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How can outdoor experiences (even simple ones!) help make work more engrossing and meaningful?

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Change does not always come quickly and sometimes a major overhaul of a system isn't realistic. But small, doable changes can yield big results.

This article, which meets at the intersection of parental communication and equity, is a great read for teachers and administrators. How do you choose who to communicate with and what kind of issue warrants communication?

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As we visit schools, we get a glimpse into every school's unique culture. What does the building feel like as we walk through the halls and drop in on classes? How do the adults and the students speak to each other? What ison the walls? What is the energy in the building like? This article from Mindshift explores the culture of Wiener Elementary School in Arkansas - and makes us want to visit.

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How many of us have ever shown up to a meeting and needed to borrow a pen? Or a notepad? And was it a big deal? In this article, a teacher describes how giving a student a pencil often as necessary is a part of treating the student like a human being, a human person who probably has a lot of different things going on, and who maybe, just needs a pencil.

In this article from the Washington Post, Education writer Valerie Strauss talks to Linda Darling Hammond about what education policies really help students. Surprise, surprise, standardized tests requirements aren't one of them.

As school communities, are we sending consistent messages about what we believe and the policies we have in place? When reimagined relationships are central to a school community's functioning, all aspects of school life - including discipline - must be aligned with that value.

Jennifer Gonzalez's Cult of Pedagogy work provides many good resources for teachers and other school-based folk. This piece outlines how she goes about building relationships with her students; she also provides downloadable tools to help systematize the process.

As we talk to teachers and school leaders, one of the questions that interests us most is "How do you tell the difference between a compliant learner and an engaged learner?". In this blog post, Allison Zmuda includes an insightful chart that distinguishes between compliance behaviors and engagement behaviors (whether the learner is a teacher or a student).

Kris talked about digital organization in her blog post this week, and the Konmari Method is all the rage between Marie Kondo's book and her Netflix show. Here's a fun take on how you can apply those principles to your classroom.

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It can be difficult for students to step out of their comfort zones in the classroom, and it can be difficult for teachers, too. In this article, the author encourages teachers to take a risk and try something new. "Taking a risk can pay off in exhilaration, affirmation, and inspiration. Step outside your comfort zone to improve your practice and grow as a teacher."

A very helpful rubric and reflection tool to assess the quality of youth-adult partnerships in a school.

The school season is about to get underway, and Kris and I have both been thinking about middle school (more about that in Kris's blog post on Wednesday). Here's an article with advice for parents on how to help their kids learn important skills during those years.

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