trying to figure out how this might fit in your curriculum or how this won't be a huge additional workload, check out some of these <a href="http://goo.gl/xtQzR1" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue;">budget challenge lesson plans and student activities</span></b></a>. No need to recreate the wheel with this challenge! You should also check out the <a href="http://goo.gl/vx2BlP" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue;">educational games</span></b></a> H&R Block has created to help teach and raise awareness of personal finance.<br />
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And, don't worry, you still have time to sign up! The next simulation challenge starts on 1/14/16 <span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: #eeeeee;">(<span style="color: #222222;">Teachers must register their classes </span><span style="color: #222222;">one week prior to the simulation start date, and for this round the deadline to create your class is <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2011744188" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(100, 100, 100); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; cursor: pointer; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">January 7th</span></span>)</span></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> </span>with two additional sessions starting after that on 1/28/16 and 2/11/16.<br />
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Click <a href="http://www.hrblockdollarsandsense.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue;">here</span></b></a> to learn more and sign up for this exciting opportunity for your students!<br />
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Perhaps something I love most about this challenge is the statement H&R Block makes right on their main webpage for this challenge...<br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><i>We think personal finance education is so important, we're paying people to learn.</i></span></h2>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">In closing, this opportunity comes at no cost to you and your students other than simply giving it a try. If you want your students to be prepared for the quickly changing world of personal finance, this is the perfect tool to have in your toolbelt. Not only is this tool free, it comes with an instructional manual on exactly how to best use it. Not to mention the many opportunities to earn some cash for your classroom and students!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">What are you waiting for... get after it and get your personal finance savvy on.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">“</span><em style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #010101; padding: 0in;">This is a sponsored post on behalf of</span></em><i style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #010101; padding: 0in;"> We Are Teachers and H&R Block</span></i><em style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #010101; padding: 0in;">. I received compensation for this post, however all opinions stated are my own.”</span></em></span></div>
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Justin Tartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00366317292926231579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739346245874311536.post-79667660316517103982015-11-24T11:34:00.002-08:002015-11-24T11:36:51.842-08:00Finals: Have they outlived their usefulness?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Here's a scenario that plays out in many secondary schools all across the globe...</div>
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The teacher explains what will be on the final. This 'final' encompasses everything that has been covered throughout the prior semester. The teacher also explains how much the final will be worth and the impact the final will have on the students' semester grades. The teacher then hands out some kind of study guide for the students to use to review and prepare for the final. All learning stops as class time becomes solely focused on preparing for the final.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9RyNf8sF9GdN0NouBzslBleHiUyOlFgwTX2B0jcOMliEjG7Pp7sc6SVnJC57UoVIBDrNeZxjda-zBGbYYIZ9Ui8DLiW-o6KNDWPOOykMnr2lTThtzc7EMnL3I9FM7OFKnkIpRMzA4nrRw/s1600/keep-calm-cause-it-s-finals-week.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9RyNf8sF9GdN0NouBzslBleHiUyOlFgwTX2B0jcOMliEjG7Pp7sc6SVnJC57UoVIBDrNeZxjda-zBGbYYIZ9Ui8DLiW-o6KNDWPOOykMnr2lTThtzc7EMnL3I9FM7OFKnkIpRMzA4nrRw/s1600/keep-calm-cause-it-s-finals-week.png" width="171" /></a></div>
The students use the study guide to guide their studying in preparation for the final, but the study guide is so broad and far-reaching the students are unable to specifically identify what they should really know. The students then play out scenarios in their head about how the grade on the final will impact their final semester grades. The students then begin a sporadic process of cramming as much possible information in their heads in preparation for the final only to be forgotten soon after.<br />
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<i><b>So, here are some thoughts and questions...</b></i></div>
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Finals are summative assessments with no opportunity for revision; no opportunity for feedback/input; no opportunity for a correction... so is there a point other than filling the grade book?<br />
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We spend all semester and all school year working with students... do we need a final to tell us what our students know or don't know?<br />
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Are we doing finals just because the next level of schooling does finals? If so, are we ok with robbing our students of so much time and energy at the end of each semester?<br />
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Almost all school districts have a final exemption policy... if kids can exempt, then the argument that finals prepare kids for some next level of schooling falls short. Shouldn't every kid be required to get this 'experience...?'<br />
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Related to exemptions... the students who aren't able to exempt are the same students who for the most part won't be successful on the final, so aren't we basically setting them up for double failure?<br />
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The typical final uses low-level questions and focuses on quantity over quality in an effort to cover as much as possible. Finals are often the shotgun approach to assessing with very little ability to identify specifically what kids know vs. don't know.<br />
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Many finals are able to be scored via scantron and are built around memorization of facts, terms and dates, just to be forgotten as the kids walk out the door.<br />
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<i><b>So, is it time to revisit our practice of doing finals?</b></i><br />
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Is it time to eliminate finals? <a href="http://goo.gl/m89c8i"><b>http://goo.gl/m89c8i</b></a><br />
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Justin Tartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00366317292926231579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739346245874311536.post-54141573983338268802015-10-04T15:50:00.001-07:002015-10-04T15:50:09.523-07:00Learning time loss: Why bell-to-bell learning matters<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Imagine this scenario: You teach at least 5 classes or 5 hours a day (this accounts for both elementary and secondary teachers). Each 1 hour block takes about 5 minutes to get started and ends about 5 minutes early.
