Blog for Teachers - Gtec Kids

Measures of Success: A Debate of Social Intelligence vs Cognitive Skills

“Charlie’s a what? A multi-millionaire?” I blurted out during our 25th high school reunion. A fun, sweet kid… who would have “thunk”? Nice and charming to be with, but surely not someone with outstanding brainpower.On my drive home, I realized that the brilliant kids didn’t necessarily outshine the ordinary ones after being in the trenches for 20 years. The successful “Stevens” and the “Charlies” of my youth had something else: “soft skills” which are measures of success rather than...

5 Ways to Cultivate Creative Thinking

An article in the Pacific Standard (Nov 4th, 2013) discussed how standardized testing is killing our youth’s creative potential in the United States. So, let’s counteract national demands and discuss how to harness and cultivate creativity in our children.Creativity is often thought of as original thought. However, it is more likely a composite of ideas, feelings, and thoughts that we encounter during everyday life. If we examine the great thinkers and producers over time, common characteristics become apparent: 1. Value BrainstormingOftentimes in a...

Inspiring Creativity: Think Outside the Bowl

With the resurgence of testing nationwide, many teachers report that they have to “cover the curriculum” rather than “uncover the curriculum.” With the Common Core Curriculum, parents express feeling exhausted from helping their children with increased homework to meet test expectations. Teachers are pushing to cover as much of the content necessary for their students to pass the state-level exams, sometimes given only 70% into the school year.So, it is not surprising that teachers see a change in their...

The Different Hats We Wear: Coaching, Consulting, Collaborating, and Evaluating

When I first began to incorporate coaching into the classroom, I tried to use as many of the coaching strategies as possible. But because true coaching is about meeting the needs of our students, I realized that I would have to wear different hats at different times to help my students progress. Coaching wasn’t the only role. I had to admit that I was also a consultant, a collaborator, and an evaluator; and with each role, my behavior changed.Coaching...

The A-ha Moment: Principals Using Coaching Techniques for Teacher Evaluation

With more and more schools turning to Charlotte Danielson’s framework, districts are requesting that principals train their staff in understanding her rubrics. The difference between the “proficient” and the “distinguished” columns is the presence of teacher-centered versus student-centered instruction. While this concept is clearly not new, her analysis and blueprint are greatly needed.In years past, teachers anxiously awaited the semi-yearly to yearly observations by their assistant principals or principals. Teachers often expressed that it was similar to driving in a...

House of Representatives Water Down Senate Bill for Serving Gifted Children

ESEA Bill Recognition of Need for Teacher Training to Support High-Ability Students; Lack of Focus on Accountability Remains a ConcernAccording to the NAGC:The House of Representatives passed its overhaul of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) in the past decade. The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) encouraged that the legislation recognize our nation’s teachers be well-trained to meet the needs of high-ability students. The House of Representatives approved H.R. 5, The Student Success Act.NAGC applauded lawmakers for including...

5 Tips to Enhance Your Communication

Whether you are a teacher or an administrator, creating trust is key to enhancing your ability to communicate effectively. Communication is a tool that we use daily and when we use the right words in the right way, they can work wonders even when things become a bit testy.Most of us think that we communicate well, but research has shown that we are surprisingly becoming more and more unskilled with the advent of email, texting, and a plethora of...

Certified Coaches Can Help At-Risk or New Teachers

New York State’s teacher evaluation system has finally arrived and we all recognize that this is a time of transition and a time of opportunity. New York, like other states, is beginning to roll out assessments of teachers. Therefore, it is imperative for schools to consider on-going professional development where certified coaches can work individually and in small groups with new and at-risk teachers. Coaches can help your teachers deliver high-quality educational strategies that will increase their ranking.For over...

Pinterest for Educators

The most popular bulletin board for pictures and photographs in social media today is Pinterest. It follows a scrapbook-styled interface designed for communicative sharing, the focal points of each company differ. Pinterest was primarily used for sharing favored material goods and inspired ideas; but now, it is also intended for dispersing educational tools and learning resources. Pinterest for educators helps to easily design online content and craft a set of lessons using this powerful image-based platform. They take a topic...

Top 10 Recommendations for Social Media Practices - Gtec Kids

Be a Teacher, Not a Friend: Top Ten Recommendations for Social Media Practices

After receiving several requests, I prepared a professional set of guidelines to protect teachers who want to use social media to communicate with their students. Schools want to ensure that social media practices will not be abused by any teacher and that innocent students will not be harmed by the content posted. When mindfully and prudently used, social media is a great tool.Teachers today may feel they are being subjected to the Orwellian world of “Big Brother,” where every...

Blog

Measures of Success: A Debate of Social Intelligence vs Cognitive Skills

5 Ways to Cultivate Creative Thinking

Inspiring Creativity: Think Outside the Bowl

The Different Hats We Wear: Coaching, Consulting, Collaborating, and Evaluating

The A-ha Moment: Principals Using Coaching Techniques for Teacher Evaluation

House of Representatives Water Down Senate Bill for Serving Gifted Children

5 Tips to Enhance Your Communication

Certified Coaches Can Help At-Risk or New Teachers

Pinterest for Educators

Be a Teacher, Not a Friend: Top Ten Recommendations for Social Media Practices

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