As regular readers know, I’ve been doing the Classroom Q&A column over at Education Week for thirteen years.
And I plan to continue doing it for quite a few more years.
I have so many contributors now, though, that there really isn’t space there for my annual thematic compilation posts, where I collect links to all the posts on particular topics.
So, I’m starting to do it here, instead.
Today’s theme is on Professional Development:
Teaching Advice in 6 Words, More or Less
The most insightful advice sometimes comes in small doses, explain educators.
Students Will Miss Deadlines. How Teachers Should Respond
Adults miss deadlines all the time. Should there be a double standard for kids?
Teachers Offer Self-Care Tips in Just a Few Words
Teachers offer self-care advice for those tough school days when feeling positive can be a challenge.
Quick, Regular Check-Ins Promote Student Learning
Once teachers establish one-on-one meetings as a classroom routine, students realize they just need to do the work before the get-together.
How Teachers Get Beyond Tough Days in the Classroom
In a single sentence, teachers philosophize—wisely, funnily—about hanging in there for the job, even after the worst of days.
What Do Educators Want From Professional Development?
Traditional PD often overlooks the authenticity and relevancy that teachers need for ongoing professional growth.
Teachers, Don’t Take Your Work Home and Other Reminders
Some teaching strategies are tried-and-true, but fresh ideas may add more zest to your classroom and your regimen.
How to Be a Better Teacher in 6 Words or Less
The best advice about teaching sometimes can be whittled down to a few simple words.
Late Assignments: Tips From Educators on Managing Them
Try setting two deadlines, a preferred due date for the majority and a hard deadline for those facing various challenges.
What Are Binaural Beats? One Way for Teachers to Calm Their Brain Waves
Existential Questions for Educators Right Now. Do We Even Matter?
The Big Questions Teachers Are Asking Themselves Right Now
Beyond the Curriculum: Educators Reflect on Racism, Democracy, Purpose
‘Who Is Our Customer?’ and Other Questions Teachers Are Asking
Teachers Share Their Best Ideas on How to Be a Better Teacher
Peer Observations Can Make Us Better Teachers. Here’s How
Teaching Is About the Messy Work of Being Human. Here’s How to Embrace It
Teachers, To Succeed, It’s Important to Be Flexible
Reflecting on Your Practice? It’s Important to Slow Down
How to Enhance the Craft of Teaching
How to Become a Better Teacher. Here’s What Teachers Have to Say
10 Concrete Ways Teachers Can Hone Their Craft
What Teachers Have Learned From Students and Mentors
‘Explain Less, Show More’ and Other Advice Teachers Have Learned
What Makes for Valuable Feedback? Teachers Weigh In
In 6 Words, More Teaching Advice
Ponder this gem: “Want respect? Respect your students first.” Read more.
Advice From Teachers in 7 Words or Less
Common sense and simplicity are at the heart of the best advice. Read more.
How to Build Your Own Professional Development
The authors of a self-directed learning guide for educators of multilingual learners talk about how teachers can hone their craft. Read more.
Want Successful Professional Development? Try Promoting Curiosity
Some hallmarks of fruitful PD include partnering with colleagues and asking students to take part. Read more.
The Importance of ‘Learner-Centered’ Professional Development
The best PD sessions help teachers learn by doing and steer clear of sit-and-get presentations. Read more.
Professional Development Doesn’t Have to Be Boring and Painful
Students and subject-matter experts offer some of the best professional development. Read more.
Advice for New Middle School Teachers From Four Veterans
Emphasizing relationships with students and teacher self-care, along with showing love, are some pieces of advice from veterans. Read more.
Think Like This: Students Have the Best of Intentions
Students have taught teachers not to assume students’ aims are bad, humor and compassion are to be valued, and status doesn’t impress them. Read more.
Want Great Life Lessons? Pay Attention to Students
Being more aware of privilege, talking less, and taking time to make judgments are a few lessons students have taught teachers. Read more.
A Lesson From Students: Believe Success Is Possible for Every Learner
Believe in the potential greatness of every student and don’t make assumptions are two takeaways teachers have learned from their students. Read more.
What Important Lessons Have You Learned From Your Students?
