Posts by Compass PD, LLC
Coaching with Heart (and a Side of Chocolate)
By Dr. Stephanie Brenner If you have spent time as an instructional coach, you have probably found yourself in moments that go far beyond lesson plans, data analysis, or pedagogy. One minute, you were discussing a lesson, and the next, you were comforting a teacher whose eyes welled up with tears. In those moments, you…
Read MoreMid-Year Momentum: Reenergizing School Leaders for Success
By Dr. Bridgett Niedringhaus So, it’s that time of year when we are coming off a high… Christmas break and New Year’s celebrations, and for some of us, especially in the Midwest, we got an extra week of vacation due to snow. As an administrator, you reflect on what was accomplished during the first semester…
Read MoreUnderstanding, Celebrating, Fostering: Commemorating Black History Month with Purpose and Impact
By Dr. Matt VanHorn “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.” – Booker T. Washington, author and politician Having served in the classroom for over the past twenty years, this quote reminds me…
Read MoreFrom Overwhelmed to Aligned: Building a Data-Driven Curriculum Cycle
By Dr. Carrie Hepburn and Dr. Sherri Lorton Introduction: Why Data Matters in Curriculum Decisions Educational leaders face a myriad of challenges when trying to ensure high-quality learning for every student. Yet, a common thread in successful districts is the intentional use of data to guide decisions. From state assessments and federal requirements to classroom…
Read MoreAssess, Analyze, Adjust: Using Mid-Year Data to Drive Student Growth
By Dr. Natalie Fallert It is January, and many secondary teachers have just finished their semester finals or are getting ready to give them. For middle school teachers, if you didn’t offer a mid-year content exam, you are probably embarking on some universal screener1 like STAR, i-Ready, AIMSweb, etc. Hopefully, you are using the data…
Read MoreSetting the Stage for Success: Goal Setting in the Secondary Math Classroom
By Constance Hallemeier Research consistently demonstrates the power of mastery-oriented goals in fostering deep learning, motivation, and student growth. Still, no one teaches educators how to set, monitor, or maintain those goals, especially in content-based classrooms. In my years of practice in secondary mathematics, I have learned that effective goal setting is more than just…
Read MoreUnlocking Early Math Success: The Power of Subitizing in the Classroom
By Dr. Sherri Lorton Subitizing—the ability to instantly recognize the number of objects in a small group without counting—is a foundational skill in early mathematics education. This cognitive process enables children to perceive quantities rapidly, fostering number sense and setting the stage for more complex mathematical reasoning Understanding Subitizing Derived from the Latin word subitus,…
Read MoreThe Gift of Learning
By Dr. Natalie Fallert When I first had the idea of this blog, I wanted to call it “The Gift of Knowledge”; however, after thinking about it, I felt it more important to focus on learning, not knowledge. Let’s face it: knowledge can be something that comes pretty quickly. Knowing something doesn’t mean we took…
Read MoreMaking the Most of Elementary Transitions: Quick and Easy Ideas for Teachers
By Dr. Carrie Hepburn and Dr. Sherri Lorton Transitions. We all know them, live them, and let’s be honest—we’ve all wondered how to make them smoother. Whether it’s lining up to go to specials, waiting in the hallway to enter the cafeteria, or managing the moments before the buses arrive, transitions are a part of…
Read MoreFeedback in Secondary Math: It’s More Than a Grade Pt. 2
By Constance Hallemeier In Feedback in Secondary Math: It’s More Than a Grade, Pt. 1, we explored how timely, specific feedback can transform student learning, even when time is tight. Strategies like prioritizing feedback, leveraging technology, and fostering peer-to-peer discussions were just the beginning. But time isn’t the only challenge secondary math teachers face. With…
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