I’ll get back into the regular schedule of “questions of the week” this coming Friday, but I thought readers might find it useful to see the ten most popular posts from this blog in 2012.
In case you missed it, you might also be interested in The 10 Most Popular ‘Classroom Q & A Posts’ of 2011.
But, before I list them, I wanted to invite you to contribute a question to be answered in a future post. You can send one to me at lferlazzo@epe.org.When you send it in, let me know if I can use your real name if it’s selected or if you’d prefer remaining anonymous and have a pseudonym in mind.
You can also contact me on Twitter at @Larryferlazzo.
Anyone whose question is selected for this weekly column can choose one free book from a selection of seven published by published by Jossey-Bass.
And, now, for the “top ten.” I’ll count them down to the number one post at the end:
10. Several Ways to Connect With Disengaged Students
Assistant Principal Jim Peterson and author Jim Anderson share their suggestions. Jim’s downloadable instructions for conducting “walk-and-talks” with students seemed to particularly strike a chord with readers.
9. More Ways To Differentiate Instruction -- Part Two
This post features contributions from Megan Allen, Florida’s 2010 State Teacher of the Year and Dr. Kimberly Kappler Hewitt & Daniel K. Weckstein, co-authors of Differentiation is an Expectation: A School Leader’s Guide to Building a Culture of Differentiation.
8. The Best Ways To Use Interactive White Boards
Ben Stein, Patti Grayson, and Bill Ferriter contributed quite a diverse group of responses to this question.
7. Several Ways We Can Teach Social Studies More Effectively -- Part One
Three educators share their thoughts on this topic: Stephen Lazar, a National-Board Certified social studies teacher in Brooklyn, N.Y; Bill Bigelow, the curriculum editor of Rethinking Schools magazine, and co-director of the Zinn Education Project; and California teacher Sarah Kirby-Gonzalez.
6. Several Ways We Can Help Students Develop Good Habits
New York Times reporter Charles Duhigg, author of the best-selling book, The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business, shared his responses to my questions on how to apply his research to our work in schools.
5. Classroom Strategies to Foster a Growth Mindset
Professor Carol Dweck and Dr. Lisa Blackwell co-authored this post offering specific suggestions for the classroom.
4. Several Ways to Get the New Year Off to a Good Start -- Part One
Two of the best thinkers and writers on education issues today, Rick Wormeli and Roxanna Elden, responded to this question.
3. Several Ways To Differentiate Instruction
I was lucky enough to get both Carol Tomlinson and Rick Wormeli to contribute their ideas here!
2. Ways to Help Our Students Become Better Readers - Part Two
Nancie Atwell and Cris Tovani sent-in their responses for this post.
1. Ways to Include Students in the Formative Assessment Process
Author and educator Amy Benjamin, California teacher Cheryl Suliteanu, and I offered our suggestions.
If you want to see even more previous posts from this blog, you can find them all categorized here.
I’ve been enjoying writing this column, and I hope readers have been finding it helpful. Keep those questions -- and answers -- coming!