While much of education acknowledges the need for us to focus on literacy and numeracy, not everyone realizes the paramount importance of listening and spoken language skills. For example, I remember that when my wife and I were first married we arrived a

There has been a lot of talk lately on how we might improve student learning and student engagement.   One widely accepted notion is that improving student engagement is likely to r(http://betterlearningforschools.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Screen-S

As human beings, most of us tend to avoid things that are difficult. For example, I was recently visiting a school where kids were running the mile as part of their physical education class. The teacher I visited with mentioned something interesting. He d

Over the past decade it seems that I have had the same literacy conversation dozens of times with parents.  Around the time a student hits his or her teenage years, it seems that their parents grow increasingly concerned that their child just doesn’t

(http://www.remarkablechatter.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/listening_speaking_Curtis_Chandler-300x192.png)Recently, much attention has been turned to the importance of listening and speaking.  Across the United States, for instance, new curricular s

Not too long ago I was at school, and came around the corner to find several students crowded around one kid’s cell phone screen.  They were laughing…so naturally…I assumed the worst—that they were sharing something salacious and titillating.  I

(http://www.remarkablechatter.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/6944878-269x300.jpg)Human beings are wired for two things—learning and playing.  No one is likely to argue with the first claim…that we are wired for learning.  Babies who are only a coupl

A couple of weeks ago, when the weather turned ridiculously cold, I was on my way home from visiting with some teachers in a nearby city when I got a little lost.  My GPS went a bit screwy and started to send me in circles.  After going by the same ga

What can a professional jazz drummer and my dad's garage band possibly teach us about collaboration and leadership? As a teenager, I was in a band. Well...technically, I was in the band. Anyone who has survived high school can tell you that there is a hu

(http://www.remarkablechatter.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Screen-Shot-2014-01-29-at-2.53.11-PM-300x142.png)In this episode, we seek to uncover the key to putting the right text in front of the right kid.  Sadly, when I was an elementary and secondar.