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
5 Reasons You Won't Always Like This Blog
If you're always looking for blogs that only tell you what you want to hear about school, this is not the one, and there are at least 5 reasons why.
Education
Opinion
10 Reasons Students Should Go on Strike
Adults are known to strike from time to time because of harsh working conditions or low pay, but there are at least 10 reasons why students should strike.
Education
Opinion
A Method for Fostering Better Observations
Many times teachers believe the observation process is a waste of time, and leaders don't always do anything to change that perception. Perhaps if they went through the observation process using a 3rd party video during a faculty meeting, the observation process may look a whole lot clearer.
Education
Opinion
How Do We Get Students to Stand Up for Each Other?
According to DoSomething.org "Over 3.2 million students get bullied each year" and "Approximately 160,000 teens skip school every day because of bullying." The National School Climate Center and the Tony Blair Faith Foundation are trying to inspire students to stand up for one another using a format that is typically used for bullying.
Education
Opinion
11 Blog Posts That Resonated With Educators
Blogs offer an incredible opportunity to connect with people within our school community or around the world. Here are 11 blog posts that focused on some critical topics, and helped connect people in a much deeper way.
Professional Development
Opinion
4 Reasons Instructional Coaching Won't Work
If we are entering into the coaching relationship we need to do it in a way that won't be a waste time. Here are 4 ways coaching won't work.
School & District Management
Opinion
A Few Ideas for Flipped Faculty Meetings
Here are ways that the flipped faculty meeting can help build teacher efficacy and minimize the within-school variability.
Education
Opinion
That's Not Mainstreaming!
If you don't forcibly build joint ownership into mainstreaming, you will not get mainstreaming other than in name, and there's little special about a teacher rushing around a class putting her finger in innumerable leaks.
Education
Opinion
Leaders: Do Your Teachers Say This About Your Observations?
In a recent survey, 230 teachers answered questions regarding their observations. What they said should inspire leaders to try harder to follow through on the promises they made to themselves this summer to make their observations better.
Education
Opinion
4 Ways to Hack Opening Day!
"Opening days" are all around us if we think about it. What's your "opening day"? How can you hack it to inspire those in your district, school or classroom?
Education
Opinion
Is Motivation a Major Factor in Test Scores?
Do tests reflect what students know...or their motivation and test taking skills?
Education
Opinion
You Know What Really 'Sucks' About School?
A mother remarked that it "sucks" that her daughter has to start school a day earlier than last year instead of getting one more day of summer. What actually "sucks" is how we talk about school.
Education
Opinion
Do You Listen, Learn, and Lead? Or Just Lead?
It's expected that principals have a voice in their school community, but do they use it to lift others up or put them down?
Education
Opinion
3 Reasons Why Teachers Should Film Themselves Teaching
Teachers should video themselves teaching for many reasons, but here are 3 of the most powerful. Sadly, because of hostile school climates, many teachers will never be able to use the process for everything it's worth.