Dr. Cathy Vatterott shares insights from her twenty years’ experience researching homework truths and myths. She identifies ways that instructional coaches and administrators can guide teachers’ reflection on their decisions regarding homework. The impacts of virtual instructional are also discussed. Visit Cathy’s website here. Connect with Cathy on Twitter: @realhomeworkldy Subscribe to the Steve Barkley […]

Having a conversation with your child about a report card with lower than expected grades is never easy.  Currently, more parents than ever are in this position with the impact of the COVID quarantine and virtual learning. Planning for these conversations can lead to the development of important life skills and mindsets as well as […]

Early into the virtual learning move last spring I was hearing from teachers that they were having more short observations/visits to their instruction from principals than when everyone was at school. Most teachers shared that they appreciated the encouraging responses they received. I sensed that principals felt a need to cheerlead as teachers tackled new […]

Heather Lyon, an assistant superintendent and the author of, Engagement is Not a Unicorn (It’s a Narwhal), describes her Engagement Framework and its application for supporting teacher professional development and coaching. She identifies the connections between learning tasks and relationships in extending student engagement. Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes […]

Too often, instruction can be overly focused on teaching which can be seen as orderly, sequential and manageable, while learning is often spontaneous, irregular, non-linear and complex. The key element in achieving learning is generating critical learning behaviors. This podcast explores the connected learning behaviors in different instructional settings. Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders […]

As schools begin engaging in teaching and learning in 2021, some teachers will be totally online, some back in school with masks and distancing guidelines and other in a hybrid model with various designs of teaching face-to-face and virtual. Instructional coaches and school leaders will be supporting teachers in similar blended levels of connectedness. I […]