a blog for Off the Path teachers, parents, and learners

Our best teachers are constantly inventing ideas and possibilities that stretch the paradigm, that challenge the system, and that have the potential to change teaching and learning as we know them.

I always thought an overnight teacher/family/child retreat would be a great way to kick off the school year.

I wanted to decorate my classroom with framed family pictures from my students’ homes.

I considered challenging my City Council members to substitute teach for one week each in our school system.

What “crazy” ideas have you had, that seemed (or still seem) ridiculous to some, but that might make a difference?

Too often, teachers with unusual, progressive, or alternative teaching styles work in isolation from those who rely on more traditional instructional methods. In fact, due to a variety of factors, our best teachers can be downright ostracized their peers. Why is this? What can, or should, be done about it? How can “out of the box” teachers connect with one another, so that their fuel tanks stay full? Thanks, in advance, for your thoughts…

More than ever, parents and families are critical any child’s school success.  Involving them, however, can be a challenge.  Thinkers, what strategies and ideas for making families a part of the learning experience have worked for you?  What hasn’t worked?  And what do you recommend to others who are seeking to increase parental involvement and interest?