Starr Sackstein is a secondary educator and school leader in New York. She is the author of several books on education, on topics such as going gradeless, peer feedback, and blogging. This blog is no longer being updated.
Teaching
Opinion
What Happens When Students Go 'Out On a Limb' for Charity
Guest blogger Angela Abend shares how her 6th grade students chose the charity "Out on a Limb" to improve the lives of children with limb loss both domestically and internationally, by strengthening the amputee community, and providing pediatric prosthetic care for all.
Teaching
Opinion
If You Could Change One Thing in Education, What Would It Be?
Educators from all over the world took the time to answer my call on social media to share the one thing they would change in education and why they would change it. Read on to see if your one thing is mentioned.
Student Achievement
Opinion
What Testing & the Opt-Out Movement Mean for School Excellence
No amount of testing is going to show the full scope of what students know and can do or how well teachers are able to educate them. We all need to work together to shift this paradigm because it isn't working.
Professional Development
Opinion
Collaborating to Build a Learning Organization
As I grow as a school leader, every day is an opportunity for learning and growth. Working with my colleagues and my team, I know we can build a learning organization we all want to be a part of that both nurtures student innovation and learning. And as my professional learning continues, I will embrace the forward movement as I did as a teacher, fearlessly. At the end of the day, it is all about kids and they deserve the best.
Teaching
Opinion
Fostering a Reading Community With FlipGrid
One thing is clear when reading is presenting in a way that students enjoy, the love of the written word is nurtured. The more we give students the opportunity to choose what they are reading and then allow them to be creative in how they share what they've read, the more they will persist in their reading.
Professional Development
Opinion
Ask the Right Questions, Listen to the Answers
There are too many things to do each day and it could be easy to miss these important listening opportunities, but I care too much about doing this job well to allow them to slip away. My door is always open, but until I'm here longer, I need to meet everyone where it is most convenient for them
Teaching Profession
Opinion
Teachers Should Not Have Guns
As each news cycle completes and another travesty takes place, we have to ask ourselves what is it going to take to make the necessary changes to ensure all school children are safe? We can hardly focus on student learning if our students are too afraid to come to school. These mass shootings leave a scar on communities that don't ever heal completely and no amount of safety drills can truly prepare a school for such an event.
Student Achievement
Opinion
The Dilemmas of Change in the Assessment Culture, Part 2
Guest blogger Azima Thakor shares her experiences about changing assessment in her classroom and within her school community. How are you currently assessing students and how's that working for you? This is the second part of a two-part post.
Professional Development
Opinion
Audiobooks Are the Answer to My Reading Backlog
As professionals, it is important for us to stay up to date with important new ideas and research, but there isn't always enough time in the day to add to the already long list of things to do. So why not use a tool that can help with that?
Professional Development
Opinion
It's Time for a Confrontation Reframe
So now I have to reframe the hard conversation... it's not so much about how the teacher is going to hear what I'm saying, or if he/she likes me after we have it. It's all about the students and creating the optimal learning environment for all students.
Teaching
Opinion
The Dilemmas of Change in Assessment Culture
Guest blogger Azima Thakor shares her experiences about changing assessment in her classroom and within her school community. How are you currently assessing students and how's that working for you?
Teaching
Opinion
Great Leadership Is Like Great Teaching
As a classroom teacher I was fearless and now as a leader I have to be too. Adults, however are far scarier sometimes than the high school seniors I used to teach. I'll just keep smiling and practicing what I preach and I know that change will happen.
Teaching
Opinion
'Can't' Is Not An Acceptable Answer
As we continue to explore our current practices and determine what's best for our kids, we need to keep an open mind and thoroughly examine the impact of our choices. The world has changed too much to keep doing things the same way.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Opinion
What's So Scary About Stillness?
As I continue to grow and develop as an educator, a parent, and a person, I can only hope that when the quiet comes, I will be able to truly appreciate and enjoy myself and those I surround myself with personally.