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 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 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 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 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 HelwigAug 9, 20183 minA Title 1 Principal Can't Buy Academic SuccessIn the 1970’s, my father started the first Christmas tree farm in South Dakota. A slotted hole was dug using a long steel spade shovel...
by Blaine HelwigMay 5, 20184 minWhy is Effective Title 1 School Reform Not Happening?Federal and State money flows into the Title 1 public schools. The river of money flows regardless of academic results each school year,...
by Blaine HelwigFeb 16, 20184 minScoreboards, Performance, Practice and ReflectionThe other night I was watching the latest release of ESPN’s 30 for 30 – a remarkable and interesting documentary series highlighting...
by Blaine HelwigJan 4, 20183 min"Work the Problem!"My wife and I watched the Tom Hanks’ movie, Apollo 13 over the Holiday break. The movie has many memorable scenes of heroism and...
by Blaine HelwigDec 1, 20173 minTesting: What ALL is being assessed?Educators test students throughout the school year. Students are frequently assessed via both formative and summative assessments ranging...
by Blaine HelwigSep 28, 20172 minWhat are the Benefits of Stop-Gap Resources?I am of the belief that Title 1 academic education reformation involving high percentages of students classified as economically...
by Blaine HelwigSep 21, 20173 minThe Guaranteed Gamble – Academic Title 1 SuccessIn late April of 2014, I was at central office for a meeting when I ran into another Title 1 elementary principal. The STAAR (State of...
by Blaine HelwigSep 14, 20173 minWhat Are "Stop-Gap Resources?"‘Stop-Gap Resources’ are a moniker that I believe accurately describes their function when used in Title 1 schools or with students...
by Blaine HelwigSep 8, 20174 minDeceptive Educational Belief SystemsMark Twain once said, “It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so.” This...