Matt Renwick I wrote this column for our local newspaper, The Democrat Tribune. They do not have an online version of their paper, so I am posting it here. Thanks for reading! -Matt During these recent no school days due to inclement weather, it was hard to keep our own kids occupied, especially when it was bitterly … Read more
During a regional principal’s meeting today, our conversation steered toward the integration of technology within instruction. Smartphones were a frequent topic, especially from the secondary school leaders. Distractions and inappropriate use seemed to be the common reason for some of the administrators’ disdain for students’ mobile devices. I empathized, as a former junior high school … Read more
100 Word Stories Highlighted in a poster session Sunday evening, a retired teacher decided to stay involved in education by posting a weekly writing prompt online. This free prompt might be a phrase, a sentence, or even an image. Students then write a story based on that prompt in only 100 words. This teacher organizes … Read more
Three Ways Digital Portfolios Shift Your Assessment Focus (Teaching Channel, April 2018). Looking to the Future: Assessing Innovation in the Classroom (FreshGrade, March 2018, *need to register with FreshGrade to read free eBook) How I Read as a Literacy Leader (Reading by Example, April 2018) Developing a Principal and Coach Partnership (Lead Literacy, April 2018, … Read more
For students to be and feel successful in school, we have to build relationships. One way to do this is to get to know each other by sharing about ourselves. A collective biography is a poem-like piece, where a group writes down all they have in common. The idea comes from Amy Krouse Rosenthal, author … Read more
Consider these three steps for successful integration of technology in the classroom or a school. I’ll be facilitating a workshop on technology integration in West Salem, Wisconsin on Thursday, April 12. If you are in the area, sign up today (click here). “If math is the aspirin, what is the headache?” A high school teacher … Read more
One of the most pressing questions I hear from teachers is: How do I guide my students to create and innovate in the classroom while still meeting education’s expectations? We feel this push, both internally and externally, to get students to reach certain levels of success. But what do we lose in the process? Looking … Read more
I wrote an article for the AWSA (Association of Wisconsin School Administrators) Update related to my new book on digital portfolios. Below is the intro to this piece; follow the link to read the rest. Thank you, Matt A disposition toward lifelong learning is something we all want for our students to develop during their … Read more
I will be speaking to school leaders at AcceleratED on February 21 in Portland, Oregon on the topic of digital portfolios. If you are an educator located in this area, consider registering for this conference. It’s definitely worth your time away from school. Below is an adapted excerpt from my new book on the topic, … Read more
