Early on in my project-based learning journey, I made a vow to go 100% project-based. My students would learn everything through exploration and discovery. I would remain the guide on the side observing the process and helping out only when necessary. After leading students through…
In this podcast interview Dr. Kristen Mattson shares a bold vision for how we define digital citizenship and digital ethics. She also provides practical strategies that teachers can use in the classroom and integrate into their curriculum. Listen to the Podcast If you enjoy this…
For the last three weeks, I have been planning out this semester’s courses. I am teaching eight courses ranging from fully in-person to fully virtual but synchronous (using Zoom) to fully asynchronous and online with a combined hybrid approach mixed in. My goal is to…
I am an incessant doodler and constant illustrator. I tend to make sense out of ideas by sketching them in notebooks and whiteboards and random scraps of paper. However, when I first began this blog back in 2002, I hid my artistic side. I wrote…
We aren’t sure what this year will look like. With the spike in Covid cases, it might involve more hybrid or virtual learning. Or it might be more of a “return to normal.” But regardless of the situation, we do know that teachers will continue…
I never cry while watching a drama. I can feel all the feels of a serious motion picture but it will never move me to tears. This isn’t a hyper-macho “dudes don’t cry thing.” I’m a pretty sensitive guy. It’s just a reality of my…
In my previous articles, I’ve explored how we can empower students with voice and choice in reading. However, today’s article provides some nuance. While we need to empower readers to own their learning and we need to create extended periods of choice-based independent reading time,…
This is part of a series on empowering readers. If you’re interested, I also have a self-paced course where I walk you through practical ways that you can empower your students in the reading process. Some people say that it’s better to ask forgiveness than…
This is part of a series on empowering readers. If you’re interested, I also have a self-paced course where I walk you through practical ways that you can empower your students in the reading process. The students filed into class discussing the latest TV shows…
This is the first article I’m doing in a summer series on Empowering Readers. If you want to take a deeper dive into the topic, I also have the Empowered Readers self-paced course that I co-created with literacy expert Bonnie Hamer. It officially launches today….
I’m a professor and a maker. Sometimes I make things. Sometimes I make a difference. On a good day, I get to do both.