Who’s the Teacher? 14 Lessons Students Taught Their Teachers
Movies That Can Teach the Teachers
Videos Teachers Can Learn From …
Teachers ‘Need a Whole Board of Advisers’
The Best Sources of Classroom Advice Are ‘Teachers Who Are on the Ground Every Day’
‘A Professional Learning Community Is Not a Faculty, Grade Level, or Department Meeting’
Promoting PLCs to Face the ‘Twin Epidemics’ of COVID-19 and Systemic Racism
Professional Learning Communities Can ‘Unleash the Learning!’
10 Strategies for Building a Professional Learning Community
Twenty-Eight Educators Share Their Best Teaching Advice
‘Speak Up!’ & Even More Teaching Advice From Teachers
‘Keep It Simple’ & Other ‘Best’ Teaching Advice From Educators
‘Stay Away From Negativity’: Educators Share the Best Teaching Advice They’ve Received
Teachers Share This Year’s Best Classroom Moments So Far
* Writing a Book Is a ‘Teacher’s Version of Climbing Mount Everest’
Six teacher-authors discuss what they learned over the past year and a half as they wrote books that are set to be published in the coming weeks.
* Editors Offer Suggestions to Teachers Who Want to Write a Book
Two editors explain what it takes for teachers to get published in the education realm, such as doing homework about the education book field and the publishers, knowing the audience, and focusing the topic.
* Advice for Teachers Who Want to Write a Book
Four educators share advice with active teachers who might want to write a book, including writing when you can, writing simply, and owning a passion for your subject.
* Instructional Coaching During the Coronavirus Crisis
Four educators discuss the role of instructional coaching during school closures, including the importance of staying connected and supporting teachers’ emotional health.
* Instructional Coaches Should ‘Center on a Strengths-Based Approach’
The five-part series on instructional coaching is “wrapped up” today by Cathery Yeh, Amy Sandvold, Tamara Hewlett, Becky Corr, and LaChawn Smith.
* Instructional-Coaching Conversations Must Be ‘Built on Relationships’
Today’s post includes answers from Kris Allen, Stephanie Affinito, Barry Saide, Diane Sweeney, Ann Mausbach, Dr. Jenny Grant Rankin, and Wendy Murawski, Ph.D., on how instructional coaches and teachers can best work as a team.
* ‘Instructional Coaching Can Be Frustrating at Times’
Lisa Westman, Dr. Debbie Silver, Dr. Carol Chanter, Heather Wolpert-Gawron, Kristin Rouleau, and Keisha Rembert share their commentaries on effective instructional coaching.
* Instructional Coaching Must Not Lead to an ‘Us vs. Them’ Mentality
Laura Robb, Rita Platt, Michelle Shory, Ed.S., Irina V. McGrath, Ph.D., Cindi Rigsbee, Tonya Ward Singer, and Margie Kirstein contribute their suggestions about effective instructional coaching.
* ‘Effective Instructional Coaching Keeps Kids at the Center of the Work’
Sydney Chaffee, Cindy Garcia, Carrie Johnson, Roxanna Elden, Tatiana Esteban, Heather Register, Ashley Blackwelder, and Dawn Mitchell “kick off” a five-part series on instructional coaching.
* Students Can ‘Sense’ Teacher Frustration
Dr. Victoria Lentfer, Heather Stinson, and Dr. Mara Lee Grayson share their thoughts on how teachers’ can deal with feelings of frustration.
* Ways Teachers Can Handle Feeling Frustrated
Valerie Ruckes, Christine Hertz, Kristine Mraz, Maria Walther, and Kevin Parr offer their suggestions on how teachers can handle feelings of frustration.
Teachers describe some of the funniest moments in their classrooms over the years and, in some instances, how those moments improved classroom relationships.
* Show Me the Money! Ways Teachers Can Raise Funds for Their Classrooms
Suggestions on how teachers can raise private monies to support their classroom are offered by Alfonso Gonzalez, Holly Spinelli, Susan Lafond, Amanda Koonlaba, and Barbara Gottschalk.
* Looking for ‘Solutions’ in the Face of Staff Conflict
Greg Giglio, Jane Kise, David Bateman, Jenifer Cline, Tom Hoerr, and Jennifer Abrams contribute their suggestions for dealing with staff conflict.
