Teaching Blog

Work in Progress

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 This blog is no longer being updated.

Education Opinion Oceanside Students 'Walk the Walk' for Those Who Can't: An Exercise in Empathy and Kindness
See how one community shares empathy with local organizations. Angela Abend shares the work of her gifted and talented students and the difference they are making.
Starr Sackstein, June 10, 2019
5 min read
School & District Management Opinion Are Students Customers or Just a Crop?
My customers were other administrators who had needs for data and computer applications and teachers who wanted to use microcomputers for instruction.
Starr Sackstein, June 4, 2019
4 min read
Teaching Opinion 'That's Not MY Job!'
We have to work together to ensure the smooth functioning of a school, and sometimes that means we do things that are outside of our job descriptions.
Starr Sackstein, May 30, 2019
3 min read
Teaching Opinion Play the Broken Record When Questioning Students
Guest author Connie Hamilton suggests if you plan your Broken-Record questions, you are more likely to maintain your clarity on the learning purpose. This does not mean that you only ask one question over and over.
Starr Sackstein, May 28, 2019
3 min read
Teaching Profession Opinion Make a Plan, But Don't Expect It to Work
Everything will work out, in this situation and in all of the other ones. Our health and families must come first in our lives, not our jobs. Our work is important, but our relationships and well-being are more important.
Starr Sackstein, May 26, 2019
3 min read
Teaching Opinion The Futility and Degrading Nature of Evaluation: Evaluation and How to Improve It
If we want learners to develop a growth mindset, we have to stop shaming them with labels that can shut the whole learning process down.
Starr Sackstein, May 24, 2019
4 min read
Teaching Opinion How Can We Move Education Forward When So Many Educators Can't See Past the Way We've Always Done It?
Since so many learners have particular needs, we need to go where the kids are and meet them and their needs. We need to learn more about how to do that and then make the necessary adjustments. We work for them, not the other way around.
Starr Sackstein, May 21, 2019
3 min read
School & District Management Opinion Learn About Institutional Racism So We Don't Fail Our Students
We cannot and should not be colorblind. The world in which our black children live and will continue to live as adults is filled with experiences that their white counterparts will never experience.
Starr Sackstein, May 19, 2019
4 min read
Education Opinion Following Directions Is Hard, When You're a Natural Rule-Breaker
How can we make the rules more flexible to meet the needs of our most challenging learners? Or how can we try to reframe situations so our challenging learners don't feel like they need to compromise their beliefs?
Starr Sackstein, May 16, 2019
3 min read
Professional Development Opinion End of Year Meetings, an Opportunity to Reflect and Promote Growth
Overall, these conversations have been a way to make the end-of-year discussion less about evaluation and more about personal growth and development of professionalism.
Starr Sackstein, May 14, 2019
2 min read
Professional Development Opinion Preservice Teachers Are Our Future, So Let's Prepare Them for It All
How do you help preservice and early-career teachers acclimate into this important profession?
Starr Sackstein, May 12, 2019
4 min read
Student Well-Being Opinion #ThankaTeacher on Teacher Appreciation Week (and Every Day)
On this teacher appreciation week, who would you like to thank? Please share
Starr Sackstein, May 9, 2019
4 min read
Professional Development Opinion Developing a Growth Mindset in Our Students
As we continue to build the leaders of the future, we must ensure their own belief in their abilities. This is the only way we can ensure their successful futures and ours.
Starr Sackstein, May 6, 2019
3 min read
Professional Development Opinion Can Familiarity Breed Mediocrity?
As educators, we can't just talk a good game about a growth mindset, we must live it.
Starr Sackstein, May 2, 2019
3 min read