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Teacher Leadership Community

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Do you teach in a state where state assessments ar

Do you teach in a state where state assessments are tied to your evaluation?

This is one of those topics that is hard to change, but it impacts EVERYTHING.

When assessments are used as a compliance tool or a “gotcha,” it shifts instruction in ways that don’t actually serve students.

But when leaders use data to support instructional decisions, coach teachers, and focus on growth, that’s when it becomes powerful.

If legislation requires it, we can’t ignore it, but we CAN change how it’s used.

Curious, what does it look like in your state?

Tell me here!👇🏻

#teacherclarity #instructionalleadership #formativeassessment #teachertips #k12education

Comment SPRING and I’ll DM you the link to all of

Comment SPRING and I’ll DM you the link to all of these resources! #lessonideas #elementaryschoolteacher #teachingideas #lessonplans

Whether you’re just starting state testing or fini

Whether you’re just starting state testing or finishing it up, the learning is always happening. And as the test scores come in, turn that summative data into something powerful: a plan to teach even smarter next year.

Here are 5 practical ways to use your data to:
✔️ Spot patterns
✔️ Rethink your curriculum
✔️ Reflect on your teaching
✔️ Plan small groups
✔️ Collaborate with your team

Summative test results are not just numbers. They’re a roadmap to real growth.

Want a deeper dive + a FREE printable to guide your PLC data conversations? Comment SUMMATIVE and I’ll DM you the link to my blog + the PDF!

#teacherlife #teacherPD #upperelteacher #teacherplanning #summativeassessment

Here’s a fun and thoughtful end of the year gift y

Here’s a fun and thoughtful end of the year gift you can give to your students.💕

Type up a letter with the title “I Will Remember” or “I Will Miss,” and write out what you’ll miss or remember about your students. 🥰 Include their names and make it personal. Print them out as a letter or in a 4x6 size to place into a plastic magnetic frame.

You can also print out a quote that resonates with your class, like the “Be the Nice Kid” quote. Put that into a small photo key chain and make that a part of the gift too.

My last year teaching, I decided to add a friendship bracelet to the gift and I packaged them all together in a cellophane bag.

Comment GIFT and I will DM you the link to find this resource in my shop.

#classroomideas #studentgifts #iteachtoo #teacherlife #teachersofig

🦋 Here’s a simple sprint art project you can do wi

🦋 Here’s a simple sprint art project you can do with your students:

You’ll need watercolor paper (computer or construction paper works fine too), watercolors, and black crayons or pastels.

Directly show students how to draw a half butterfly on their papers. I’d recommend they use pencils first, the. Trace with the black crayon or pastel.

Then students can use watercolors to pain the butterfly and background.

You can suggest that they use warm and cold colors to contrast the painting. You can also start the lesson by showing your students pictures of real butterflies so they can see the differences in colors and the intricacies of their wings.

This is a great way to end the day and to give your students a chance for mindfulness and creativity!

#teacherlife #classroomtips #classroomideas #elementaryschool #elementaryart

When I taught in California, this time of year alw

When I taught in California, this time of year always came with a mix of excitement and uncertainty.

Our district had us fill out a form indicating whether we planned to return the following year, if we wanted to stay in the same grade level, which other grades we would be open to teaching, or if we wanted to transfer to a different school as part of what was called transfer rounds.

We never knew who would be moving schools, switching grade levels, or leaving altogether, which made the anticipation feel like a waiting game.

Does anyone else’s district do the same thing around this time of year?

#teachertips #elementaryteacher #teacherinspiration #classroomideas #teacherresources

One of the most powerful things we can teach stude

One of the most powerful things we can teach students is how to evaluate their own learning.

But self-assessment doesn’t happen automatically.

Students need:
• clear learning goals and success criteria
• examples of strong work
• structured reflection questions
• opportunities to identify next steps

When students learn how to reflect on their learning, they become more independent, more motivated, and more aware of their progress.

And the bonus?
Teachers gain incredible formative assessment information along the way.

Save this post for later and try one of these strategies this week. You can also comment SELF and I’ll DM you the link to my blog with more info and resources!

#teacherclarity #formativeassessment #learninggoals #successcriteria #visiblelearning

When school data looks like this, the conversation

When school data looks like this, the conversation usually goes straight to intervention.

More tutoring.
More programs.
More test prep.

But one question often gets skipped.

What are students experiencing in Tier 1 instruction every day?

I spent time working with school and district data at the Idaho State Department of Education, and one pattern showed up again and again.

When results were significantly lower than district and state averages across subjects, it rarely meant students couldn’t learn the material.

More often, it pointed to something else:

• learning goals that weren’t clear
• success criteria students couldn’t see or articulate
• instruction and assessment that weren’t fully aligned
• small groups disconnected from core instruction
• too much independent work before students had a foundation

Intervention cannot carry an entire system.

Strong schools start by strengthening core instruction.

When instruction becomes clearer, students understand:
what they’re learning, what success looks like, and how to improve.

And that’s when we begin to see the data change.

If you’re a teacher, coach, or school leader…

What is one thing your team has done to strengthen Tier 1 instruction this year?

👇 I’d love to hear.

Save this post if you’re working on improving instructional clarity in your school.

#teacherclarity #instructionalleadership #instructionalcoach #tier1instruction #formativeassessment

One of the simplest ways to start using AI is by a

One of the simplest ways to start using AI is by asking it to help you clarify what you’re already teaching.

Try using AI to:
• turn standards into student-friendly learning goals
• draft success criteria students can use to check their work
• generate questions to check understanding during a lesson

When students understand the learning goal and what success looks like, the impact on learning is significant. Research around teacher clarity continues to show how powerful that visibility is for students.

