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The phrase actions speak louder than words can be applied to multiple contexts. Usually, we use this phrase when talking about human behavior, but it’s oddly applicable in another realm as well: public speaking. What on earth do actions have to do with public speaking? A lot more than you might think! A speaker’s posture and gestures can communicate volumes...

Imagine a time where your received glowing feedback from a co-worker or supervisor. Whether written or verbal, public or private, positive feedback feels good to receive, doesn’t it? Now, imagine a time where you received harsh constructive criticism. While it likely didn’t feel as good to receive, constructive criticism is often more useful. It helps us identify weaknesses and learn...

Imagine you have an uninterrupted afternoon to do whatever you want. What would you do? Read a book. Garden. Catch up with friends. Take a nap. Even just the prospect of planning an afternoon of freedom can make many of us feel at ease. How often are children ever given the option to do whatever they want for a few...

Most school mornings tend to start the same way. Students filter into the classroom. They find their seats and take out their homework. The teacher might make some announcements, and then everyone jumps right into learning. A fine way to start the day, no? Well, what if we told you that some teachers spend as much as 30 minutes with...

We've written before that standardized tests aren’t often the best way to measure students' achievement. Some would go so far as to say that high-stakes tests have negative impacts authentic teaching and learning. But it's hard to make changes when we rely on standardized tests as measures of accountability and college readiness. Well, testing critics, rejoice! More and more schools…...

Many educators, parents, and administrators have come to see testing as a necessary evil. The complaints against standardized testing are vehement and come from all sides. Students hate tests because they’re boring and exhausting. Parents worry about the unneeded stress that tests put on their children. And teachers loathe the loss of instructional time and the pressure to make sure...

There’s no word that can induce a universal groan from all students quite like this one: Homework. You’d be hard-pressed to find a student who genuinely loves homework. Teachers generally assign homework in order to give students more practice time with a skill. This independent work has long been touted as a great way to reinforce content that was taught during...

Our economy, job market, and society have changed a good deal in the past hundred years. Our schools, on the other hand, have remained essentially static. Classroom organization, teacher-student relationships, school days and yearly schedules are all pretty much the same as they were a century ago. And yet, much of the research around how children learn best proves that...

What if you could vastly increase the size of your student body, slash costs, and increase student success rates all at the same time? Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? Well, according to a recent article from Bill Gates, that's exactly what the University of Central Florida has just done. University of Central Florida has managed to triple...

I was recently at an education conference and got to know a teacher with an interesting approach to continuous improvement. She explained to me that every year in the classroom, she commits herself to becoming an expert in some aspect of teaching. This past year she delved into the world of arts integration, and the year before that focused on...