Blog – Page 7 – Josh Stumpenhorst

Change Won’t Happen

Posted on October 14, 2015 by Josh Stumpenhorst

Lots of people are talking about the need for change in education. Some people may go so far as to say we need a revolution. 😉 Many people think they know the answer about how education needs to change. The ideas and potential fixes range far and wide with each a self proclaimed game changer. […]

Best for Kids

Posted on October 7, 2015 by Josh Stumpenhorst

You don’t have to spend a great deal of time in a school to hear the phrase, “best for kids” mentioned in a meeting or inservice. This phrase permeates into much of what we do in schools and is often the justification behind a great many decisions. You don’t have to look far into mission […]

The Wrong Data

Posted on September 9, 2015 by Josh Stumpenhorst

I have been a teacher in a public school for my entire 13 year teaching career. Over that time I have seen many changes on the education pendulum swing back and forth. One trend, although likely more than a trend, I see creeping or rather blitzkrieging into every aspect of our school in recent years […]

A Curious Teacher – Part Three

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Josh Stumpenhorst

A Curious Teacher – Part Three I am still unpacking many of the insights and lessons shared in Brian Grazer’s book, A Curious Mind: The Secret to a Bigger Life. One of my initial takeaways was around the idea of curiosity not being a sought after or overly valued quality in schools. The other insight […]

A Curious Teacher – Part Two

Posted on July 30, 2015 by Josh Stumpenhorst

Previously, I wrote about my initial reactions to reading Brian Grazer’s book A Curious Mind: The Secret to a Bigger Life. Beyond just the role curiosity played in Brian’s life and work he struck another chord with me when we discussed the phrase “good enough”. This if often a phrase we hear in our line […]

A Curious Teacher – Part One

Posted on July 17, 2015 by Josh Stumpenhorst

Not so long ago, I was given a copy of A Curious Mind: The Secret to a Bigger Life written by Brian Grazer. Now, admittedly this book was not written for educators or with the intent of being considered an education text. However, as I read the book, I couldn’t help but see so many […]

Thank You Mr. Smith

Posted on May 31, 2015 by Josh Stumpenhorst

This post was originally shared a while back. However, as the end of the school year rolls around I wanted to take time to share again as much of what Mr. Smith does is hugely impactful at the end of the school year. As a teacher you are lucky if you find yourself teaching in […]

Summer Slide

Posted on May 14, 2015 by Josh Stumpenhorst

Inevitably conversations will begin to arise in teacher’s lounges across the country about how to avoid the summer slide. Brochures for summer school will be handed out and in some cases summer homework will be assigned. Teachers and parents alike will be worried about their children and students losing their hard earned progress from the […]

Teacher Appreciation

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Josh Stumpenhorst

Teacher appreciation week is a great week to be a teacher. Lounges are filled with the smell of bagels and donuts supplied by thoughtful parents. Lunches are catered in and appreciative administrators pick up the tab. Students bring in treats and notes of thanks that never fail to bring smiles to teacher’s faces. Family members […]

Happy

Posted on April 30, 2015 by Josh Stumpenhorst

Recently in my Language Arts class we watched a TED talk by a young man who was talking about hacked education. At the beginning of his TED talk he was discussing the question kid are always asked which is, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Naturally kids will say things such […]