3-2-1: The importance of bad days, making the most money per minute, and how to start a revolution
3 Ideas From Me
I.
“What looks like a talent gap is often a focus gap. The “all-star” is often an average to above-average performer who spends more time working on what is important and less time on distractions. The talent is staying focused.”
II.
“Something I try to remind myself:
The strong mind finds a way to stay steady … even when plans fall apart.
The strong body finds a way to train … even when the day doesn’t go your way.
The strong relationship finds a way to reconnect … even when things get rough.
In a sense, what matters most is how you respond on the bad days, not the good ones.
My Fear of Public Speaking Makes Me a Better Teacher
An estimated 3 out of 4 people have a fear of public speaking. Unfortunately, that means more than a few teachers carry that anxiety with them. I am one of them.
However, rather than holding me back, I have found that the sense of dread I get standing up in front of others has helped me improve as a teacher. I can both empathize with my students’ fears and challenge them to be brave.
At the beginning of every school year, a new crop of 15-year-olds pile into my virtual classroom. Some are open-minded and excited for the new year, while others are jaded and unmotivated before they even enter my space of learning. Regardless of their attitude, I’m always embarrassed to admit I am terrified.
The non-instructional ways schools are using AI
If you feel behind on AI readiness, rest assured that most other districts are in the same digital boat. You can embark on/jump into the early stages of AI implementation by modeling innovative initiatives and research.
More than 40% of K12 tech leaders say they’re having “early discussions” about AI’s operational and administrative functions, according to recent survey data from the Consortium for School Networking. Another 22% said their district leadership is not at all focused on operational AI.
EdTech Week: What District Leaders Want From Ed-Tech Vendors
NEW YORK CITY — At least two superintendents who spoke at the EdTech Week conference in New York City this week had a message for ed-tech vendors about soliciting their software and services: Try to understand our unique priorities and challenges first.
In a Wednesday session moderated by Jennifer Womble, chair of the Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC), two panelists — Oakwood Schools Superintendent Neil Gupta and Los Angeles County Office of Education Chief Technology Officer Jose Gonzalez — focused on the must-haves for school administrators when evaluating proposed tech solutions, highlighting the need for vendors to create tools to solve specific problems in K-12.
Womble added that, in order for ed-tech vendors to understand their clients’ needs, school leaders must also be clear about their own demands and goals.
Houston Trumpets ‘Historic’ Gains from Schools Takeover, But Doubters Remain
Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, nestled in the Timbergrove neighborhood of Houston, just north of downtown, enrolls some 340 students — 96% of whom are low-income and roughly a third of whom are just learning to speak English.
Since the pandemic, student achievement has been hard to come by, hitting rock bottom during the 2020-21 school year, when 77% of students were below grade level in reading and 86% in math. And while scores rebounded some over the years, they were low enough during the 2023-24 school year to earn the campus a “D” rating on the state’s accountability system.
Survey: Nearly Half of Families with Young Kids Struggling to Meet Basic Needs
Nearly half of American families with children under 6 are struggling to meet at least one basic need, according to new data from the Stanford Center on Early Childhood.
The 49% of families who reported not being able to access these necessities — including food, housing, utilities and child care — marks a 13 percentage-point jump since June and one of the highest rates recorded since the RAPID Survey Project began collecting data in 2020.
The economic struggles were paired with significant emotional distress among parents, including anxiety and depression.