AI can’t replace instructional expertise.
But it can help teachers draft, refine, and streamline the thinking work that goes into planning.

That means more time spent on the part that matters most:
responding to students and making instructional decisions.

Start small.

Use AI as a thinking partner, not a replacement for teaching.

Save this post so you have these prompts ready the next time you’re planning.

#teacherclarity #formativeassessment #instructionalcoach #teachertips #educationleadership

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Search the blog

Do you teach in a state where state assessments ar

Do you teach in a state where state assessments are tied to your evaluation?

This is one of those topics that is hard to change, but it impacts EVERYTHING.

When assessments are used as a compliance tool or a “gotcha,” it shifts instruction in ways that don’t actually serve students.

But when leaders use data to support instructional decisions, coach teachers, and focus on growth, that’s when it becomes powerful.

If legislation requires it, we can’t ignore it, but we CAN change how it’s used.

Curious, what does it look like in your state?

Tell me here!👇🏻

#teacherclarity #instructionalleadership #formativeassessment #teachertips #k12education

Comment SPRING and I’ll DM you the link to all of

Comment SPRING and I’ll DM you the link to all of these resources! #lessonideas #elementaryschoolteacher #teachingideas #lessonplans

Whether you’re just starting state testing or fini

Whether you’re just starting state testing or finishing it up, the learning is always happening. And as the test scores come in, turn that summative data into something powerful: a plan to teach even smarter next year.

Here are 5 practical ways to use your data to:
✔️ Spot patterns
✔️ Rethink your curriculum
✔️ Reflect on your teaching
✔️ Plan small groups
✔️ Collaborate with your team

Summative test results are not just numbers. They’re a roadmap to real growth.

Want a deeper dive + a FREE printable to guide your PLC data conversations? Comment SUMMATIVE and I’ll DM you the link to my blog + the PDF!

#teacherlife #teacherPD #upperelteacher #teacherplanning #summativeassessment

Here’s a fun and thoughtful end of the year gift y

Here’s a fun and thoughtful end of the year gift you can give to your students.💕

Type up a letter with the title “I Will Remember” or “I Will Miss,” and write out what you’ll miss or remember about your students. 🥰 Include their names and make it personal. Print them out as a letter or in a 4x6 size to place into a plastic magnetic frame.

You can also print out a quote that resonates with your class, like the “Be the Nice Kid” quote. Put that into a small photo key chain and make that a part of the gift too.

My last year teaching, I decided to add a friendship bracelet to the gift and I packaged them all together in a cellophane bag.

Comment GIFT and I will DM you the link to find this resource in my shop.

#classroomideas #studentgifts #iteachtoo #teacherlife #teachersofig

🦋 Here’s a simple sprint art project you can do wi

🦋 Here’s a simple sprint art project you can do with your students:

You’ll need watercolor paper (computer or construction paper works fine too), watercolors, and black crayons or pastels.

Directly show students how to draw a half butterfly on their papers. I’d recommend they use pencils first, the. Trace with the black crayon or pastel.

Then students can use watercolors to pain the butterfly and background.

You can suggest that they use warm and cold colors to contrast the painting. You can also start the lesson by showing your students pictures of real butterflies so they can see the differences in colors and the intricacies of their wings.

This is a great way to end the day and to give your students a chance for mindfulness and creativity!

#teacherlife #classroomtips #classroomideas #elementaryschool #elementaryart

When I taught in California, this time of year alw

When I taught in California, this time of year always came with a mix of excitement and uncertainty.

Our district had us fill out a form indicating whether we planned to return the following year, if we wanted to stay in the same grade level, which other grades we would be open to teaching, or if we wanted to transfer to a different school as part of what was called transfer rounds.

We never knew who would be moving schools, switching grade levels, or leaving altogether, which made the anticipation feel like a waiting game.

Does anyone else’s district do the same thing around this time of year?

#teachertips #elementaryteacher #teacherinspiration #classroomideas #teacherresources

One of the most powerful things we can teach stude

One of the most powerful things we can teach students is how to evaluate their own learning.

But self-assessment doesn’t happen automatically.

Students need:
• clear learning goals and success criteria
• examples of strong work
• structured reflection questions
• opportunities to identify next steps

When students learn how to reflect on their learning, they become more independent, more motivated, and more aware of their progress.

And the bonus?
Teachers gain incredible formative assessment information along the way.

Save this post for later and try one of these strategies this week. You can also comment SELF and I’ll DM you the link to my blog with more info and resources!

#teacherclarity #formativeassessment #learninggoals #successcriteria #visiblelearning

When school data looks like this, the conversation

When school data looks like this, the conversation usually goes straight to intervention.

More tutoring.
More programs.
More test prep.

But one question often gets skipped.

What are students experiencing in Tier 1 instruction every day?

I spent time working with school and district data at the Idaho State Department of Education, and one pattern showed up again and again.

When results were significantly lower than district and state averages across subjects, it rarely meant students couldn’t learn the material.

More often, it pointed to something else:

• learning goals that weren’t clear
• success criteria students couldn’t see or articulate
• instruction and assessment that weren’t fully aligned
• small groups disconnected from core instruction
• too much independent work before students had a foundation

Intervention cannot carry an entire system.

Strong schools start by strengthening core instruction.

When instruction becomes clearer, students understand:
what they’re learning, what success looks like, and how to improve.

And that’s when we begin to see the data change.

If you’re a teacher, coach, or school leader…

What is one thing your team has done to strengthen Tier 1 instruction this year?

👇 I’d love to hear.

Save this post if you’re working on improving instructional clarity in your school.

#teacherclarity #instructionalleadership #instructionalcoach #tier1instruction #formativeassessment

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