The ABC's High School Teachers Really Need to Know

Effective teachers, by definition, reach their objectives and desired goals.  They are also efficient.  Falling short on either efficacy or efficiency means students and other stakeholders are paying the price academically.  Hold your process to that standard each and every day.  

It's time we ditch the useless professional development (PD).  That doesn't mean we stop PD - it just means we stop wasting the valuable (and limited) time of educators with tired ideas and inapplicable training.  It's time we provide teachers with meaningful PD  and collaborative opportunities that support and complement their own growth and goals. 

As a teacher, you need to reflect on your lessons and decide if they tend to be built for younger or older students.  As you diversify instruction and assessment, effective teachers also need to balance your mix of "crayon" and "pencil" lessons.  Students are on a spectrum developmentally and academically.  Therefore, if our lessons aren't dynamic on that spectrum as well, we risk losing students in the learning process.

Teachers play a huge role in helping students achieve their goals and dreams.  However, if we aren't honest with them and don't help them find value in education,  we are likely doing more harm than good.  

We're back and adjusting our format a little this season!  Join us for all new topics and expanded discussions of current events in education that will make all of us better educators.  This week, let's talk about some things in today's academic world that have most of us veterans totally confused....

Effective educators move the needle for their students on standardized test performance.  From curriculum integration and innovative lesson planning to regular practice and parent education, we need to put students in position to be the best version of themselves.  Teachers, because of our unique expertise and relationship-building ability, can help do just that.  We can't strand students on a standardized testing island.       

From managing our resources to building effective school supply lists and enriching lessons, teachers need to take control of the financial spending and planning in our classrooms.  It's difficult to be effective when the needs of our students aren't met.  Teachers also shouldn't carry the burden of spending personal income on lessons and infrastructure.  We should, however, be leaders in long-term planning and implementation.  

As the cliche goes, education is messy and change is inevitable.  Do yourself and your students a favor - be flexible.  Effective teachers know that improvising, renovating, and adjusting your approach and process are the keys to long-term growth and meaningful success.  

Don't let helicopter parents have a death grip on you or your process.  Use classroom management strategies and policies that promote healthy professional relationships with parents.  Those relationships will subsequently generate better experiences and student outcomes.  

Get out of your comfort zone and venture into the unknown.  As always, exploration and application should  be built into your lessons.  Build a classroom that does not trap students by your own personal strengths and weaknesses.  Be a facilitator that is on a journey of learning with your students.  It makes the process more meaningful for you and them.