Greg J Wolcott

You’ve done hard things before. You can do it again. ✌🏻

In learning, photos and visuals work the same way. They turn abstract ideas into concrete memories. A single image can trigger a story, recall a lesson, or reignite an emotion long after words fade.

Want learning to last? Let Ss see it- through photos, sketches, diagrams, and visual journaling.

Put the AWE in AWESOME!

Awe isn’t just a feeling—it’s a cognitive reset.

When students experience awe—a stunning science demo, a powerful story, a breathtaking idea—their sense of self shrinks just enough for curiosity to grow.

#Awe #ScienceOfLearning #Curiosity #PositivePsychology #Education

Go get it!!

When Students Become the Teachers…

One of the most powerful ways to deepen understanding is to flip the roles. In reciprocal teaching, students take turns leading discussions using four strategies:
-Predict
-Question
-Clarify
-Summarize

Learning doubles when teaching begins!

Illustration of diverse group of students and educators. Text above: 'Variation is Universal' and below: '& Wonderful!'

Variation is universal—and wonderful. #UDL helps us design for that. #LeadInclusion #Equity #EduSky #TeacherTwitter #EdChat

Last week, I spoke with a principal who gave me some wonderful feedback. Several of his teachers have adopted the daily practice I suggested, and the results have been remarkable—he described seeing an ‘almost instant sense of belonging’ develop among students.

Quickly revisiting and reflecting on successful moments of the week has a greater impact than most people think. Slow down and take a couple of minutes to savor those success.

Understanding how your mind works and how to respond to different social emotional states has strong research backing. Some of the ways it is taught not so much.

Social emotional learning is so important but often overlooked and not included are gratitude practices.

The Greater Good Science Center at Berkeley has amazing gratitude resources- check them out: ggsc.berkeley.edu/search?q=Gra...

We've been taught to label the functions of behavior in ways that fee...manipulative. What if we thought of this differently?
When we shift from judgment to empathy, everything changes.
#EduSky #LeadInclusion #EducationTikTok
#InclusiveEducation #UDL
#SpecialEducation

Retrieval, the key to long term memory, is missing in most classrooms.

In addition to helping build relationships, connection and a sense of belonging- greetings at the door increase engagement by 27%. By far one of the easiest ways to do this!

Academic papers ask "Does X improve learning?" but schools need to know "Does X improve learning enough to justify its implementation costs compared to alternative Y?"

Why Students Should Write in All Subjects Writing improves learning by consolidating information in long-term memory, researchers explain. Plus, five engaging writing activities to use in all subjects.

Why get students writing in math, science, social studies, and more? It’ll help them process information and remember what they’ve learned. ✍️

Edutopia’s @youkiterada.bsky.social shares the research.

#EduSky #literacy

A Video Project That Asks Students to Celebrate Their Classmates Teachers who worry that parent conferences may not convey the ‘everyday magic’ of the classroom can include these video clips in their talks.

Students learn to look past frustrations and see strengths in their peers, which strengthens the classroom community. @edutopia.org

www.edutopia.org/article/pers...

Turning chores into choices is one of the best ways to build autonomy. So many ways we can do this in schools for both students and staff.

I’ve witnessed the incredible power that emerges when both staff and students focus on their strengths. In nearly every session I lead on building relationships in schools, I highlight the value of the VIA Character Strengths Assessment.

Explore it here: www.viacharacter.org.

Not formative assessment…FOR ME-tive Assessment!

It’s for you- to change instruction!

Too often as a teacher I turned to the same couple of students to run things to the office or serve as my lead helpers. I didn’t think about the invisible message I was sending, “these are the only students I trust.”

Every student deserves to feel like the teacher’s favorite.

"When I Grow Up" - Gemini Image Prompt - www.controlaltachieve.com/2025/09/when...

🧒 Take student photos
🧑‍🚀 And show them in their dream careers
🍌 Use Google's free Nano-Banana image tool
🛡️ School-safe with Gemini
📄 Free prompt to copy & use
▶️ 10-min demo video

#EduSky #EduSkyAI #EdTech #GoogleEDU

Beyond the theoretical and pedagogical constraints ofcognitive load theory, and towards a new cognitivephilosophy in educationMinkang Kima , Christopher Duncanb, Stanley Yipa and Derek Sankeycasydney school of Education and social Work, the university of sydney, sydney, australia; bthe associationof heads of independent schools of australia, campbell, australia; cindependent scholarABSTRACTCognitive load theory (CLT), a construct of instructional psychologist JohnSweller, has long been a mainstay of educational psychology and universityeducational technology courses, regionally and internationally. Althoughaspects of this cognitivist theory have been severely criticised, includingits insistence on direct instruction in opposition to inquiry-based pedago-gies, a comprehensive philosophical, neurobiological, and education critiquehas been missing. This paper fills the gap, by subjecting the main theo-retical and pedagogical claims of CLT to close and searching scrutiny, inpart, utilising a newly emerging synthesis of philosophy and cognitivebrain science, appropriately known as Cognitive Philosophy. The paperpushes past CLT, with its emphasis on the transient nature of workingmemory and core notion of cognitive ‘load’, to propose an account of thelearning brain that is predictive (not reactive), embodied, neuronally plastic,non-linear, dynamically self-organising, and inherently emotional. This alter-native account immediately problematises Sweller’s understanding of work-ing memory and his account of language learning, based on Geary’squestionable epistemological claims, while keeping the practical needs ofteachers and teacher educators firmly in view. Armed with this alternative,teachers can move beyond the theoretical and pedagogical constraints ofCLT, including trying to mitigate a putative ‘load’ in working memory.

Make your morning read this paper shared with me by @mraleosays.bsky.social: "Beyond the theoretical and pedagogical constraints of cognitive load theory, and towards a new cognitive philosophy in education" #EduSky #CLT #SoL

A 🧵:

Real learning occurs when students: try to produce something consequential, see the purpose in what they're doing, have some choice about what they learn, get regular feedback, are part of a community that offers support & demands high standards. —Daniel Pink

#EduSky #education

How Short Writing Activities Help Build a Strong Math Community The opportunity to reflect on what they know helps students strengthen their mathematical understanding and supports communication skills.

When students can write about and share ways that math is useful with their peers, they gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the subject *and* build their communication skills! ✖️✍️

#MathSky #ITeachMath #ElementaryTeacher #EduSky

Daily practice early and often helps ingrain routines and rituals and makes learn better for all as the year goes on!

Savoring positive moments isn’t just nice to have - it’s a game-changer for our overall well-being and resilience. When we slow down to fully appreciate good experiences, we’re literally rewiring our brains to notice and remember more of life’s bright spots.

Try this personally, with colleagues as a starter at PLCs or with students!