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This means that roughly 10 minutes out of every 60 minutes are underutilized. Over the course of the day, this means that roughly 50 minutes out of every 300 minutes are not focused on learning.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5yjh68L_NHG9NTIGd_uPIFcnM4_WTSVn5vKGo2M7o41cu7p2IkQrtLnT2S1yMB0x8127gBQda5kAxz9vvOPkOTZ7fEC4Ae7b3Uf8MQFvd28UE_rCkjk_hdCCtX5jdj5aHimT9AmjhP8/s1600/instructional+time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5yjh68L_NHG9NTIGd_uPIFcnM4_WTSVn5vKGo2M7o41cu7p2IkQrtLnT2S1yMB0x8127gBQda5kAxz9vvOPkOTZ7fEC4Ae7b3Uf8MQFvd28UE_rCkjk_hdCCtX5jdj5aHimT9AmjhP8/s200/instructional+time.jpg" width="200" /></a>Over the course of a typical 5 day week there will be 250 minutes not spent on learning out of a total 1,500 potential learning minutes.</div>
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Over the course of a typical school year of 174 school days there will be 8,700 minutes not utilized for learning.<br />
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Now, let's be realistic and <b><u>cut that number in half</u></b> because we all know there are assemblies and other events that cut into learning time throughout the school year. That leaves us with 4,350 minutes of time not spent learning.</div>
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<b>4,350 total underutilized minutes divided by a typical 300 minute school day = <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #ea9999;">14.5 days per school year are slipping through our fingers.</span> </span></b></div>
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Does every minute need to focused on learning, of course not. Are there times when kids and educators need a few moments to simply 'breathe,' of course there are. </div>
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It's unrealistic to think every minute can be focused on learning.</div>
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However, even with conservative numbers, almost three weeks of school each year are being lost. In other words, 8.3% of a student's year in a 36 week school year. And, there's one thing all educators can agree with... time is precious and we always need more of it. </div>
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Let's really focus on making sure we are maximizing the time we have.</div>
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Justin Tartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00366317292926231579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739346245874311536.post-87313239680412919482015-10-02T13:10:00.002-07:002015-10-02T13:10:43.351-07:0010 questions every educator should be asking...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I firmly believe in self-reflection as a means toward growth and development. As such, we all would benefit from an intense session of self-reflection. Through self-reflection we will better understand who we are as educators, as well as how our actions are aligning with our beliefs. Regardless of your position or role in education, here are 10 questions to ask yourself:<br />
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<b><i>1) - How and what are you doing to build strong and enduring relationships with your students and staff?</i></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnP308Rmhisp_MpdlXKwzLWdOxIiB-Cwfs4N9q3LLwgS7qRZ9azVrIom_-KEnBWKcz3kc_SP5o67k9N9yNBjPJ2pOPBfCuM6p5-WaxR3X_jE3CChtStAVp23_9PlQoeyd4HsBZ5UEHbtld/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-10-02+at+3.03.14+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnP308Rmhisp_MpdlXKwzLWdOxIiB-Cwfs4N9q3LLwgS7qRZ9azVrIom_-KEnBWKcz3kc_SP5o67k9N9yNBjPJ2pOPBfCuM6p5-WaxR3X_jE3CChtStAVp23_9PlQoeyd4HsBZ5UEHbtld/s200/Screen+Shot+2015-10-02+at+3.03.14+PM.png" width="200" /></a><i><b>2) - What are you doing very well? Where are you seeing a lot of success? Do you know why...?</b></i><br />
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<i><b>3) - What are you not doing very well? Where are you not seeing a lot of success? Do you know why...?</b></i><br />
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<i><b>4) - What are you doing to improve your craft? How are you ensuring that you will be better able to address your students' and staffs' needs?</b></i><br />
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<i><b>5) - In your absence, can your students and staff continue learning and growing? Do they absolutely need you to continue?</b></i><br />
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<i><b>6) - Do your students and staff know the expectations? Do they have a part in establishing those expectations?</b></i><br />
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<i><b>7) - Do you give your students and staff enough praise for the great things they are doing? Are you filling the buckets of others?</b></i><br />
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<b><i>8) - Do you practice what you preach? Do your actions speak louder than your words?</i></b><br />
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<i><b>9) - What is the biggest mistake you've made (educationally speaking) so far this school year? What did you learn from this experience?</b></i><br />
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<i><b>10) - If you never saw your students and staff ever again, what do you think they would say about you? If it's not flattering, what are you doing to change their minds?</b></i><br />
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Justin Tartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00366317292926231579noreply@blogger.com