* Don’t ‘Ignore’ Staff Conflict in Schools
Sanée Bell, Ed.D., Todd Franklin, Jenny Edwards, Julie P. Combs, Stacey Edmonson, Sandy Harris, and Amber Teamann discuss how to handle workplace conflict at schools.
* Too Many Professional-Development ‘Horror Stories’
This four-part series on professional development is wrapping up with responses from PJ Caposey, Laura Robb, Dr. Barbara Blackburn, Pete Hall, Fred Ende, Emily Phillips Galloway, Paola Uccelli, Nonie K. Lesaux, and Meredith Allen.
* Professional Development Does Not Need ‘One-Shot Wonders’
Nancy Fichtman Dana, Sally J. Zepeda, Jeffrey Wilhelm, James “Jimi” Cannon, Andrew Miller, Catherine Beck, Judy Bell, and Pia Lindquist Wong offer their suggestions about professional development.
* Improve Professional Development With ‘Choice, Debate, & Feedback’
Douglas Reeves, Jessica Torres, Melissa Eddington, Jared Covili, Daniel R. Venables, and Harry Fletcher-Wood share their ideas on improving professional development for educators.
* Do Professional Development ‘With’ Teachers, Not ‘to’ Them
Diana Laufenberg, Dina Strasser, Heather Wolpert-Gawron, Debbie Silver, Rita Platt, and Dr. Melissa C. Gilbert share their critiques of current professional-development practices.
* Ways to Build Partnerships Between Teachers & Researchers
Dr. Ramon Goings, Lorena German, Sally Zepeda, Dr. Jenny Grant Rankin, David Bateman, Ph.D., and Jenifer Cline, M.S., discuss how researchers and educators can work together in better ways.
* Avoid Burnout by ‘Remembering What First Drove You Into Teaching’
Tabitha Pacheco, Amanda Koonlaba, Dr. Jenny Grant Rankin, Megan M. Allen, and Daniel Rechtschaffen finish up this three-part series on avoiding teacher burnout.
* Teacher Burnout Is ‘Contagious’
Jennifer Cleary, Emily Geltz, Patricia Jennings, Donna Wilson, Marcus Conyers, and Dr. Barbara Blackburn share their suggestions on preventing teacher burnout.
* Ways to Avoid Teacher Burnout
Jenny Edwards, Ph.D., Wendi Pillars, Timothy Hilton, Mandi White, Tara Dale, and Owen Griffith share their suggestions on how teachers can avoid burning out on their jobs.
* So Many Articles, So Little Time …
Jenny Edwards, Andrew Miller, Dr. Cynthia “Mama J” Johnson, Megan M. Allen, and readers share their choices for articles educators should read.
* A List of Articles for Educators to Read
Jessica Torres, Kathleen Neagle Sokolowski, Robert Ward, Lisa Eickholdt, and Kathy Dyer contribute their suggestions of articles for educators to read.
* ‘Teaching Is Not a Job But a Way of Life’
Amber Chandler, Daniel R. Venables, Wendi Pillars, and comments from many readers finish up this three-part series on if educators have had second thoughts about their career choice.
* A Teacher’s ‘Pay Isn’t Great, But the Rewards Are Worth Everything’
Debbie, Silver, Julia G. Thompson, Jenny Edwards, Roberta Israeloff, George McDermott, and Kara Vandas contribute their responses to the question about if they ever had second thoughts about being a teacher.
* ‘I Love My Job’ as a Teacher
Shaeley Santiago, Anne Jenks, Sarah Thomas, Dr. Margarita Bianco, and Stephen Lazar talk about if they have had second thoughts about entering the teaching profession.
* Use ‘Compassion’ When Planning for a Substitute Teacher
Roxanna Elden, Rachael George, Rachel Trowbridge, Kevin Parr, Amy Sandvold, and William J. Tolley share their thoughts on how best to support—and prepare for—a substitute teacher.
* Teachers Recognize Those Who ‘Dive Into the Fray’ With Us
Today, Sarah Cooper, Meghan Everette, Amber Teamann, Bill Ivey, and Heather Wolpert-Gawron wrap up this series on key “influencers” of teachers. I also include responses from readers.
* How Students & Family Influence Our Teaching
Jeryl-Ann Asaro, Dr. Manuel Rustin, Brett Novick, Toby Karten, and Dr. Barbara Blackburn contribute their answers to the question: Who has most influenced your teaching?
