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Every Classroom Matters episode 210 From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter New Hampshire and educator John Martin are at the forefront of the competency-based learning movement. In today’s show, we’ll give you an overview of competency-based learning including some of the benefits and the problems. Whatever your school situation, by having teachers agree upon standard competencies that students master, schools can be more certain of what students know. Listen Now. Think about it. As John says in the show, high school teachers say the kids are coming to them unprepared and blame the middle school teachers. Middle school points down to elementary. Elementary points to kindergarten. And kindergarten blames the parents. Who is responsible ? But, wow, are there some challenges ! Competencies by nature remove the class rank and the coveted valedictorian’s spot. Learners are working at a different pace . Even assessment changes with competenc...

Every Classroom Matters episode 209 From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter We need to take kids out into nature! Far too many children are growing up not seeing the beauty of nature and not learning to respect the danger . We are going to inherit the future where the only thing valued by this generation is made of concrete, rebar, and steel. The lone wildflower that springs up in the sidewalk will just be seen as a weed. We need our kids fording streams, climbing mountains, and getting down on all fours to look at an insect they’ve never seen before.  Listen to the show. According to a 2015 Outdoor Recreation report (linked in resources) , outdoor recreation is at its lowest levels since the report began in 2006. Only 60% of kids aged 13-17 report ONE outdoor activity in 2014. (Adults aged 18-24 have only 56% reporting one outdoor activity!) Today’s show is about a school that takes kids outside into nature .   Many schools ar...

Every Classroom Matters episode 207 From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter Teachers go into professional development and they complain . This is boring! There’s nothing here I can use! I don’t have time to learn anything new! But these same teachers who have such high demands of those who teach them — go into the classroom and deliver a lesson that could bore the ticks off a hound dog . No pizzaz! No joy! No intrigue! WE CAN DO BETTER . Listen now. George Couros is beginning a series of shows on Every Classroom Matters where we talk about the eight characteristics of the Innovator’s Mindset (George’s new book.) Today we’re talking about empathy . (There were so many great quotes, I’ve made quite a few images to tweet and pin to Pinterest.) Have empathy for your students! Design awesome learning experiences. You can do this, teacher! If not, why not? Essential Questions: Would You Want to Be a Student in Your Own Classroom? How do ...