The Thing That's Stopping You Might Be Trying to Protect You
Every now and then I read something that doesn't simply teach me something new. It changes the way I think. This week, it was Robert Kegan and Lisa Lahey's article The Real Reason People Won't Change. In September, I'll begin working with schools as a mentor in Bulgaria's national project Competencies in Focus, supporting teachers and school teams as they develop more effective teaching and learning practices. Naturally, I've been spending part of my summer reading about prof
Jul 93 min read
Every teacher has two versions of their teaching. The observed one, and the default one.
The observed lesson is intentional. Planned carefully. Activities are selected in advance, timing is tighter, questions are clearer, engagement is more visible. We think more about differentiation, participation, outcomes. The default lesson is different. Not because teachers stop caring, but because everyday teaching runs on habit, pressure, time, curriculum demands, energy, survival. Over time, we all fall back on a dominant way of teaching - the version that feels most man
May 64 min read
The Hardest Weeks of the School Year Happen After the Learning Is Supposedly Finished
The most important weeks of the school year arrive precisely when nobody wants them. Teachers are tired. Students are tired. Parents are tired. The tests are done. The grades are finalized. The External Assessments are over. And honestly, nobody is thinking about learning anymore. Every June I see the same thing. The energy changes. The conversations change. Students start counting days. Teachers start counting tasks. Everyone is looking towards the summer. After months of de
May 294 min read