David Ginsburg has served over 20 years as a math teacher, instructional leader, and PD provider. He leads a Philadelphia-based team of consultants that specializes in instructional coaching, leadership coaching, and common-core implementation. Follow David on Twitter, and connect with him through email and LinkedIn. This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: teaching strategies.
Reading & Literacy
Opinion
Taking More Time to Write Less
I've never seen a more challenging writing assignment for students than English teacher Brent Bice's journal prompt during my recent visit to his classroom at Esperanza Academy Charter High School in Philadelphia. Actually it wasn't the prompt but rather Mr. Bice's requirement that students respond to it in "20 words or less." That's right, 20 words or less.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Opinion
Student Success Prerequisite: Hope
A self-doubting student's turnaround illustrates the power and importance of teachers instilling hope in students.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Opinion
Success Comes From the HEART
Success often has as much or more to do with people's thoughts and actions as it does their abilities. I noticed this in academics, business, and sports before becoming a teacher, and tried to convince students of this after becoming a teacher. One way I did this was by telling them that success comes from the heart. I even came up with an acronym where each letter in heart represented a belief or work habit common among successful people: hope, effort, attitude, resourcefulness, and teamwork--which I posted in my classroom as an equation:
School Climate & Safety
Opinion
Education Reform Key: Stop Enabling Students' Self-Defeating Behavior
David Ginsburg says meaningful education reform requires every adult in every school to stop enabling students' self-defeating behavior.
Assessment
Opinion
Test Prep Twist: No Choices Over Multiple Choices
David Ginsburg says a key to preparing kids for standardized multiple choice tests is to NOT give them multiple choice questions in class.
School Climate & Safety
Opinion
The Effect of Teachers' Responses on Students' Responses
David Ginsburg shares a short activity designed to help teachers see how their responses to students affect students' responses to them.
Teaching
Opinion
Lessons from an Attention-Seeking Sneezing Student
A student's selective sneezing gives new meaning to attention-seeking behavior, and inspires new (and better) ways of dealing with it.
Assessment
Opinion
Teaching TO the Test vs. Teaching the Test
David Ginsburg contrasts teaching TO the test--which he approves of in some cases--with teaching the test, which he rejects.
School Climate & Safety
Opinion
Put the Kibosh on Classroom Competition
David Ginsburg thinks competition is great for kids--just not in the classroom.
Education
Opinion
Fantastic--and Free!--PD Opportunity
This weekend's Reform Symposium Virtual Conference features lots of practical presentations, including one by David Ginsburg on classroom management.
Mathematics
Opinion
Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally (PEMDAS)—Forever!
Teachers should steer students away from the popular "Dear Aunt Sally" (PEMDAS) order of operations acronym, says math coach David Ginsburg.
School Climate & Safety
Opinion
Smiling Seating Charts
David Ginsburg shares a simple idea that's great for classroom organization and culture: photographic seating chart posters.
Teaching
Opinion
Situation-Specific Student Seating
Having students re-orient their seats to suit each situation is an often-overlooked key to keeping them engaged, says David Ginsburg.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
Model of Professionalism
For David Ginsburg and others, Bill Buchanan was a once-in-a-career colleague. He was also a model of professionalism, says Ginsburg, whether you knew him or not.