by Blaine HelwigApr 87 minNew Teacher Tips by “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” “The Marvelous Mrs. Mazel” is an Emmy winning Amazon Prime video series (4 Seasons) about a New York City divorcee who pursues a career...
by Blaine HelwigApr 27 minTwo Questions that Stymie Most Title 1 AdministratorsIn the last 30 years, the author has visited approximately 250 Title 1 elementary campuses as a teacher, principal, central office...
by Blaine HelwigMar 236 minEmulate Before Innovating: COVID or No COVIDEvery time we boarded an airplane to travel, my wife would open the airline magazine and complete the three levels of Sudoku puzzles: ...
by Blaine HelwigAug 14, 20214 min ‘Fix’ Fluency --- or, Comprehension ‘Breaks Down!’Word fluency will drive comprehension proficiency since the students can read and not deplete their ‘CPU’ trying to decipher the most...
by Blaine HelwigFeb 7, 20215 minTeaching to the Test - A Better Understanding of the PhraseI have heard the expression – Teaching to the Test – for many years, but I had not deeply considered the thinking behind the phrase until...
by Blaine HelwigOct 5, 20203 minEliminating Differentiated Instruction is the Title 1 Campus GoalBack in the spring of 2016 when I was an elementary principal, I attended a district professional development session on a new teacher...
by Blaine HelwigSep 16, 20205 minTrickle-Down Teacher Training Versus Bubble-Up Gap Elimination The macroeconomic theory of trickle-down corporate tax cuts has been a mainstay for conservative politicians and economists for nearly a...
by Blaine HelwigAug 13, 20206 minEffective Daily Classroom Management – Come Rain or Shine!Half a century ago, my father, older brother and I watched a herd of horses driven into a rectangular corral from an open field. My father w
by Blaine HelwigJul 8, 20203 minWord Problems: Student Benefits and Effective Teaching TipsThe daily teaching of math word problems is essential if students are to become adept problem solvers. The consistency of a daily routine...
by Blaine HelwigMay 13, 20205 minDistance Learning – Pandemic Lessons LearnedThe pandemic has brought to light many underlying issues in our society. Some incidents were surprising; for instance, I was astounded...
by Blaine HelwigFeb 12, 20203 minBaiting Educators for an Emotional ResponseHappens far too frequently in our public schools. A student will use profanity or do something outrageous to get an emotional response...
by Blaine HelwigDec 17, 20195 minIt’s the Gaps, Stupid! – Part 1The famous American political phrase, “It’s the economy, stupid” is attributed to James Carville and coined during Bill Clinton's...
by Blaine HelwigDec 16, 20197 minIt’s the Gaps, Stupid! – Part 2Small Gaps Widen to Larger Chasms While hiking the 500-mile-long El Camino in Spain a couple of summers ago, a small pain ensued on the...
by Blaine HelwigOct 7, 20193 minPick a Number. Any Number. Now - Why is that Number Important?I am thinking of a two digit number between 30 and 40 that is both an even number and a multiple of 8. Can you guess the number? As...
by Blaine HelwigAug 29, 20193 minAlign, Teach, Practice and Do Well!A middle distance runner competing in a 3,200 meter or 5 kilometer race practices and trains differently than a long distance runner...
by Blaine HelwigAug 17, 20194 minIn Title 1 Schools, Facts are Stubborn ThingsWhen I was in college, my statics and dynamic professor proposed a no homework versus a double homework wager to his students. He...
by Blaine HelwigJul 12, 20193 minMajor Student Disruption – Identify Triggers, Plan, then Deescalate!If you are a teacher, it will be impossible to avoid major student discipline problems. It will happen at some point in your career....
by Blaine HelwigMay 19, 20194 minKeep a Minor Student Disruption – Minor!A couple years before I retired, I was teaching fifth grade mathematics at my Title 1 elementary school – despite the fact that I was the...
by Blaine HelwigDec 12, 20183 minIs Title 1 Public Education 'Working'? – Depends on Perspective!I do not own a washing machine. Never have. I use the condominium laundry room with its ten washing machines and dryers to handle my...
by Blaine HelwigNov 28, 20184 minPractice without Improvement – A Title 1 Invariant!“How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” This old joke is amusing and timeless because of the obviousness of its one-word punchline: Practice!...
by Blaine HelwigOct 25, 20183 minBridge Resources and Their Academic NeedAbout 15 years ago, I attended weekly central administrator meetings as an elementary program supervisor in a large urban Texas school...
by Blaine HelwigOct 12, 20183 minBad Teaching Day at School – Do not Dwell on the PastOne Friday night about 15 years ago, I was resting on my couch after a long day at work when my cell phone rang. I looked at the phone to...
by Blaine HelwigSep 29, 20187 minHandling a Student’s ‘Silent Treatment’ with Student EmpowermentWhen a child ignores an adult’s questioning using ‘the silent treatment’ and successfully avoids consequence or accountability for their...
by Blaine HelwigSep 15, 20186 minPart 1 - Proactive Title 1 Principals: Active Management Supporting TeachersOver the last decade, Graham Elementary School in the Austin Independent School District's dramatic and sustained academic Title 1...