Katie Budrow

Managing Young Children’s Daylight Saving Time Sleep Issues Daylight Saving Time can disrupt a child’s established sleep rhythms. A few practical steps can help ease the transition.

And as always, try to limit screens for at least an hour (longer is better) before bed.

More good stuff here:

If you didn’t do any prep work for the time change (like me) for your own kid, just know that sunlight helps reset circadian rhythms.

So parents, get your kid up and exposed to sunlight early for the next few days (if possible). Teachers, open blinds if you can (if you have windows, that is).

Oh, and just to be clear, the perspectives shared here are definitely my own and should not be considered reflective of the views of any of my employers.

I also believe that teaching is the best job but the hardest job. I know science can help us all do it a little bit better. I’m always researching for better ways to do the job I love and am happy to share what I find with all of you.

I’ve got a project-based, standards-based classroom where students are led, not managed. This allows students to shift from learning science to becoming scientists themselves. I also work with teachers to help them implement these practices in their own classrooms.

It’s been a while, so I thought I would reintroduce myself. I’m Katie, a middle school science teacher that is lucky to work for an amazing district in the Chicagoland area.

An Unconventional Seating Plan Designed to Benefit Focus and Learning After years of search and experimentation, this teacher finally hit on a room layout that allowed for efficient shifting between whole class, small group, and independent work.

Are you a teacher who thinks a lot about your room layout? We’ve got diagrams!

@mrrablin.bsky.social shows you how he moves easily between whole class, small group, and individual work. 🪑

#ClassroomDesign #EduSky

@mrrablin.bsky.social, this is GENIUS! Now I’m thinking about where my campfires, caves, and watering holes are.

I’ve got a giant science classroom, and kids work in a multitude of spaces. Now I want to start sketching it out. Thank you!!

I started my career in education as a paraprofessional. The zone defense was my preferred way to work in a classroom. There for all kids but able to provide targeted support for specific kids when needed.

Zone defense for paras -> “They step in where needed—helping a group organize materials, quietly prompting a student to re-engage, or modeling a task for learners. Like zone defenders, they scan the room, shift to where they are needed, and anticipate what’s next.”

It’s Time to Rip Off the Velcro! Rethinking Paraprofessional Support When a paraprofessional shadows one student all day, good intentions can backfire. A fluid support model delivers better outcomes.

Good read here from @leeannjung.bsky.social.

Is apathy towards work or apathy towards school?

I’ve had some success with the first. I can get them to work. But the overall investment in school seems low …

a cartoon of homer simpson holding a newspaper that says " old man yells at cloud " Alt: a cartoon of Grandpa Simpson in a newspaper with the headline "old man yells at cloud "

Eh, I don’t think you are old. They are just young.

Though I’m slowly turning into this myself:

PS. Admin, this also works for teachers. Leadership isn’t always the loudest voice in the school. Look for those that can ask good questions.

As a leader, you don’t have to have all the answers. It absolutely helps if you have the ability to listen and ask questions. Questions will move people forward because they are the ones thinking it through. They are the ones doing the work. But to have the questions, you have to be able to listen.

Leadership doesn’t have to be loud.

In the classroom, some of my best leaders have been the quiet kids. Why? They know how to listen.

It could even be a list of typical executive functioning skills by age range, as long as the sourcing was sound.

I need some neuroscience help. Anybody have a reliable source for how long a kid can plan ahead by age?

For example, an average 10-year-old can plan ahead by 1-3 days. I found a stat similar to this, but the source wasn’t good.

Thanks in advance!
#neuroscience #adolescentbrain #braindevelopment

Yow, couple of days is a short timeframe. At one point, I was doing a grade a week. Now I’m back to grading at the end of each project (about six weeks).

I still have more kids disengaged than I did six years ago. But there are fewer and fewer that don’t buy in every year.

I feel like we’ve talked about this before (my apologies if so) but could you do a hybrid? There’s a bunch of different ways to do it. I’m partial to weighting formatives lower so they don’t tank the whole grade.

Was it a work completion issue?

Kids are always more than a test score, a grade, or a survey response. Can you use that stuff as evidence? Sure. Just don’t forget the evidence right in front of your face.

People are so much more than just a number on a page.

We had a district PD day last week, and I can’t stop thinking about the stuff I learned in one session. Why? Because it was my fellow teachers presenting, not an educational company.

Teachers inspiring teachers. More of this please.

Also, why does it keep trying to get me to play games? I don’t need a 30 second break. I just opened the app.

I get these moments where I think I should do more on LinkedIn. Then I try.

Then I remember why I don’t do more on LinkedIn.

Cardboard plinko game built by a middle schooler.

There is nothing more fun to watch than a curious kid.

In the middle of physics, and they are all busy designing and building cardboard arcade games to demonstrate Newton’s laws. It’s just so amazing to watch.

a group of men are standing in a hallway with the words `` welcome back '' written on the bottom . Alt: a group of men are standing in a hallway with the words `` welcome back '' written on the bottom .

Hey, would anybody be interested in a Bluesky #sblchat? It would probably have to be a slow chat to start …

We are always teaching.

They are always learning.

Drinking bird toy sips water out of a beaker in a science classroom.

I bought a drinking bird.

We are studying physics, and I thought it was just be a funny cute thing to have on my desk. It turned into a slew of questions and experimentation to figure out how Filipe actually works. We still have way more questions than answers.

Oh, and yes, we named him Filipe.

If leaders are serious about ending war, women need a seat at the table.

Global data, 1989-2011: When women are involved in agreements, peace is 35% more likely to last 15+ years.

Men alone shouldn’t decide the fate of nations. Gender balance is especially vital with high stakes and hot tempers.

Totally. January has infinite days. Or at least way more than 31.

I also didn’t have the heart to remind my sixth grade scientists that tomorrow is also. Still. January.