If you’ve heard people say, “December is such a short month in the classroom,” then you know they are not teachers. While the month may be shorter than the rest, it doesn’t require less planning. Honestly, it often requires more meticulous planning because it is hard to keep students engaged! They are so excited for … Read more
“I’m fairy,” she told me. Then before I had a chance to respond, she added with wide open eyes, “A real fairy.” Her mother and I stood together as she flitted away. “I’m starting to think she might even believe it,” her mother chuckled. “I’m a firefighter.” “I’m a gorilla.” “I’m a princess.” “I’m the … Read more
I love to start off my school year with easy stem activities, to give my students an introduction to engineering concepts like identifying a problem, brainstorming ideas, sketching to communicate, selecting an idea, building a proto-type and testing it. These are all part of the problem-solving process and can be applied throughout life, not just … Read more
Coming Attractions: On 6/30, I’ll be leading a keynote discussion at the NACPS conference on the state of the charter school sector. Jed Wallace and I will also record a WonkyFolk later in the day. I hope you’ll also check out sessions by my Bellwether colleagues Carrie Irvin and Jenn Schiess on academic recovery and finance. ICYMI … Read more
Looking for playful, low-prep math activities to brighten up your lessons or home learning time? 🌈 My Summer Math Play Mats from the Math Kit bundle are a super simple way to engage your learners with number sense, counting, and place value — all while having some summery fun! 🏖️ Here are three easy games … Read more
Research has shown us that relationships are at the heart of learning. Yet, human relationships are infinitely complex. How then might teachers become experts in managing the relationships that are critical for student learning and effective school leadership? In my own practice, there have been two keys; restorative justice and open to learning conversations. Each of … Read more
It was three years ago this week that we decided to move from Western Canada to Orlando, Florida. I remember getting into a car with my two dogs, Odom and Cooper, and driving five days across North America for no other reason than I did not want to put them on a plane at … Read more
Spring has officially sprung, which means it’s the perfect time to dive into plant science! But let’s be real—getting kindergarteners to remember the difference between a stem and a leaf (and not just color everything green) can be a bit of a challenge. If you’ve ever caught your students drawing a flower with the roots … Read more
Deeper Learning is a Better Path Forward – John Spencer Skip to main content Currently reading: Deeper Learning is a Better Path Forward
When I was first introduced to the concepts behind Cognitive Load Theory (CLT) a few years, it really did make a big impact on how I approached things in my classroom. Instead of trying to overload students with loads of different thoughts, ideas and concepts – I started pair things down so that they were … Read more