Inspiration

Redefining the End Goal

Seven ways educators can help students look beyond grades “There’s no way I’m taking honors biology next year,” Katie told me. “It’s going to wreck my GPA.” She was in eighth grade and contemplating the high school course options. I knew Katie collected insects for fun and had memorized every bone in the human body.

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The Problem with, “Show Me the Research” Thinking

Understanding the limitations of education research and accepting responsibility for contributing to moving it forward Most studies in education are observational studies. This means that investigators pore over data previously collected by others. They seek correlations between different variables. This approach is far less expensive than other methodologies because it is easier and faster. With

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Magic in the Classroom

The power of reflections and experiences for a professor returning to the classroom At last year’s AMLE Annual Conference for Middle Level Education, I was surrounded by passionate, knowledgeable preservice and inservice teachers, veteran and new administrators, and early career and retired professors. We were enlightened with lively discussions that captured our hearts and minds

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The Grief of Accepting New Ideas

Changes in school or classroom practices unleash a variety of emotions. How can we support each other in the process? The faculty lounge crackles with disagreements about the new grading policies suggested by the standards-based grading committee. The English department debates whether or not grammar proficiency is a requisite for writing proficiency, and whether or

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The Choice to Teach Abroad

Teaching overseas offers opportunity, adventure, and professional and personal growth In the summer prior to entering middle school, I dove deep into the Choose Your Own Adventure book series. On page 11, as commander of a spaceship, I chose to put up the energy propulsion shields to try to escape a black hole; miraculously, though the propulsion

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