Kaci Gibson

Today’s listen. Change management takes commitment. “You’ve got to get people to the point where they are willing to try something because they understand it, they connect to it, they see the value of it and they are willing to make the effort.” Grateful I get to support my

@DerrickEvans4WV Teacher here who does not agree with homework and hasn’t sent it home in years. Here to say, though, that many campuses and districts still require it so sometimes it’s not teacher choice.

If you are a teacher and you have to give homework then you suck at your job. Period. End of discussion. Get better at your time management.

@VivekGRamaswamy @podcast411 All kids can learn how to read. Even those with reading disabilities. If the correct instruction and interventions are used.. and done the RIGHT way.. all kids can learn to read quicker than most people think. But only about 1% of teachers know how to do this. It’s a travesty.

@VivekGRamaswamy @podcast411 As a literacy specialist and instructional coach I 100% agree, however, if teachers are not trained to teach reading; then holding a student back for a single year will not fix the issue. This is starting with teacher education. Teachers don’t know how to teach reading

If kids can’t read at the end of 4th grade, then they shouldn’t graduate to 5th grade until they can. Artificially “passing” students & patting them on the back isn’t compassion. It’s cruelty.

The research is clear: building kids’ knowledge fuels reading comprehension! @SoniaCabell, @CattsHugh, & others emphasize why background knowledge is crucial—not just skills. @natwexler unpacks the evidence here: nataliewexler.substack.com/p/is-the-buzz-… #Literacy #Education

@newstart_2024 The new RSV vaccine they are adding to the child vaccine schedule and pushing on pregnant women is an MRNA vaccine.

How learning happens in seven general principles ⬇️ 1. Working Memory Capacity is Limited: Our working memory, responsible for holding and processing information in real-time, has a limited capacity. This limitation means that when learners are exposed to large amounts of new information simultaneously, they may struggle to process it effectively. Focusing attention is essential because distractions or overload can lead to cognitive strain, reducing the ability to learn. Teachers can support this by breaking information into manageable chunks, allowing students to engage deeply with smaller parts before moving on to the next concept. 2. We Learn Through Meaning and What We Already Know: Learning is enhanced when new information connects to existing knowledge. When learners relate new content to things they already understand, they create a stronger foundation for retention and comprehension. This process, known as schema-building, helps students make sense of complex ideas by fitting them into an established framework. Teachers can facilitate this by introducing new concepts through familiar examples or linking them to relevant prior knowledge, making learning more meaningful and long-lasting. 3. Novices Think Differently Than Experts: Novices often approach tasks with means-end analysis or trial-and-error methods or simple strategies because they lack the knowledge to recognize patterns or apply sophisticated approaches. In contrast, experts draw on rich mental models, using prior experiences and refined techniques to solve problems more efficiently. This difference means that novices need structured guidance to develop these mental models over time. Teachers can help by gradually introducing students to expert strategies, enabling them to progress from basic skills to more advanced understanding. 4. To Remember, We Need to Forget: Storage strength is the measure of how well information is embedded in long-term memory, indicating its durability over time. Retrieval strength is the ease with which information can be accessed from memory at a given moment, which fluctuates based on recent use and context. Unlike storage strength, retrieval strength is influenced by context and interference from other information. To remember something long-term, it’s essential to boost its retrieval strength, which can be achieved by actively retrieving the information. Unlike passive studying, retrieval requires you to recall the item on your own, strengthening memory more effectively, especially when the retrieval is challenging. This principle explains why strategies like interleaving (alternating topics) and spacing (spreading out sessions) are so effective. By allowing time for slight forgetting, these methods make retrieval harder, ultimately enhancing memory retention. This “adaptive forgetting” is crucial for retaining core concepts. 5. Learning ≠ Performance: A high test score or good performance in the classroom doesn’t necessarily mean that true learning has occurred. Learners might perform well temporarily by memorizing facts or rehearsing specific methods without understanding the underlying concepts. This principle highlights the difference between short-term performance and deep, long-term learning. Effective assessment should look beyond scores to evaluate true comprehension. The rate of assessment matters which is why regular checking for understanding is so important. Teachers can use open-ended questions, application tasks, and reflective discussions to gauge whether students genuinely understand the material. 6. Achievement Leads to Motivation: Success in learning (however small) can foster a positive cycle of confidence, self-efficacy, and motivation. When students achieve their goals, even in small steps, they are more likely to believe in their ability to succeed in future learning tasks. This sense of accomplishment encourages them to take on new challenges and persist through difficulties. Teachers can support this cycle by setting attainable goals, providing regular feedback, and celebrating incremental progress to reinforce students’ confidence and motivation. 7. Learners Are Bad at Knowing How to Learn: Many students are unaware of effective learning strategies, often relying on passive techniques like re-reading, highlighting, or cramming. These methods feel productive in the short term but are less effective for long-term retention. Evidence-based strategies like retrieval practice, spaced learning, and interleaving have been shown to improve memory and understanding, but students may need guidance to adopt these methods. Teachers can enhance learning outcomes by teaching students about these techniques and encouraging their use, helping students develop more efficient and powerful study habits. (Thanks to @MrAlexKoks for the design)

