While it's true that student choice has a lot of value, it's possible to give so much choice in an assignment that it kind of backfires. When a task has little to no structure at all, students often respond with confusion, not creativity. ------------------- You can find full written versions of these tips at cultofpedagogy.com/edutips. ------------------- Thanks to CommonLit for sponsoring this episode. -------------------

EduTip 18: Avoid assignments that are TOO open-ended.

Teaching strategies, classroom management, education reform, educational technology -- if it has something to do with teaching, we're talking about it.  Jennifer Gonzalez interviews educators, students, administrators and parents about the psychological and social dynamics of school, trade secrets, and other juicy things you'll never learn in a textbook. For more fantastic resources for teachers, visit http://www.cultofpedagogy.com.

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Annotation can be a powerful way to improve comprehension and increase engagement, but its effectiveness can vary depending on how it's taught. In this episode, two teachers share their classroom-tested approaches to teaching students how to effectively annotate texts: 3rd grade teacher Andrea Castellano and high school English teacher Irene Yannascoli.   Thanks to Listenwise and Studyo for sponsoring this episode.  To read a full transcript of this conversation, visit cultofpedagogy.com/art-of-annotation/.  

227: Two Effective Ways to Teach Annotation

If your school is lucky enough to have a full-time certified librarian, it's likely they are not being utilized to their full capacity. In fact, yours may be one of a growing number of schools that are eliminating librarians altogether, and that is a terrible idea. In this episode, I sit down with four accomplished librarians — K.C. Boyd, Barbara Paciotti, Lauren Mobley, and Karina Quilantan-Garza — to explore all the ways a certified school librarian can make teachers' work easier, more efficient, and more effective, and to make a strong case for why every school needs one.  Thanks to WeVideo and The Modern Classrooms Project for sponsoring this episode.  To read a full transcript of this conversation, visit cultofpedagogy.com/pod and choose episode 226.

226: Yes, Your School Librarian Can Do That (and More)

Many states are seeing record high numbers of teacher turnovers and vacancies. While the problems that caused this shortage have not gone away, there are groups of people who are coming up with some creative ways to address this situation, new and surprisingly affordable pathways for training good, enthusiastic teachers. Two of these programs are Oxford Teachers College at Reach University and Educators Rising. In this episode, educator Kimberly Eckert talks with me about how and why both of these outstanding programs work.  Thanks to Edge•U Badges and EVERFI for sponsoring this episode.  To read a full transcript of our conversation and find links to all the resources mentioned in this episode, visit cultofpedagogy.com/teacher-shortage.

225: Two Programs with Fresh Solutions to the Teacher Shortage

  Crying in front of your students can be a humiliating experience. Not the kind that happens when you're moved to tears by a poignant story or you react to upsetting news; those moments can actually bond you to your students. It’s the kind that comes from frustration, shame, anger, or loss of control. It might be something you experience as a new teacher, but it can also happen well into your career. Regardless, if it happens to you, it can shake you up. In this episode, I share a few thoughts that might help.  Thanks to Edge•U Badges and EVERFI for sponsoring this episode.  To read a written version of this episode and find links to all the resources I mention, go to cultofpedagogy.com/crying-in-class.  

224: Some Thoughts on Teachers Crying in the Classroom

It's happened to so many teachers: You teach your heart out. Really just knock it out of the park. Then you ask a question all students should know the answer to … and nothing. What's going on? In this episode, educator and writer Blake Harvard offers four possible explanations for why we get the blank stare, along with four solutions that will help us see a lot less of it.  Thanks to Edge•U Badges and The Modern Classrooms Project for sponsoring this episode.  To read Blake's article, go cultofpedagogy.com/stare.

EduTip 18: Avoid assignments that are TOO open-ended.

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