Search Results for: design thinking

19 Books Every Teacher Should Read to Master Money and Fund Their Dreams

Teachers have unique financial challenges, from funding classroom projects and family needs to planning vacations and saving for retirement—all while navigating a salary that often feels stretched too thin. To help you take control of your finances, I’ve curated 19 books that can truly change your life. After reading over 200 books about money, I … Continue reading “19 Books Every Teacher Should Read to Master Money and Fund Their Dreams”

16 Books Every Teacher Should Read to Crush Student Loan Debt

If you’re a teacher juggling student loans, know this: debt doesn’t have to define your future. With the right mindset and strategies, you can turn things around. The average American carries over $21,000 in debt, and the burden feels overwhelming for many. But as it turns out, tackling debt is 80% mindset and 20% strategy. … Continue reading “16 Books Every Teacher Should Read to Crush Student Loan Debt”

7 Side Hustles You Can Start With Your Kids: A Guide for Educators

As educators, we know the value of teaching our children about hard work and creativity, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial thinking. If you’re looking for ways to make extra money while spending meaningful time with your kids, these seven side hustles might be just what you need. They’re perfect for families who want to build skills and … Continue reading “7 Side Hustles You Can Start With Your Kids: A Guide for Educators”

Templatize Everything: The Secret to Saving Time and Staying Productive

“If you’re going to do something more than once, you need a template.” – Alex Mandossian As an instructional coach, each day brings new challenges. You never know what teachers may ask of you or how best to support them. Flexibility is key, as is having systems to ensure your coaching practice runs smoothly and … Continue reading “Templatize Everything: The Secret to Saving Time and Staying Productive”

Welcome to the 2025 Reading Challenge: Expanding Horizons, One Book at a Time

Greetings, literary explorers! Welcome to the Eclectic Educator’s 2025 Reading Challenge, where we set off on a year-long journey designed to open minds, spark curiosity, and celebrate the vibrant tapestry of stories and voices that make up our world. Whether you’re an avid reader or just dipping your toes into the literary waters, this challenge … Continue reading “Welcome to the 2025 Reading Challenge: Expanding Horizons, One Book at a Time”

Essentially essential

Picking up from yesterday’s discussion from Teaching for Deeper Learning on framing units around the idea of “a study in…” an area, another way to frame units or lessons is with essential questions. If you’re using the “a study in…” idea, you can partner essential questions with that idea for deeper discussions. Essential questions are … Continue reading “Essentially essential”

Moving from “doing school” to “learning”

I love learning—I really do. But my dreadful experience with “school” still influences much of my work in education. I hated “school.” It was pointless for me, as it is for so many other students. From John Warner: One of the distinctions I often draw in thinking about engagement and education is that there is … Continue reading “Moving from “doing school” to “learning””

8 Strategies to Improve Organizational Learning in Public Schools

Professional learning communities (PLCs) are pivotal in fostering meaningful and sustainable changes in the ever-evolving education landscape. Drawing from extensive research and real-world examples, here are eight strategies that PLCs can implement to improve organizational learning in public schools. 1. Empower Teachers as Leaders and Change Agents One of the most effective ways to enhance … Continue reading “8 Strategies to Improve Organizational Learning in Public Schools”

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

“It’s easily the most contentious piece of real estate in the world. And there’s no hope—none—of ever talking about it without pissing somebody, if not everybody, off. Maybe that’s why it took me so long to come here, a place where even the names of ordinary things are ferociously disputed. Where does falafel come from? … Continue reading “Wednesday, May 15, 2024”

Monday, May 6, 2024

Greetings Starfighters, I’ve come to grips with something that will be very helpful when working with teachers and students going forward. I’ve come to understand that my brain works a little differently than others regarding visualization. I had just assumed that everyone sees images or even films playing in the inner theatre of the mind … Continue reading “Monday, May 6, 2024”