Blog: Teaching and Coaching

Post Jon Schmidt-DavisApril 21, 2025

Georgia Teaching Residents Give Middle Grades STEM a Boost

Georgia Teaching Residents Give Middle Grades STEM a Boost

Curtis Martin’s dedication to teaching is reflected in the quote from Victor Hugo displayed in Martin’s email signature: “He who opens a school door, closes a prison.”

You see, before Curtis became a Georgia math teacher, he was a correctional officer for the state of Georgia and the Houston County Sheriff’s Department. Having seen too many children end up behind bars, Martin decided to work with middle-grade students to give them opportunities that can improve their chances for success in life. 

Blog post Sheniqua Pierce | SREB Research Analyst II
By improving the profession, we can harness Gen Z optimism and attract diverse teachers to the most rewarding profession

Generation Z Isn’t Interested in Teaching
Why Not?

As a graduate student in 2021, I interviewed Ms. Sharpe for an assignment in my Qualitative Research II course. Ms. Sharpe, a Black woman, member of Generation Z, and a fourth-grade teacher two years removed from her educator preparation program, expressed frustration, angst, worry, pride and hopelessness.

Blog post Susan Simpson, SREB Leadership CoachConnie Luper, SREB Senior Leadership Coach

Three Ways to Design for Teacher-Led Growth (and Why You Should Care)

Three Ways to Design for Teacher-Led Growth (and Why You Should Care)

Just like you ask teachers to create environments where students feel an ownership over their learning, teachers will do well in a teaching environment where they have ownership over their own growth.

In this post, we talk about how to accomplish this teacher-led growth in your school.

Blog post Courtney LeidnerSREB Analyst II

Tips on Starting a STEAM School: A Look at Jefferson Middle School

Tips on starting a STEAM school: a look at Jefferson Middle School

Jefferson Middle School in Columbia, Missouri, is a great example of a STEAM school that works. This is why their session at the 2023 Making Schools Work Conference was so great: They showed what made their program work and gave tips on how you can start a program at your school. And we compiled them here for you!

Blog post Debra CullenSREB Instructional Coach

Mastering Master Schedules: Insight on Creating a Plan That Actually Works

Ways to Master Your Master Schedule

How can you create a master schedule that is focused on rigor, remediation and resilience? In other words, how do you create a master schedule that will actually be useful to your teachers and students?

In this post, we talk about how Mill Creek Middle School in Tennessee utilizes promising practices in master scheduling that you may want to try for yourself.

Blog post Keshia KingSREB Instructional Coach - Math

Sharing Is Preparing: Collaborating With Students on Creating Success Criteria

Reasons to Collaborate with Students When Making Success Criteria

We recently talked about the importance of using success criteria in your classroom. This isn’t something you have to do alone, though. Working with students to create these measures can be a great way to help them understand the purpose of your assignments.

In this post, we show you how student collaboration on success criteria can benefit everyone.

Blog post Ashley ShawSREB Communications Specialist

Knowing Isn’t the Same as Understanding: Tips on Aligning Your Curriculum to Encourage Deeper Learning

Tips on Aligning Your Curriculum to support deeper learning

Students are good at learning the facts of the lesson to pass a test, However, it can be a lot harder to help them truly understand the material. 

In this post, we talk about ways to help students move past knowing the assignment and reach a place of understanding…all while helping you align your curriculum to the standards.

Blog post Connie Luper, School Improvement Senior Leadership CoachAshley Shaw, SREB Communications Specialist

Turn up the Boombox: How Music Can Boost Learning

Image of a student wearing headphones with an overlay with the text "Ways to Boost Learning Through Music"

Think about all of the times you’ve gotten a song stuck in your head. Music is powerful like that. 

In this post, we talk about how you can take advantage of that power to help students learn. All you need to do is add a little music to your class!

Blog post Ashley ShawSREB Communications Specialist

7 Tools and Activities You Can Use to Keep Your Class Engaged

Picture of the "Breaking Out of the Box" session with an overlay and the text: Ideas to Make Your Class Engaging

In this post, we give you ideas on activities you can do to make your class more engaging for your students.

If you have been looking for ways to make your class more interactive, then this is a great place to start.

Blog post Ashley ShawSREB Communications Specialist

New Economy, New Class: Adam Welcome Provides Questions to Ask to Transform Your Class

Image of Adam Welcome on stage with an overlay and text that says "Questions to Ask to Transform Your Class:  Promising Practices from Our 2023  Making Schools Work Conference"

The world your students will encounter when they leave your classroom is different than the world you encountered when you left school. As job opportunities and technology changes, your classroom should change with it.

In the 2023 Making Schools Work Conference closing address, Adam Welcome shared ways to make sure your classroom is transforming with the times, and we have compiled them here for you.