* Educators Share Who Influenced Their Teaching
Rita Platt, Dr. Cynthia “Mama J” Johnson, Pernille Ripp, and Jenny Edwards share reflections on who has most influenced their teaching.
* Students Share Their Best School Experiences and What We Can Learn From Them
Five students contribute short pieces about their favorite classroom moments and what others might be able to learn from them.
* ‘Beautiful’ Moments in Teaching ‘Overshadow the Difficult Ones’
Meghan Everette, Jeryl-Ann Asaro, Jeffery Galle, and Kara Vandas share their best classroom memories.
* The Best Teaching Moment Was When ‘I Let Go’
Jen Schwanke, Anne Jenks, Amy Sandvold, and Sarah Thomas share their top moments in teaching.
* ‘It’s an Exciting Time to Be an Educator’
Donna Wilson, Marcus Conyers, Rachael George, Meghan Everette, and Carolina Pérez offer their nominations for the most exciting developments in education today.
* The Most Exciting Things Happening in Education Are …
Tricia Hyun, Sarah Thomas, former U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr., Mandi White, and Tara Dale share their commentaries on the most exciting things happening in education today.
* Teaching Advice to Remember, Part Three
Amanda Koonlaba, Amelia Gamel, Jenny Edwards, Paul Barnwell, Jackie Walsh, and Beth Sattes discuss the “best” teaching advice, and I also include many comments from readers.
* The Best Teaching Advice, Part Two
Roxanna Elden, Esther Wu, Timothy D. Walker, Vance Austin, and Kirke Olson share reflections on the best teaching advice they’ve received.
* The Best Teaching Advice Is …
Rita Platt, Fred Ende, Arpine Ovsepyan, Rachael George, and Cindi Rigsbee contribute the best teaching advice they have heard.
* Teaching Can Be Tough, But We’re ‘Lucky’
Jen Schwanke, Amanda Koonlaba, Jennifer Orr, Allison Rodman, Patricia (Tish) Jennings, Bill Ivey, and Peter P. Leibman contribute their thoughts on responding to tough teaching moments.
* ‘The Toughest Part of Teaching Is …’
Roxanna Elden, Robert Ward, Cindi Rigsbee, Megan Allen, Dr. Jenny Grant Rankin, Daniel Jerome, and Lois Weiner share how they respond to tough teaching moments.
* Challenging Moments in Teaching
Megan Allen, Jenny Grant Rankin, Linda L. Lyman, and Wendi Pillars share their stories of difficult teaching moments.
* Make Teaching Failures ‘Moments to Grow’
Laura Robb, Jim Bentley, N. Chaunte Garrett, Jennifer Orr, and Jonathan Eckert contribute commentaries about their most difficult teaching experiences.
* Learning From Difficult Teaching Moments
Lorena Germán, Tom Rademacher, Diana Laufenberg, Sarah Kirby-Gonzalez, and Jeff Bradbury share their stories of difficult teaching moments and what they learned from them.
* What Teachers Wish They ‘Had Been Told’
Allison Marchetti, Rebekah O’Dell, Kathy Levy, Matthew R. Morris, Stuart O. Yager, Rita Platt, and Larnette Snow finish off a three-part series on what teachers know now that they wish they knew then.
* ‘When I Started Teaching, I Wish I Had Known …’
Linda Hoyt, Jenny Edwards, Mary Tedrow, and Vance L. Austin offer their suggestions about what they know now that they wish they had known then.
* What Educators Wish They Knew When They Began Teaching
Roxanna Elden, Dave Stuart Jr., Julia Thompson, and Jennifer Gonzalez share what they wish they had known prior to becoming a teacher.
* Colleges of Ed. Can Make ‘Lifetime Commitments’ to Working Teachers
Benjamin Riley, Charis Anderson, Pia L Wong, Megan Allen, Mike Flynn, and Jack Schneider share their ideas on how colleges of education can support working K-12 teachers.
* Our Teaching Mistakes & What We Learn From Them
Today, Roxanna Elden, Julia Thompson, Ekuwah Moses, Jenny Edwards, Kevin Parr, and Leslie Blauman bare their souls to the world as they write about their biggest teaching mistakes.
