Providing affordable and sustainable professional learning and consulting to educators throughout the United States and Canada. #PD #1stEDU #FIRSTEducation
Joined January 2016
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1,824 Photos and videos
As the year wraps up, reflection matters.
Some schedule decisions created better flow, stronger support, and better experiences for students.
Others? Maybe not worth carrying into next year.
The goal isn’t to repeat the schedule. It’s to improve it.
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🔥 Episode 26 is LIVE!
What Auto Grading Misses: Seeing Beyond the Score
@beckypeppler @donsmithedu and @larsongarth explore the balance between efficiency and insight in assessment.
Technology can save time. But when all we see is a score, what are we missing about student learning?
🎧 Listen now
👉 hubs.la/Q04jj-b10
Thanks to @otusk12 for supporting educator-focused conversations like this one.
#FiresInGrading #AssessmentReform #StudentLearning
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Stepping into coaching can feel like stepping into the unknown.
You know how to impact students. Now it’s about learning how to impact teachers.
The Instructional Coaching Toolkit Series is built to help you do exactly that—with practical strategies, real practice, and support along the way.
Join us this summer or fall 👇
hubs.la/Q04jjXtT0
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Collective teacher efficacy is powerful, but only when we understand what it truly is and what it is not.
Join Jenni Donohoo and Don Smith for a FREE webinar as they unpack five common myths that can unintentionally get in the way of meaningful impact in schools.
📅 June 18 | 11:00 AM CT
Register here: bit.ly/4ogM0Sr
#CollectiveTeacherEfficacy #SchoolLeadership #ProfessionalLearning
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Every school has systems designed to support students.
But are those systems working the way we hope they are?
Download a FREE sample chapter of What’s Our Response? by Julie Wright and explore current systems of support, along with the constraints that may be getting in the way of student learning.
📖 Download your free chapter: hubs.la/Q04jjSYw0
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Auto grading saves time.
But what might we be missing?
In Episode 26, @beckypeppler @donsmithedu and @larsongarth unpack a growing question in schools: when technology grades everything, are we still seeing student thinking?
🎧 Episode 26 drops Friday, June 12th
👉 hubs.la/Q04jjSld0
Thanks to our sponsor Otus for supporting the conversation.
#FiresInGrading #Assessment #EdTech
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The most powerful coaching shifts rarely happen after a single conversation.
Growth takes trust, reflection, trying new strategies, refining practice, and staying in the work together.
Coaching is not an event. It is a process. #InstructionalCoaching #TeacherGrowth #CoachingMatters
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📚 JUNE BOOK SALE IS HERE 📚
For the entire month of June, enjoy 20% off ALL FIRST Education Publishing titles.
Whether you are reflecting on this year, planning for next year, or looking for resources to support your team, our books are designed for the real work happening in schools.
From grading reform and instructional coaching to leadership, school improvement, student engagement, and classroom culture, there is something for every educator.
🛒 Explore the collection: bit.ly/3RR1XT7
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Summer can feel like pressure to solve every challenge at once.
Instead, consider this:
What is one thing that created confusion for students, staff, or families this year?
Start there.
Often the biggest improvements come from addressing one clear challenge well.
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Jenni Donohoo is kicking off day 1 of the Collective Efficacy Institute with educators in Utah. Thank you to the USBE for this partnership.
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Too often, schools spend valuable time trying to “catch students up” after barriers have already formed.
Intentional design, strong supports, and proactive planning create more opportunities for students to thrive from day one.
That is where meaningful growth begins. #InclusiveEducation #UDL #CoTeaching
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Collective teacher efficacy is powerful, but only when we understand what it truly is and what it is not.
Join Jenni Donohoo and Don Smith for a FREE webinar as they unpack five common myths that can unintentionally get in the way of meaningful impact in schools.
📅 June 18 | 11:00 AM CT
Register here: bit.ly/4unLfs3
#CollectiveTeacherEfficacy #SchoolLeadership #ProfessionalLearning
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End of year reflection for math teams. Before next year begins, take time to pause and reflect:
What practices should stay?
What needs to change?
What is worth building on?
The strongest math systems improve because teams reflect with purpose.
#MathLeadership #MathEd #InstructionalCoaching #TeacherReflection
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Busy teams are not always impactful teams.
Strong PLCs move beyond asking “What should we do?” and begin asking:
What impact is this having on student learning?
When teams focus on evidence of impact, collaboration becomes more purposeful and meaningful.
#PLCcenter #ObservableImpact #Collaboration
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Reassessment isn’t the problem.
Lack of structure is.
In this workshop, we’ll walk through a practical approach to design a reassessment system that supports learning, builds student responsibility, and is sustainable for teachers.
Leave with a plan that works.
🔗 hubs.la/Q04jggxB0
#AssessmentReform #GradingPractices
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Before we decide how we assess, we first have to answer a much bigger question: Why are we assessing in the first place?
In Episode 25 of the Fires in Grading Show, we dig into why shifting assessment from grading to evidence gathering changes the questions we ask—and the decisions we make.
In case you missed it, Episode 25 is now available.
🎧 Watch subscribe: bit.ly/4tzAbrf
@donsmithedu @larsongarth @beckypeppler
#FiresInGrading #Assessment #EvidenceGathering #SBG #GradingReform
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Co-teaching works best when it is intentional, not just scheduled.
Whether you are in the classroom or supporting from a leadership role, clarity, structure, and purpose make the difference.
Join us for a 1-day virtual experience designed for both.
hubs.la/Q04jjK9v0
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The most powerful school improvement strategy may not be a program at all. It may be creating the conditions where educators believe, together, they can make a difference. #CollectiveTeacherEfficacy #EducationLeadership
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SBG isn’t just a grading change, it’s a classroom shift.
If you’re wondering what to actually do next, this session walks you through the moves that bring it to life in instruction and assessment.
Practical. Clear. Ready to use.
🔗 hubs.la/Q04jjSRG0
#StandardsBasedGrading #Teaching
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What happened to students’ love of learning?
Why do so many kids go from curious and excited… to counting down the days until summer?
Download a FREE sample chapter of How the Hell Do We Motivate These Kids? by Todd Stanley and explore practical strategies to help students want to learn again.
📖 Grab your free chapter: bit.ly/42BUjhB
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