Biology and Earth Science teacher and author, Wendi Pillars, provides a look at the power of sketching in teaching and learning. Sketching provides an opportunity for students to engage with content in a non-threating and low stakes world. Time for sketching can guide a synthesis of learning. Studies show that information is recalled exponentially more […]

An article by Adam Grant in the New York Times, “What Most American Schools Do Wrong,” connected with a podcast that I had recorded earlier with Andrew Hill, who along with David Jones, had published “The Teacher Who Knows Me: The Academic Benefits of Repeat Student -Teacher Matches.” Grant pointed out that Finland and Estonia […]

“What to do when the magic is missing?” is the question that Foley Burckardt, a learning coordinator at the University of Chicago, explores in this podcast. How can coaches assist teachers who find themselves burned out, frustrated, fatigued, or rudderless do a reset? Read Foley’s article, “Teaching and Learning: What to Do When the Magic […]

Northwest Passage High School’s mission statement states: Rekindling our hope, exploring our world, seeking our path, while building our community. Director and teacher, Peter Wieczorek, describes how the mission is lived by teachers and students. Visit the Northwest Passage High School website here. Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or […]

Analysis frequently precedes appraisal, evaluation, or problem solving. When analyzing we are separating into parts, groups or elements. Often a generalization or understanding will emerge from an analysis. We think in generalities, but we live in detail. — Alfred North Whitehead When word problems stump students, it is often because they believe they should be […]

In this week’s episode of the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast, Steve ponders “Teaching & Learning With Simulations & Live Event.” Listen as Steve talks with Joe Griffith, a teacher at Honey Creek Community School, about a homeless simulation project. Read about the homeless simulation project: http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2018/03/middle_school_homelessness_sim.html Get in touch with Joe Griffith: jgriffith@hc.wash.k12.mi.us […]