A Technology Coach’s Biggest Mistake: Part Two
As we said before, getting teachers to adopt new practices with technology isn’t easy. In our first installment, we provided some tips to keep you from making the mistake of ignoring teacher buy-in. In this final installment, we offer two more tips to help you avoid this common mistake. A Guide to Getting Your Teachers Onboard Listen…no…REALLY listen. […]
5 Reasons Your School Needs a Data Warehouse
What do you think of when you hear the word data? Do you envision numbers rapidly scrolling on a computer screen like in The Matrix? Or of spreadsheets with endless rows and columns filled with figures and formulas? Even worse, maybe the word is anxiety-inducing because you’ve heard the phrases data-driven instruction and data-driven decision-making a few too many times. What […]
One Size Doesn’t Fit All!
It used to be, “One size fits all,” then, “One size fits most.” Finally, Burger King announced, “You can have it your way,” and the floodgates blew wide open. Learners today require that teachers get to know them as individuals and tailor instruction to meet their individual needs to help them gain maximum growth throughout […]
Are You Modeling the “Ask 3” Approach?
Have you ever heard (or used) the phrase, “Ask three, then me”? I heard other teachers use it with their students when I started teaching four years ago. The idea is simple: before students come and ask the teacher for help, they should check with three other sources. They can ask three friends. They can […]
Choosing the Best Phone System for Your District
Choosing a phone system that fits the needs of your district can be tough. How do you know which phone system will work best for your staff, make day-to-day tasks easier, and still be cost-effective? Take a look at our checklist to see which of our phone systems works best for your district. Affordability – Are you paying a monthly […]
Gut Feelings vs. Data-Driven Decisions
Do you ever make decisions based on “gut feeling”? Can you tell within minutes of meeting someone whether you like them or you don’t? Are you a teacher who can tell within the first week which of your students will graduate first in class, last in class, or not at all? Malcolm Gladwell’s book, Blink, talks about […]
Celebrating Student Success With Student Original Work
Like most kids, my son and daughter can’t wait to get home from school on Fridays! Yes, they look forward to staying up later on Friday nights, sleeping in on Saturdays, and spending time with their family and friends on Sundays. BUT…do you want to know what my kids REALLY look forward to on Fridays? […]
Are You Prepared for a Great Year of Staff Evaluations?
While some people believe that teachers spend their summers lounging on the beach all day, the truth is that great educators are using much of their time away from school to revise their curriculum for the upcoming year. June and July are when educators attend conferences, plan new learning activities for their students, and reflect […]
Five-Star + Google = Awesome Learning!
Five-Star Technology Solutions is proud to announce that we are now a Midwestern-based Google Partner! The year-long process involved observations, case studies to demonstrate our ability to help schools succeed with Google Tools, and the certification of our staff members. We strongly believe this partnership will allow us to help school districts across the Midwest […]
Can Teachers Help the Tech Team?
Yes! Effective communication is the key that helps you deepen your connections to others and improve teamwork, decision making, and problem-solving. It enables you to communicate even negative or difficult messages without creating conflict or destroying trust. When you hear the word ‘key’ several words may come to mind; lock, unlock, guard, protect. Communication has […]