Author Archives
High School principal of a California Gold Ribbon School that is pursuing excellence in Academics, Arts, Athletics, and Activities.
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Increase the Challenge
I walked into a class as part of my usual walkthroughs and asked a student, “What are you learning? The student says, “Learning? I am listening to the teacher talk. Period, after period, after period…talk, talk, talk. All day long…talk,… Read More ›
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How do you think your lesson went?
Fifteen years or so ago, after a classroom visit, I would ask the teacher some form of the following question, “How do you think your lesson went?” The hope was to create some sort of self-reflection and dialogue. Oh, how… Read More ›
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Teacher Clarity – Part 1
About ten years ago, I open my first classroom door of the day to a class taking an exam. I walk over to a student…here is the conversation that ensued. Me: What are you doing?Student: Taking a test.Me: What is… Read More ›
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The Numbers Don’t Add Up
The Story of High Standards and Low Expectations… Years ago, my son tells me he didn’t get into AP US History. I ask him, “why not?” He says, “the numbers just didn’t add up.” Me: Huh? What does that mean?… Read More ›
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Copying or Note Taking?
The Story of the Amoeba… So, I walk into a science class as part of my classroom walkthroughs about 12 years ago and I ask a student what he is learning. The conversation is as follows: Me: What are you… Read More ›
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When an “A” is Really a “B”
The Story of an “A” Being a “B”… So, last year my son missed earning the next higher grade in his math class by 0.7%. I asked for a parent meeting to discuss the grade. The first question I asked… Read More ›
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The Story of the Normal Distribution of Grades
So…I am on the phone with my son’s Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction discussing getting him transferred to a different science teacher. The Assistant Principal asked me why I wanted my son transferred. I mentioned that I thought that… Read More ›
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The Veil of High Achievement
So, I was having a conversation with another educator when the conversation turned to our respective schools. He told me that his school is performing extremely well on the state assessments and that year after year they keep outperforming the… Read More ›
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Mastery Learning
The Story of Building a House… What if grades were used for building a house? So you get the contractor in, and you say, “You have a total of three weeks to build a foundation, do what you can.” So… Read More ›
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Parental Expectations
The Story of Just Getting By… I get back to my office after some classroom walkthroughs and I hear a conversation between a staff member and a student regarding grades. The student was being placed on academic probation for the… Read More ›