Teacher Leaders Network

As part of a partnership, Education Week Teacher publishes a regular column by members of the Teacher Leaders Network. TLN is a professional community of accomplished educators dedicated to sharing ideas and expanding the influence of teachers.

An early childhood expert says that what teachers say (and do not say) during play-based learning can make a big difference for students. February 8, 2012 – Teacher

Non-native English speakers—who access meaning through more than one language—can offer novel insights during whole-class comprehension exercises, says one high school teacher. February 1, 2012 – Teacher

One teacher learned the hard way that just bringing iPads into the classroom won't truly change things—you also have to redefine your practice. January 25, 2012 – Teacher

Katie Hull-Sypnieski and Larry Ferlazzo offer stage-setting strategies and daily actions to help teachers effectively differentiate instruction in their classrooms. January 17, 2012 – Teacher

Social studies teacher Stephen Lazar says that teachers can learn a lot about purpose and meaningful instruction from the Citizenship Schools of the Civil Rights era. January 10, 2012 – Teacher

Teacher Dave Orphal offers a few guidelines on how to best facilitate and yield positive results from parent meetings. January 4, 2012 – Teacher

Knowing more about how kids' brains function and acquire knowledge can help teachers maximize learning opportunities for their students, says Wendi Pillars. December 20, 2011 – Teacher

Bill Ferriter discusses several ways that teachers can use Twitter in classrooms to encourage reflection and conversation among their students. December 13, 2011 – Teacher

Teacher and author Dan Brown, who recently earned National Board certification, discusses his achievement, the involvement required, and the impact it has had on his teaching. December 6, 2011 – Teacher

Members of the Teachers Leaders Network share their thoughts on testing early learners and the roles that teachers could play in ensuring that early-learning assessments are valid and meaningful. November 23, 2011 – Teacher

Stepping outside the traditional classroom to work in new capacities can give teachers perspective and inspiration, says Megan Allen. November 15, 2011 – Teacher

Meeting the needs of gifted students—especially those who, like gifted-program participants Mark Zuckerberg and Lady Gaga, may have an independent streak—can be a challenge. But these tips can help. November 8, 2011 – Teacher

Stephen Lazar describes how teachers can impart both critical thinking skills and cultural literacy through the use of historical documents and strategic questioning. November 1, 2011 – Teacher

High school English teacher Nancy Gardner describes a research assignment at her school that allows seniors to study anything from cake-decorating to homelessness. October 24, 2011 – Teacher

Past and present state Teachers of the Year share their insights on what teachers can do to transform the public's perception of the profession. October 18, 2011 – Teacher

Kindergarten teacher Allison Sampish shares fun classroom activities that can improve students' fine-motor skills, which she says are critical to later academic success. October 11, 2011 – Teacher

As the excitement of the start of school fades into routine, Cossondra George says this is a crucial time for teachers to develop positive habits that will help sustain them through the year. October 4, 2011 – Teacher

José Vilson says teachers can learn a great deal from hip-hop artist Jay-Z when it comes to both engaging students and managing their careers. September 27, 2011 – Teacher

Virtual book clubs can help engage students in independent reading by giving them opportunities to stay connected beyond the classroom, says Ryan Kinser. September 20, 2011 – Teacher

Motivating 6th graders to write in science class is no easy task, but Marsha Ratzel has some tricks for streamlining the process and even making it fun. September 13, 2011 – Teacher

From focusing on parent partnerships to implementing lessons from Uganda, see what this cross-section of teachers is looking forward to most. September 7, 2011 – Teacher

Before early-childhood teachers step foot in the classroom, they should have a plan for managing the various transitions that young students experience throughout the school day, says preschool teacher John Holland. August 29, 2011 – Teacher

Cindi Rigsbee shares advice—for both school leaders and faculty—on how to handle the transition when a new principal comes on board. August 23, 2011 – Teacher

Larry Ferlazzo shares the self-reflection questions that help him build relationships with students and maximize classroom management techniques. August 16, 2011 – Teacher

Technology integration expert and high school teacher Jennifer Barnett offers tips on how to support learning and familiarize students with technology when classroom digital tools are limited. August 10, 2011 – Teacher

