Movement is NOT a Reward
Kids need movement. We all need movement. Recess is a need. PE is a need. Energy breaks are necessary. If I am in a longer session and I need to move, I get up and take a break. I bounce… Continue Reading
Moral Stewardship
Share Who You Are, Let People In
Sharing who we are and letting people in are so important to building trusting relationships with students, staff, family, and the community. Yesterday, I was in my office gathering some things together after the bell had gone, when a kindergarten… Continue Reading
Kindness and Care: More Than A Single Day Effort
As “anti-bullying day” approaches again this year, I get questions as to what we will be doing as a school for this one day event. My response has been, “As a school, we will continue to do what we do… Continue Reading
The Problem With Black & White Statements in Education
I continue to hear how certain educational practices are harmful to kids. Things like homework, desks in rows, multiple choice questions, worksheets, and tests are stated as being “toxic” and “educational malpractice”. I think as educators we need to be… Continue Reading
Creating the Conditions: Instructional Leadership #Leadership20
This is the 3rd part in the “Creating the Conditions” series; Part 1 was on Student Discipline, Part 2 was on Love of Reading. I recently had the honour to present in the Leadership 2.0 MOOC series (in which I… Continue Reading
Creating the Conditions: Student Discipline
“The proper question is not, ‘How can people motivate others?’ but rather, ‘How can people create the conditions within which others will motivate themselves?’ ” — Edward Deci In the past number of years we have gone through a very… Continue Reading
Small Efforts Can Make a Big Difference
Now that summer has arrived, I am able to spend more time with my daughters. My wife has been telling me how every Tuesday, when the garbage and recycling is being picked up, the girls run over to the window… Continue Reading
Starting the Conversation on Rethinking Awards Ceremonies
Since I wrote about our school’s decision to end our awards ceremony and change the the way we honour students, I have been asked a few times how people could start the conversation in their schools. I realize that most… Continue Reading
What Matters in Our Learning: Student Voice on Assessment & Inquiry
Through my participation in a few EdCamps, I have had the complete pleasure of meeting and chatting with North Surrey Secondary senior humanities teacher Jonathan Vervaet(@jonathanvervaet). I knew about his contagious passion for inquiry and assessment for learning; what I… Continue Reading
Engaging Without Carrots & Sticks
Dr. Jeffrey Wilhelm and I were recently asked by educator and author Larry Ferlazzo to respond to the question: HOW CAN WE KEEP STUDENTS ENGAGED WITHOUT CARROTS & STICKS? My response originally appeared at Education Week here but I wanted to cross-post on… Continue Reading