* Making Mistakes & Learning From Them—Part Two
Today’s post includes responses from PJ Caposey, Jennifer Gonzalez, Arpine Ovsepyan, Marcy Webb, Marie Levey-Pabst, Vance L. Austin, and Steven Anderson. I’ve also included comments from readers.
* Focusing ‘More on What Goes Right Than on What Goes Wrong’
Rebecca Mieliwocki, Allen Mendler, Jennifer Orr, Mike Anderson, and Daniel Rechtschaffen contribute their suggestions on how teachers can maintain a sane balance between classroom and home life.
* Ways to Find the ‘Right Balance’ Between School & Home
Educators Renee Moore, Debbie Silver, Julia Thompson, and Vicki Davis provide us all with some advice on balancing teaching with a personal life.
* Teachers ‘Seek Relevance & Choice’ in Professional Development
This post includes responses from Roxanna Elden, Sally J. Zepeda, Christopher Lehman, Jennifer Abrams, PJ Caposey, Patricia Reynolds, and Sharon Milano. In addition, I’ve highlighted comments from readers. All make suggestions about how to make professional development more effective learning experiences.
* Follow-Up Is Critical for Successful Professional Development
This post shares commentaries on how to improve teacher professional development from educators Sean McComb, Robyn R. Jackson, Kelly Young, Paul Cancellieri, Jason Flom, and Barbara Blackburn.
* The Kind of Professional Development We Need—Part Two
Rick Wormeli continues sharing his professional-development recommendations in Part Two of his essay.
* The Kind of Professional Development We Need
Rick Wormeli shares his suggestions for how to make professional development effective for teachers.
* ‘Write the Book You Wish You Had on Your Bookshelf’
This final post in a series on teachers writing books shares advice from Kimberly Carraway, Erik Palmer, Jeffrey Benson, and Cathie E. West. In addition, I share a few comments from readers.
* ‘Teachers Make Great Authors’
Allison Scott, Julia Thompson, and Vicki Davis share suggestions for teachers who would like to write a book and get it published. This is the second post in a three-part series.
* Educators Wanting to Write a Book ‘Must Go for It!’
Marjorie McAneny, Alan Sitomer, PJ Caposey, and Steven Anderson share their suggestions for educators who want to write a book.
* Part Three—Book Recommendations for Teachers
This post is the final one in this series and features book recommendations from Grant Wiggins, John Norton, Barbara Blackburn, Amy Benjamin, and Kevin Washburn, plus a zillion reader comments.
* More Book Recommendations for Teachers
Educators Megan Allen, Erin Klein, Jeffrey Zoul, and Mike Fisher share their book recommendations for teachers in Part Two in a series.
* Book Recommendations for Teachers—Part One
In Part One of this three-part series, education writer and parent Melinda D. Anderson shares her book recommendations for teachers, as do educator/authors Kelly Gallagher, Cathy Vatterott, and Vicki Davis.
* More Advice on Teacher Attire
In this last post of a two-part series, educator Robyn R. Jackson shares her thoughts—particularly for women educators. I’m also publishing comments from many, many readers.
* Teachers Should Dress as Students’ Advocate, Not ‘Peer’
In Part One of a two-part series, four educators—Roxanna Elden, Renee Moore, Jane Fung, and Rebecca Mieliwocki—share their thoughts on how teachers should dress.
* Using ‘Self-Compassion’ to Recover From a Bad Day
In addition to sharing many comments from readers, educators Amy Benjamin and Dina Strasser post their thoughts in this post.
* A Bad Day in the Classroom ‘Will Pass’
This post includes contributions from Terry Thompson, Renee Moore, and Cindi Rigsbee.
* Recover From Bad Days by Seeing ‘Disasters as Opportunities’
This column has quite a lineup, starting with Roxanna Elden, who is one of the most engaging and entertaining education writers around. Her contribution is followed by guest responses from two other exceptional educators and authors—Allen Mendler and Julia Thompson.
As regular readers know, I’ve been doing the Classroom Q&A column over at Education Week for thirteen years. And I plan to continue doing it for quite a few more years. I have so many contributors now, though, that there really isn’t space there for my annual thematic compilation posts, where I collect links Ed Week Teacher Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…
