Addendum #14: Reformation Day Connections with Hamlet, Science Fiction, and Fantasy

Some students find it interesting to consider how the Protestant Reformation and its context can connect to science fiction and fantasy. With the second season of The Mandalorian starting on October 30th, I thought it would be a good time to excerpt a bit of historical theorizing from a previous post from not so long ago or so far away…

Addendum #13: For Hobbit Day on September 22nd, Consider Some Small Lessons about the Journey to Long-term Flourishing

The title says it all.

Addendum #12: For Star Trek Day on September 8th, Consider Some 23rd Century Insights for 21st Century Educators

In honor of Star Trek Day and a few of my teaching colleagues who are Star Trek fans, I offer five educational insights as a tribute to over five decades of boldly going where no one has gone before.

Addendum #11: Two Types of Educators (Coffee-driven or Cocktail-driven)

While thinking historically about philosophy, education, and my experiences in a strange profession, I’m increasingly convinced that there are two types of educators: Coffee-driven or Cocktail-driven…

Addendum #10: Empathy via Thoughtful Maintenance versus Hyper Design and Innovation Trends

In light of hearing teacher concerns near and far about starting this school year, I’m thinking that the dynamics of credibility between teachers and administrators work much like they do between teachers and students. Might we be a bit more considerate of teacher concerns about focusing so much on design thinking and innovation? Ken Sande’s

Addendum #9: Eleventh Hour HyFlex Planning Notes for High School Courses

This is one of those brief, barely-hanging-on posts. I need to take a detour from my series on “Ways of Knowing” for learning and teaching since remote-teaching-readiness is occupying my mind in light of recent news reports of districts being open for only a few days or a few weeks before shifting to remote learning

Addendum #8: Four Star Wars Day Insights for Learning, Teaching, and Long-term Flourishing

It’s Star Wars Day. May the Fourth be with you! Hopefully, we’ll all have a healthier republic in the months to come.

Addendum #7: Thinking about Social Emotional Support and Social Emotional Growth–for Now and Later

The important question that most of the social emotional discussions have surfaced is, “How do we appropriately support and coach struggling students with the social emotional dimensions of learning and growing?” This is a more complex question than it might initially seem.

Addendum #6: Advanced Placement English Thinking Is Highly Relevant to Emergency Teaching, Real Life, and the Pursuit of Long-term Flourishing

“What are the most important values to consider for guiding one through crisis times and toward long-term flourishing?” I brainstormed that synthesis prompt this week as I was considering what we’re not testing in the Advanced Placement English Language and Composition exam this year due to the COVID-19 crisis. As a teacher, I’m working on

Addendum #5: A Way to Use College Board AP Review Videos + Interactive Lecture Strategy = A Step Toward Effective Curriculum and Instruction Coherency

As I’m talking with colleagues, several of us are grateful for the Advanced Placement Online Classes and Review Sessions. These resources are helpful for our emergency remote teaching and learning conditions, but they’re also important as a reminder and a model of what coherent and effective curriculum and instruction can be.  As an experienced teacher