Our Blogs

The finish line is in sight. Time away from computer screens, your children playing outside, barbecues, beaches…. In the past few months, “You have reimagined your limits. Set your sights higher and you have gone further than you have before…a statement of passion– commitment. It is a test of physical toughness and mental strength.” You […]

*This month, as we all need levity and we have had a good bit of extra time, we have included a scavenger hunt within our blog. Search out our 7 intentional references to song lyrics for a chance to win free books.   We have had some crazy weather recently, and friends continue to text us […]

Hello friends. We have spent the week much like all of you personally and professionally adapting to our new and surreal normal. Patrick has spent time consoling his son who is suffering through the reality that his final months of high school, prom, senior night, and potentially even graduation may be missed. We are trying […]

*Original post appeared in Corwin Connect – February 17, 2020 How to Ensure Teachers Receive Learner-Focused Feedback You are amazing, a superhero. Every day you get up to make a difference, and every day you do. In some way, every day, you are a teacher and a learner–maybe a few minutes ago or yesterday, or it will […]

We are just a few weeks into our new year…so are you excited and inspired about having 20/20 vision this year? Or are you feeling like the confetti is long gone, credit card bills have arrived, and it’s like the holidays and break never happened? At the start of the new year, we always take […]

Who doesn’t love presents? As we get older, we find we are giving fewer material items and frequently gifting “experiences” to each other and friends like concert tickets, homemade vouchers, or spa visits. Of course, we all love the immediate satisfaction of putting on a new sweater or playing with a new gadget, but we […]

We all love our holidays. In the U.S., we dedicate the second to last Thursday of November just to being thankful. Perhaps you grew up in a family where before you could eat on Thanksgiving, everyone had to share something they were thankful for. Mashed potatoes and stuffing had to wait until everyone had spoken–all […]

Fall in New England is one of our favorite times. Though it announces the onset of winter (much to Amy’s disappointment as a Floridian), who can resist the foliage, apple picking, pumpkin patches, and of course, the resulting warm apple fritters on a crisp Saturday autumn morning (Patrick’s favorite)?  Oblivious, we tromp around in corn […]

Here we are at the starting block of another school year. Summer has flown by and before we know it, the year will be half over. So, how have you planned to use your time this year to effect change as an instructional leader, specifically to support your teachers? We know you strive to make […]

Summer is in full swing for many of us. Have you noticed how our disposition shifts and how vulnerable we are willing to be during this time of year? We walk around in bathing suits, swim where we know sharks swim, expose ourselves to endless UV rays, try new things (parasailing? bacon wrapped corn?), attempt […]

We were sitting by Amy’s condo pool when a small girl arrived with her dad for a late afternoon swimming lesson, meeting her teacher in the shallow end. She was tiny and ready to go in a pink bathing suit, excited to get started. This was not her first lesson, so she knew what to […]

When All Things Become Visible Last Sunday, we were sitting along the Chicago River working on last minute prep for our Visible Learning Conference session, watching kayaks and yachts go by when what to our wondering eyes did appear but a party boat being propelled by 10 eager pedalers. Now if you read our last […]