Posts by Compass PD, LLC
The Secret to Feedback That Sticks
By Dr. Stephanie Brenner When we think about feedback, quick comments like “Great job!” or “Try harder next time” come to mind. However, for educators, feedback’s true value lies in helping students learn and improve, not just feel good. Research by experts like Bryan Goodwin, John Hattie, Robert Marzano, Douglas Reeves, and Douglas Stone shows…
Read MoreYou Hold the Power: Trust Yourself, Trust Your Craft
By Dr. Carrie Hepburn In a world where technology increasingly takes center stage, it’s easy to feel like we need a digital program to tell us what to do in education. But here’s the truth: nothing replaces the power of a teacher. Not an algorithm, not a device, and not a slide deck from 15…
Read MorePart 1 of: Teaching Students With Dyslexia 201: Diving Deeper into Practical Supports
By Dr. Stephanie Brenner We are halfway through Dyslexia Awareness Month! Earlier, we explored what dyslexia is, the five key language systems essential for understanding dyslexia, common characteristics, and four ways to make a difference. With that foundation, it’s time to turn theory into action! Where should you start? Beginning with a focus on building…
Read MoreEmpowering Teachers to Support Students with Dyscalculia: Key Knowledge and Strategies
By Dr. Stephanie Evans As teachers, we encounter students who struggle with math, but what happens when traditional approaches like small group instruction and scaffolding aren’t enough? For some, the difficulty runs deeper, pointing to a lesser-known learning disability: dyscalculia. Interestingly, the connection between difficulties with numbers and struggles with words is striking, as many…
Read MoreReading Fiction: 5 Tips to Engage Readers
By Dr. Natalie Fallert As a retired high school Language Arts teacher, I am too familiar with fake reading, skimming, spark notes, or refusing to read. I often attributed this to laziness, but after spending a year following reluctant readers while working on my dissertation, my perspective on the typical teen’s refusal to read the…
Read MoreTeaching Students with Dyslexia 101: A Guide to Language Systems and Support
By Dr. Stephanie Brenner Welcome to Dyslexia Awareness Month! This October, we’re shining a light on dyslexia—a learning difference that’s more common than you might think. If you’re a teacher, most likely you have already worked with several students who have dyslexia. The most common questions I receive are: What exactly is dyslexia? How do…
Read MoreWhy Ongoing Professional Learning Matters: The Pitfalls of One-Day Workshops
By Dr. Carrie Hepburn As the new school year begins, school districts nationwide often kick off professional development with a familiar ritual: the one-day workshop. Teachers gather, listen to presentations, engage in activities, and leave, hoping that this brief encounter will lead to meaningful change in their classrooms. However, the results are often disappointing. The…
Read MoreBreaking Words Apart: Five-Step Strategy for Reading Big Words
By Dr. Stephanie Brenner Do you have sesquipedalophobia? Do your students have sesquipedalophobia? Just now, how did you approach reading the final word in each of the previous sentences? Did you totally skip it, thinking its meaning and importance would be revealed later? Did you start at the beginning and try each part but did…
Read MoreTeach Don’t Assign: Creating Independent Learners
By Dr. Natalie Fallert Teaching is similar to the famous Proverb: Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. It is a simple phrase, to teach, but many educators spend too much time giving students the information or…
Read MoreRefocusing for Results: Simplifying Our Approach Transformed Student Learning
Discover how simplifying your approach to education can lead to improved student outcomes. Learn how focusing on key goals transformed our district’s test scores and teacher confidence, with actionable steps for success.
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