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 This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: teaching strategies.
Teaching
Opinion
Lighter Classroom Atmosphere, Tighter Classroom Management
How a train whistle can improve classroom management and classroom atmosphere.
Teaching
Opinion
Flipped Instruction or No Instruction?
A truly flipped classroom would involve more learning by doing and less lecturing--whether live or via video.
Teaching
Opinion
A Peaceful, Loving, and Productive Start of Class
Connect with kids and set a positive tone by greeting students as they enter class.
Education
Opinion
Coach G's Most Popular Posts of 2012
Coach G asks readers to revisit his 3 most popular posts of 2012 as they make new year's resolutions for 2013.
Mathematics
Opinion
A Small But Significant Decimal Point
A simple suggestion to help students who have difficulties with decimals.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
From Struggling Teacher to Star Teacher
David Ginsburg shares his process for helping struggling teachers become star teachers.
Professional Development
Opinion
Coachability: A Key to Performing up to Capability
Teachers can only perform to their capability if they exhibit coachability.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Opinion
Meeting Students Where They Are--Emotionally
Educators need to not just meet kids where they are academically, but emotionally too.
Professional Development
Opinion
Raise Scores With Teacher Prep, Not Test Prep
Last post I asserted that the more schools focus on coaching teachers rather than evaluating them, the more student learning improves. And now some great news to back up this assertion: Two urban schools, Esperanza Academy and Freire Charter, where I've coached math teachers are among the top 12 performing high schools in Pennsylvania (out of 682) based on 2012 student achievement growth in mathematics. (I've also coached English teachers at Esperanza, and their growth in reading ranks 46th out of 682.)
Professional Development
Opinion
Don't Evaluate Teachers, Coach Them
In my experience, the more schools focus on evaluating teachers, the more student learning suffers. By contrast, the more schools focus on coaching teachers, the more student learning improves.
Assessment
Opinion
Grades: Motivation or Coercion?
If you don't grade it, students won't do it. That's what many educators (and parents) think, and for good reason. Here's a clip from a coaching session where I recall my students' reactions when they found out I wouldn't be grading their work:
Teaching Profession
Opinion
The New Digital Divide
Tweeting. Texting. Messaging. Friending. Skyping.
School Climate & Safety
Opinion
New Year's Resolution: Classroom Procedures, Not Rules
For educators the new year begins September 1, which means the time for resolutions is now, not January. And here's a perfect resolution for those of you who spend a lot of time and energy establishing and enforcing classroom rules: stop doing this. Instead, provide students clear procedures that will enable them to meet your expectations.
School Climate & Safety
Opinion
The Effect of Affect
Flipped instruction. Project-based learning. Cooperative groups. Mobile technology.