Texas Region One Support Teams Fired Up for Innovation
December 15, 2014Quick report: Texas public schools are organized around large regions. Today I spent a day with the professional development support staff of ESC Region One, a huge area along the Texas-Mexico border representing about 40 districts and 450,000 students. There is a strong sense that education can really make a difference in the lives of…
D39C Plowing New Ground in Differentiated Learning
December 15, 2014Quick report: Design 39 Campus in Poway has done some incredible work already in this, their first year. Teachers have created processes that allow students to select areas of interest within which to pursue theme-based content; every day might be a bit different in terms of where students go and what they do…and both children…
Students’ View of Great Learning
December 8, 2014How can high school students contribute to our understanding of great learning and teaching? Take a look. Students at The Pomfret School take the period between Thanksgiving and Winter Break for a three-week inter-session focusing on areas of passion. One group is interested in teaching, and they learn by doing, with elementary school students. This…
Follow Poway Unified District Innovation Design Challenge
December 5, 2014We kicked off a district-wide Innovation Design Challenge in Poway Unified School District yesterday. Here is a first report; I will continue to report on progress until we set up a #PUSDIDC web page for tracking and resources. Poway Unified is a 35,000 student district just north of San Diego. Superintendent John Collins has set…
Review of #EdJourney via The Klingenstein Center
December 4, 2014Stephen Valentine, a member of the editorial board of Columbia University’s highly respected Klingenstein Center “Klingbrief” publication published the following short review and recommendation of #EdJourney yesterday, entitled “Our Very Own Kerouac”: Many educators know about Grant Lichtman’s recent road trip. He visited 64 public and private schools in 89 days, talking deeply with hundreds of…
Another Highlight Reel for Exemplar Science Leadership Academy
December 2, 2014PBS News Hour highlighted Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia last night (watch and share the video). If you have managed to go this long not knowing about SLA, now is the time to get up to speed and share with your school colleagues. In #EdJourney I cited SLA for leadership in several areas; I could…
A Rapid Framework for School Innovation
December 1, 2014What are some key steps to ensuring that innovation takes root at your school, that it is not just a spark in the dark or checking-off-the-box on a laundry list strategic plan? In their article in Harvard Business Review (HT Bo Adams), Scott Anthony, David Duncan, and Pontus Siren of Innosight suggest a 90-day framework…
On the Nature of Connection and Disconnection
November 29, 2014What is the nature of human bonds in a time of radically increased connectivity? How and when do we connect and let go, and what are the values we associate with both? How does the availability of near-universal high frequency human interaction drive human evolution as both individuals and “colonies”? No doubt weighty research psychologists and…
My Edu-Thanksgiving List
November 25, 2014On Thursday, with family and friends, many of us will turn our reflections on giving of thanks. I woke up this morning thinking of all I have to be thankful for in the area of profession, passion, and interest. My Edu-Thanksgiving list: All of the adult “educator-leaders” (this year I have tried to stop re-enforcing…
Teacher as Farmer
November 20, 2014I have been asked to clarify my use of “teacher as farmer”. It is simple and captures the best image I can conjure of what is common amongst great teachers in the post-industrial age model of education. I think it is a more accurate image than teacher as sage, preacher, supplier, guide, coach, or mentor. It…
Rapid Progress at Vista Innovation Design Academy (VIDA)
November 19, 2014Is it possible for a school to make a rapid and dramatic shift away from the assembly line model of education? Is it possible in a public school setting with all of the normal demands, political pressures, and budget constraints? Is it possible in an underserved community and a traditionally underperforming school? I have been keeping…
Warm, Wonderful Praise for The Falconer From a Teacher
November 19, 2014Just finished #thefalconer. Pretty sure my life (& career) will never be the same. So in love with every word. Thanks, Grant! Pretty nice to come home to that Tweet from Erica DeVoe, a 9-12 teacher from Westerley, R.I. Some wonderful colleagues have told me that my first book, The Falconer: What We Wish We Had…
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