Articles from the Core Connections blog
Friday Forum is a bi-weekly advice column for educators seeking guidance on educations issues. Please join the discussion – we want to hear your stories and suggestions, too! Q: I wonder if anyone has fresh or creative ideas for me. I have been using the Success at the Core videos for professional development with my staff. However, I am always looking for new ideas to help deliver my message. What are the best ways to use videos in your professional development work? – Obadiah A: Obadiah, there are a few main ways I’ve used videos in professional development work. I have three … Read more
Balance: An even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady. How do we balance our lives “inside the classroom” with life “outside the classroom?” I’ve been thinking about this a great deal lately with friends getting ready for retirement, others caring for their aging parents, and some with small children still at home. The ability to balance a career in education with the rest of life is a constant challenge. Part of the answer for me has been to blur the lines between the classroom and my “real world.” I have taught for many years, and I … Read more
Working in a rural, dual-language school with 70% Latino, 50% ELL students, and 90% poverty, I sometimes feel like my school is a ship adrift alone in an ocean, understood by few and misunderstood by many. Since I began teaching English Language Learners (ELL) in 1997, I’ve continuously pursued the answer to this question: “How can I make sure my students continue to work toward grade-level standards while simultaneously acquiring a new language?” My pursuit of effective instruction for ELL (and really all students) has led me to complete Sheltered Instruction (SIOP) training twice, become a key trainer in Guided … Read more
Teaching is highly complex, sophisticated, and rewarding work …We are very proud of the effort and energy our teachers devote to serving our students well. These words, from the University of Washington’s Center for Educational Leadership, greet students, teachers, parents, and guests upon entry to our school. I never want anyone to take for granted the complexity of our profession and the expectations demanded by it. At Ferrucci Junior High (and across the Puyallup School District), strengthened instruction aimed at bettering student achievement is at the heart of our improvement and renewal efforts. Yet, with the many pressing demands on … Read more
Friday Forum is a bi-weekly advice column for educators seeking guidance on educations issues. Please join the discussion – we want to hear your stories and suggestions, too! Q: Can you provide a few examples of resources to help me meet the needs of my diverse learners and ELL students? – Ailene A: When I think about English Language Learners’ (ELL) needs versus the learning needs of non-ELL students, many ideas come to mind. I’ll focus on two key needs. First, ELL students need visual and kinesthetic supports to help them make meaning of the new content that they are … Read more
