Peter DeWitt is the founder and CEO of the Instructional Leadership Collective. A former public school teacher and principal, he now facilitates professional learning in the United States and abroad based on the content of many of his best-selling educational books. Former superintendent Michael Nelson is a frequent contributor to this opinion blog. He is the co-leader of ILC and a former superintendent who has been an educator for more than 40 years.
Education
Opinion
Why Leaders Should Attend Teacher Trainings
So often, teachers and leaders get trained separately. Wouldn't it be better to have everyone in the same room so they can have authentic dialogue that will help them get to the heart of the issue, and create action steps to move on?
Education
Opinion
Is 'Good Enough' Teaching Good Enough?
Recently, Peter Gray wrote about the 'good enough' parent who does not excel at everything but works hard to understand their child. Should we have the same opinion when it comes to teachers?
Education
Opinion
Do School Leaders Really Start With 'Why'?
Schools seem to try to change a lot for a variety of reasons. But, in the spirit of Simon Sinek, do we really know why we do what we do?
Education
Opinion
Why We Need to Talk About Evidence
If we aren't providing evidence of our impact, what are we doing?
Education
Opinion
Collaboration Can Be a Colossal Waste of Time
Collaboration is a popular word these days, but our ideas on what it means to collaborate vary widely. Before we truly collaborate we need to understand what it means, and truly understand why we are doing it in the first place.
Education
Opinion
It's the Hard That Makes It Good: Developing True Grit
A lot has been written, both good and bad, about 'Grit," but it's the hard learning that makes learning so good.
Education
Opinion
It's Important to Lead With Coherence
Many times initiatives fail because they lack coherence. Michael Fullan and Joanne Quinn show us how to do that.
Education
Opinion
9 Strategies Teachers and Leaders Should Add in 2016
A 2013 article in Forbes Magazine suggested that only 8 percent of people follow through on their New Year's resolutions because they are often too lofty. Here are 9 easy places to start.
Education
Opinion
16 Books Educators Should Consider Reading in 2016
New books focusing on education come out every day. Some gain a wide audience while others don't have the machine behind them to help promote. Here are 16 books that educators should consider reading in 2016.
Education
Opinion
Inspiring Students to Be Creative Through Compliant Methods?
I am often asked by teachers and leaders how I write a blog three times a week, which is followed by "I could never do that." Which is interesting, because we expect students to do it every day.
Education
Opinion
Pixar Helps Teachers Find Creativity 'in a Box'
What if students learned that math could help them tell a story? What if they could think of school without thinking of worksheets and rule following? What if teachers worked in collaboration with students? It's not only a reality, it's absolutely free and it's called Pixar in a Box.
Education
Opinion
12 Critical Issues Facing Education in 2016
2016 is quickly approaching and there are at least 12 issues that will divide schools. We all need to eliminate that division and work on how to address them.
Education
Opinion
Homework: High-Quality Learning, or Act of Compliance?
Homework has been a controversial issue for a long time. Some teachers use it to extend learning while others seem to use it to promote compliance. How do you use homework?
Education
Opinion
Have Leaders Asked These Questions Before Adopting a New Initiative?
Our conveyor belts are filled with curriculum and initiatives that weren't worth our time. There are at least 10 questions schools should ask before they buy what consultants are selling.