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 This blog is no longer being updated.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
Earning Good Grades Versus Learning
Giving up grades may sound impossible, but it isn't. Read Amanda Gaughan's research on the topic and see if you can start to adjust your assessment practices.
Teaching
Opinion
Making the Most of Group Work Time
One of the best parts of orchestrating great group work in class is the amount of flexibility it gives a teacher to really work with students where they are. It also allows students to work at an appropriate pace, learn how to collaborate, and collectively problem solve
Teaching
Opinion
Finding Your Tribe as a Leader
The upside far outweighs the downside on this matter, but I'm certainly open to hearing more. It all comes down to the individual. As long as we remain cognizant of our behavior and boundaries at work, there is no reason why grown adults can't be friends, just because they met at work.
Teaching
Opinion
Shifting the Conversation: Change, Growth, and Assessment
Read how Michael Marchione is making sure students know they are more than just a number.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Opinion
Educator Voices Must Be Heard, That's Why We Blog
Each of us has a responsibility to share our stories the way we want to share them. If we choose not to be the owner of our personal brand, then other people will tell our stories for us and then we lose control over the reality of our spaces.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Opinion
Bridging the Gap in a Rural School District Through Personalized Learning
Sam Brooks, the personalized-learning supervisor in Putnam County, Tenn., shares his journey along with strategies for other educators. Putnam is a rural district that's using digital innovation to personalize learning and keep kids connected.
Teaching
Opinion
Should Teachers and Administrators Be Friends?
Relationships in education are key to success for everyone involved, but is it OK for teachers and administrators to be friends?
Professional Development
Opinion
Who Are You Grateful for in Your Professional Learning Network?
Gratitude is a feeling we should share more than we do. If we focus more on those who help to make us the best versions of ourselves, we can let down our walls and invite the vulnerability of growth and change the world.
Teaching
Opinion
How to Survive the First Report Card
Do you hate putting grades on report cards? Check out these tips to de-emphasize grading and focus on learning.
Teaching
Opinion
Reflecting on National Board Certification Through the Eyes of a Leader
Now as a leader, looking back at the work I did to achieve this certification, I'm reminded of the dedication it took and how important it is for me to provide our team with the highest quality feedback and at the same time, encourage them to take on new professional challenges that will inspire them to keep moving forward.
Teaching
Opinion
Being the Only Person Who Doesn't Speak the Native Language, a Reflection
The experience has profoundly impacted my views for any marginalized group at school. One of our basic human needs is to feel like we fit somewhere and if we don't feel safe in this way, the learning can never happen.
Professional Development
Opinion
Learning Doesn't Happen From a Textbook, It Develops With Relationships
The content we teach is a living thing. With each year we mature in the classroom or leadership, we must grow and adjust with the times we are working in, taking what we have learned from the past and modeling how to apply current learning with what came before.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
When School and Life Compete for Your Time, Put Your Family First
Education professionals throw their whole selves into what they do--at least I did. Always learning and feeling good at work often took me away from my family.
Professional Development
Opinion
Seeing the Impact of Leadership
The heavy lifting is in their hands, just like with student learning. We can't do the learning for them, but we can provide all of the necessary ingredients for success to be possible.