Is it worth going into teaching in the current climate? Eleven-year veteran Dina Strasser offers a "letter to a young teacher" who's wondering if she's in over her head. August 3, 2011 – Teacher

Pre-service teachers need more opportunities to make meaningful connections between their coursework and classroom experiences, says student-teacher mentor Sarah Henchey. July 26, 2011 – Teacher

Awareness of common pitfalls and effective strategies can support teachers' efforts to help students "learn to learn" throughout the year, says Cossondra George. July 19, 2011 – Teacher

A group of accomplished teachers share the literary, cinematic, and musical pieces that sustain them in their work and help inspire their students. July 12, 2011 – Teacher

Middle school language arts teacher Heather Wolpert-Gawron says teachers need to commit themselves to linking instruction more directly to the skills students will need for life after high school. July 5, 2011 – Teacher

Especially in a time of economic uncertainty, teachers need to do more to weave financial literacy into instruction and help safeguard students' futures, writes Anthony S. Colucci. June 29, 2011 – Teacher

Dealing with parents can be intimidating—especially for new teachers—but treating them as partners can go a long way in helping students succeed, says Gail Tillery. June 21, 2011 | Updated: December 12, 2011 – Teacher

A middle school language arts teacher helps her students meet writing goals by having them create their own magazines on topics of their choice. June 14, 2011 | Updated: December 12, 2011 – Teacher

A middle school reading teacher offers tips on how to help students develop their literary imaginations amidst the pop culture that surrounds them. June 7, 2011 | Updated: December 19, 2011 – Teacher

A special education teacher offers advice on how to ask effective questions—ones that require students to go beyond regurgitating facts. June 1, 2011 | Updated: December 12, 2011 – Teacher

A middle school teacher offers end-of-year reflections on working with a student teacher—an experience that proved mutually beneficial. May 23, 2011 | Updated: December 12, 2011 – Teacher

Teachers are far from done at 3 p.m., says a veteran educator, and often give up vacation and family time to be there for students. May 17, 2011 | Updated: December 12, 2011 – Teacher

Elena Aguilar says that, while it’s easy to get frustrated with school leaders, teachers should recognize the challenging work principals do and minimize "us versus them" thinking. May 10, 2011 | Updated: December 12, 2011 – Teacher

Teacher-author Larry Ferlazzo has some tips for keeping students and teachers engaged and energized during the last few weeks of school. May 4, 2011 – Teacher

Middle school teacher Marsha Ratzel offers advice—and plenty of examples—for teachers who want to incorporate student blogging into their lessons. April 27, 2011 – Teacher

Efforts to use interactive technology in classrooms are pointless if educators fail to incorporate what they know about good teaching, says Bill Ferriter. April 20, 2011 – Teacher

Too often excluded from collaborative opportunities, electives teachers can be more effective when they tie their instruction to what students are learning in core classes, writes Susan “Ernie” Rambo. April 13, 2011 – Teacher

Teacher-author Larry Ferlazzo offers an alternative to the "carrot and stick" approach to student motivation. April 6, 2011 – Teacher

Author-educator Roxanna Elden identifies some things teachers can feel good about (sort of) in the current climate. March 30, 2011 – Teacher

Heather Wolpert-Gawron says that, to inform their classroom practice, teachers should reintroduce themselves to who they were as students—and she offers some tips to help get the process started. March 23, 2011 – Teacher

Award-winning educator Cindi Rigsbee explains what her experiences taking a recreational dance class taught her about sustaining student engagement. March 16, 2011 – Teacher

Taking a cue from hospital reform efforts, teacher Shannon C’de Baca argues that those who work most closely with students need a greater voice in policymaking decisions. March 9, 2011 – Teacher

Formative assessment is more effective than grades in gauging individual student learning—but only on a small scale, says Marsha Ratzel. March 2, 2011 – Teacher

Larry Ferlazzo says that taking the "Princess Leia approach" to working with parents can help teachers reach more positive outcomes. February 23, 2011 – Teacher

Instructional coaching can be transformative—but only in an environment of trust and clearly articulated expectations, says a veteran school coach. February 16, 2011 – Teacher

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