@TeamPelosi As part of that middle class, I’ve yet to struggle more financially than I have the last few years. We are barely making ends meet due to inflation!! We are hard working parents who make a solid income with only one child and are living pay check to pay check. Not adding up.

Democrats delivered 13.4 million jobs, rescuing our economy by growing the middle class. But everyone at the #GOPdebate wants to harm working families sitting at their kitchen tables — to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy sitting at their boardroom tables. Not on our watch! -NP

What a beautiful, kind, TALENTED young lady. 💜 @mrs_recio

Happy Bosses’ Week to two of the best leaders I have ever been mentored by. Your love and knowledge of all things instruction has made an impact on many teachers and students. So grateful for you both!

The Kindergarten graduating class at CSES sends all of their love and best wishes to the Canyon High School graduating class of 2023! As the inaugural kindergarten class here at Clear Spring, we thank you for providing successful footsteps for our students to follow.

Sweet boy and caring leader to our kinders!

@JanelleMHardin She’s so tall!

This week I visited many Comal campuses. It was a blessing to learn from amazing colleagues. I can’t thank them enough for their support. The best was getting to see some of my former students and staff. ❤️😊

@JanelleMHardin Sweet boy!!!! ❤️❤️❤️

@Ktbiggs00 @jimknight99 Things they are doing that can be shared with other teachers as well! The teacher is also a valuable coach 💜

@jimknight99 Teachers need to know their coach is 100% student-centered. They need to know they are a team and truly stronger, for students, together.

Hi everyone, I'm working on a document about how to be coached. I'd love your advice. What do you think teachers need to know so that they can get the most out of coaching?

@Ktbiggs00 @jimknight99 I agree with this! They also need to understand that a coach is NOT an administrator. If observations are done and feedback is given, it is solely for the benefit of the students and teacher growth in knowledge. They also should know that part of observing is seeing amazing

⁦@tarjaparssinen⁩ - One of the most important conversations today. The upstream challenge and opportunity of teacher preparation programs. Are they designed to prepare teachers and leaders to scale the work of #literacy responsibly and sustainably? ⁦@NeuhausEdCtr⁩

@Jmbick27 @TishaRajendra Change begins at the University/Teacher Prep level. I truly believe we will continue facing these issues until there are systematic changes to the education educators get.

@KaciCoachCSES @TishaRajendra That’s what shocked me as a parent, understanding the teachers were curriculum casualties too. Because they were not taught how to teach it. But that discovery provided much more grace

@TishaRajendra have come to the team. They are all amazing! Texas has implemented the Reading Academies which has helped tremendously as well.