Populism is on the rise as evidenced by the United Kingdom “Brexit,” the election of Donald Trump and the rise of political movements and candidates in other European countries such as Italy, France, and Poland to name a few. In this country, the cause for this is often connected to the white working class—a segmentContinue reading “Progressive Education (or lack of) and the Rise of Populism”
Category Archives: Educator
What I Did On My Summer “Vacation”
I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with the seasonal nature of teaching. It’s August and a new school year is upon us. The approaching school year brings anxiety dreams. You know, the kind that involve missing exams for classes you didn’t know you were taking, not knowing where your locker is, and underwear. Why always underwear?Continue reading “What I Did On My Summer “Vacation””
From One Teacher to Politicians
I’m currently at the National Science Teacher’s Association Conference in Nashville. Yeah, I actually went to conference sessions all day! I just saw a wonderfully inspiring presentation from a school that is doing an amazing curriculum fostering holistic thinking, problem solving, and deep connections between science, social studies, and literature. They build curriculum around months-longContinue reading “From One Teacher to Politicians”
The Perfect Double Leg Takedown and Authentic Learning
When I coached wrestling, I started the season by teaching (or, in most cases, re-teaching) that most basic of wrestling moves, the double-leg takedown. For those unfamiliar with the sport, this is the first takedown most kids learn—basically a tackle. I started by teaching the “perfect” version of the move, breaking it down to small,Continue reading “The Perfect Double Leg Takedown and Authentic Learning”
Are You an Advocate or Adversary for Your Students?
Recently I observed a student turn in a writing assignment to my colleague. The assignment was late. My colleague accepted the assignment with a very gracious (and sincere) smile and a couple of questions. She asked the student, “Did you get it done the way you wanted? Are you satisfied with it?” “Oh yes!” sheContinue reading “Are You an Advocate or Adversary for Your Students?”
The Epistemological Ecosystem and the Great Lie in Education
The Epistemological Ecosystem and the Great Lie in Education There is a great lie that has become accepted as “truth” in modern education. Educators and public school systems require a set of standards in order to know what they are to teach and when to teach it. Within the span of my career, the politicsContinue reading “The Epistemological Ecosystem and the Great Lie in Education”
Connecting the Dots Between Constructivism and Essentialism in Teaching
This is a first attempt at an RSAnimate style video.
The Education Crisis of Perception
Some years ago Fritjof Capra wrote about the environmental crisis we face in the book The Web of Life and the movie Mindwalk, saying that we faced a “crisis of perception.” In the movie, upon hearing this, a character protested, “that’s great, you tell me the world is ending and it’s a crisis of perception.Continue reading “The Education Crisis of Perception”
Are We Sacrificing The Liberal Arts at the Altar of The All Mighty STEM?
I’ve never been a fan of the acronym STEM. It is used a lot but I’m not sure it actually amounts to anything new. Science is a content-based and skill-based discipline. Technology is simply the tools humans use, nothing more, nothing less. Engineering is a problem-solving process used to make new products and math isContinue reading “Are We Sacrificing The Liberal Arts at the Altar of The All Mighty STEM?”
Let Them See the Wizard
A few years ago, I started letting my students see behind the curtain, if you will. In addition to teaching them the content of the science I was teaching, I started to share my thinking about why I was teaching them what I was teaching them in the way that I was teaching it. ItContinue reading “Let Them See the Wizard”
