Before the New Year’s Eve countdown, the champagne, and that well-deserved (and perhaps socially distanced) hug from a loved one, it can be helpful to reflect on the challenges we have overcome, the work that resonated with us the most, and the ideas that will embolden our practice in the future.
To celebrate 2021, ASCD has rounded up the top 10 most-read blog posts published this year—a list that covers topics from teacher talk to learning loss to compassionate leadership—counting down from #10 to #1.
The Top 10 Countdown
10. Why Learning Loss Is So Complicated and How to Address it Constructively by Kate Stoltzfus
With the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student learning, it’s not a surprise to see an article summarizing instructional gaps—complete with data and expert opinion—crack the top 10. “We’ve heard quite a bit about ‘learning loss’ or ‘learning recovery’ over the last year and a half,” writes Kate Stoltzfus. In fact, so much has been said that there is a need to separate fact from fiction. This is a must-read blog for those seeking clarity in the “learning loss” discussion or fresh ideas on how to mitigate gaps.
9. Now More Than Ever, Students Need “Small Wins” to Put Big Goals in Reach by Mike Gaskell
As educators and students confront the challenges of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, it may be more important than ever to weave a sense of student self-efficacy into the curriculum, writes school principal Mike Gaskell. Self-efficacy by way of small wins can empower students to believe they can confront any difficulty. Gaskell recommends, among other techniques, turning to gamification to encourage students to make—and track their own—incremental progress.
8. Three Actions for Building a Culture of Collective Efficacy by Sarah Sugarman
Efficacy was a popular topic among our readers in 2021, and not only in reference to students. Number eight on the list outlines three actions that school and district leaders can take to build a culture of collective efficacy. According to Sarah Sugarman, “a culture of planning does not simply happen; it is built intentionally.” This is a great post for leaders looking to add new ways to cultivate collective efficacy in their school.
7. Small Shifts in Teacher Talk Make a Big Difference by Mike Anderson
For many reasons, Mike Anderson’s post on teacher talk is my personal favorite of 2021. As a former middle school teacher, I can vouch that words (and the way I said them) made a huge difference to my students and their development. It is fascinating to think about how small changes (“Be ready to show me…” vs. “Be ready to share…”) can drastically affect a lesson. Anderson delivers examples of these subtle changes in a simple table so that you, too, can begin to think about your teacher-talk toolkit.
6. Decluttering the Teacher-Centric Classroom by Tom Hoerr
As a long-time school leader, Tom Hoerr has a wealth of personal experience to share. He doesn’t shy away from airing out his mistakes, and the lessons he learned from them, in his quest to become a better leader. In this short but impactful post, Hoerr encourages teachers to resist the urge to clutter their classrooms and instead leave space for the flexibility and creativity of student learning to dominate the walls.
5. We Belong: The First Week of School I Wish I Had by Esteban Bachelet
The first week of school is vital for creating a lasting atmosphere of belonging in the classroom. After reading We Belong: 50 Strategies to Create Community and Revolutionize Classroom Management by Laurie Barron and Patti Kinney (ASCD, 2021), I realized I’d learned that lesson far too late. Take the journey with me as I expose my "first week of school" mistakes as a teacher and describe better ways to foster long-lasting belonging.
4. Three Things Leaders Need to Do for Teachers This Year by Stephanie Burroughs
Stephanie Burroughs’s tips for leaders are incredibly helpful and pertinent in our current pandemic context. As Burroughs reminds us, “The pandemic has been more than a bump in the road; we went off road, and in some cases, without four-wheel drive.” So, leaders, it’s time to pump the brakes, lead with love, and acknowledge the hard work your teachers are already doing.
3. Seven Questions That Guide the Work of Inspired Teachers by Carol Ann Tomlinson
In this must-read blog, the infamous Carol Ann Tomlinson lays out seven question-sets that can inspire teachers to reinvigorate their work around student learning, goal planning, lesson planning, and much more. As we think about returning to classrooms after winter break, let’s consider Tomlinson’s wise words: “What if we determined together to return to our classrooms asking these questions, seeking answers to them, and teaching in response to what we learn instead of returning to an old ‘normal’ that in so many ways was abnormal?”
2. Getting the "Think, Pair, Share" Technique Right by Kate Jones & Dylan Wiliam
The Think-Pair-Share technique is by no means “new.” Yet given the wide popularity of this post, many educators are still working to refine and perfect it. Kate Jones and Dylan Wiliam offer quick ways to improve the technique for future lessons: give students ample think time, encourage listening as students pair up, and make room for "pausing" when sharing.
1. Top Five Instructional Coaching Practices to Carry Forward by Courtney Groskin & Violet Christensen
The most popular post of the year is a valuable and timely resource for instructional coaches. It synthesizes the best practices and lessons learned from a year of remote work and neatly recommends how to implement them in-person. According to the authors, “Whether it’s leveraging video chat, using digital tools to support communication, or setting aside time for self-care, we need to stay mindful of how we can embed successful pandemic practices into the fiber of our coaching repertoire.”
