Educator & author Robert Ward's blog for teachers & parents to become allies in education
One day fourteen years ago, I received a fateful call from my best friend. He’d just come from a meeting of a San Francisco group called Gay Future Dads. He’d been brought there by his partner at the time, who was interested in becoming a dad. “Girl!” my friend exclaimed—he called all his gay friends … Continue reading Introducing Amy McDougall: Guest Post by middle grade author Gary Pedler
(Although the COVID-19 pandemic has colored every aspect of education as we once knew it and will continue to alter the typical school routine for some time afterward, I wrote the following article as if the uncertain times we’re living through now hadn’t occurred. I’ve endured many changes to the education system, both good and … Continue reading Advice and Inspiration from a Retiring Teacher
Congratulations! You’ve gotten an interview appointment for a teaching position at a new school—or possibly for a different position at your current school. This is an important first step, but there will likely be a number of qualified candidates vying for the same spot. So how can you distinguish yourself from the pack and land … Continue reading Ace that Teaching Job Interview: 10 Questions You’ll Definitely Be Asked (Edutopia featured article)
One of modern education’s top goals has been to imbue our students with critical thinking skills. We do not want to be merely educating sheep. Yet heaven forbid teachers themselves think critically about the curriculum and pedagogies that are foisted upon them! According to Ruenzel (2014) writing in Education Week, “…too much of the discussion … Continue reading Valuing Critical Thinking in Teachers: Advocating for Educator Voice and Choice
It's a shame whenever an educator—especially one who has just learned an exciting, effective teaching technique they know their students will love and benefit from—suddenly pauses and thinks: But I won’t be able to actually use that great strategy in my classroom because… I’m not supposed to deviate from the textbook or mandated curriculum, it … Continue reading Educator Autonomy: Honoring Teacher Input Leads to Investment and Innovation
There’s room and reason to teach whole-class novels, right along with honoring student independent reading choice. ELA expert Robert Ward explains how to do both, as he shares three decades of success expanding the literacy skills of students at every level of proficiency. But learning the nuts and bolts of reading and writing doesn’t mean … Continue reading Teaching Whole-Class Novels: New Book Available Now
Use these eight words when practicing mindfulness in the classroom and remembering the importance of presence for teachers: Patience Relaxation Empathy Serenity Engagement Non-judgment Centeredness Even temperament Patience In order to be truly present, we can learn to not rush the moment or seek to hurry to the next event. Choosing patience allows us to … Continue reading Practicing Presence and Daily Mindfulness for Teachers
Compassion fatigue can occur when our expressions of empathy and our acts of altruism begin to have a negative effect on our lives. A crucial component of living the benefit mindset is that in order to support the wellbeing of others, we must be sure to attend to our own health and happiness as well. This … Continue reading 10 Ways to Avoid Benefit Mindset Burnout and Compassion Fatigue
Every student benefits from curriculum and assignments that take them outside of themselves and their own personal (and perhaps painful) worlds. How can anyone say they’re only interested in a narrow range of subjects or activities if they haven’t been consistently exposed to people, places, topics, and situations that may be initially foreign, yet on … Continue reading A Benefit Mindset Helps Students Overcome Trauma (Education Week featured article)
With so much talk today about the importance of mindsets in education, one of the best ways to prepare for a successful parent/teacher conference is for the teacher to enter into those meetings with a positive attitude about how much responsibility each parent bears for the actions and accomplishments of their child. Through decades of … Continue reading Why Teachers Should Think Twice Before Blaming Parents (EdWeek featured article)
Robert Ward's "Rewarding Education" Blog for Teachers and Parents 