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Superworkers Wanted: AI as a Thought Partner
Hello, Ironically, the first time I heard about ChatGPT was in December 2022, during a full-day planning meeting with high school ELA...

Heather Lyon
1 day ago6 min read
20 views
0 comments


Reading, Writing, and Regulating Emotions
Hello, If you’re not familiar with the phrase “new math,” it’s the way many parents refer to how students today are taught math. The...

Heather Lyon
Jun 45 min read
34 views
0 comments


Keep Calm, Carry On, and Eat the Muffin
Hello, Several years ago, my kids’ school district made the news—but not for reasons anyone would want. During state testing season,...

Heather Lyon
May 203 min read
64 views
0 comments


We’re Not Preparing School Leaders—We’re Credentialing Them: Fixing the Way We Grow Leaders
Hello, In biology, stem cells are known for one powerful quality: they can become anything. Given the right conditions, they can develop...

Heather Lyon
May 146 min read
69 views
4 comments


Tell the Truth About Learning
Hello, In my last post, " Grades: Education's Tug-Of-War " I wrote about the tension that emerges when we link grades to...

Heather Lyon
May 74 min read
22 views
0 comments


Grading: Education's Tug-Of-War
Hello, Here’s a truth we can all agree on: most students want to do well in school. But as I explored in the last post, " Cooking the...

Heather Lyon
Apr 236 min read
50 views
0 comments


Cooking the Books
Hello, In last week's post, " Just Like Me ," I wrote about how when someone is at the intersted level of engagement, they like what...

Heather Lyon
Apr 164 min read
34 views
0 comments


Just Like Me
Hello, When I present on engagement, I often kick things off with the “Just Like Me” game. I share a series of statements about myself,...

Heather Lyon
Apr 94 min read
27 views
0 comments


Designing Curb Cuts for Invisible Backpacks
Hello, Are you familiar with the concept of an “invisible backpack?” I've been thinking and writing about this concept for years (see the...

Heather Lyon
Apr 24 min read
45 views
0 comments


I Love Learning—So Why Do I Hate Being a Student?
Hello, As a student, I was always good at school. I was the kid who did my homework, studied for tests, and followed the rules. In high...

Heather Lyon
Mar 195 min read
41 views
0 comments


Was It Good for You? (Talking About Reading, Obviously)
Hello, I was once a reader. The kind of elementary school kid who would curl up with a book for hours, lost in Anne of Green Gables’...

Heather Lyon
Mar 126 min read
20 views
0 comments


I Am Not a Bonsai
Hello, In honor of March being Women’s History Month, I’ve gone back to my roots (pun intended?–see below and you decide). Years...

Heather Lyon
Mar 52 min read
39 views
0 comments


Leading Through Turbulence: What Sturdy Leaders Do Differently
Hello, My mom would tell you that the first time I flew, I was three. She says I walked onto the plane like I owned it—confident and...

Heather Lyon
Feb 197 min read
78 views
0 comments


Don't Take Work Advice from a Comedian
Hello, In The Republic , Plato—through Socrates—distinguishes between craft (technē) and wage-earning. The idea is that a true...

Heather Lyon
Feb 125 min read
27 views
0 comments


What's the Difference Between Interested and Absorbed? (And Why It Matters)
Hello, In my work on engagement, I explore the four levels of engagement—non-compliant, compliant, interested, and absorbed. The last two...

Heather Lyon
Feb 57 min read
44 views
0 comments


Milestones and Memories
Hello, It's hard to believe it's been nearly a decade since I published my first blog post, " I Already Have High Standards ," back in...

Heather Lyon
Jan 224 min read
36 views
0 comments


Saying No to Negativity
Hello, For reasons that I cannot explain, certain parts of songs, movies, books, and TV shows have stayed with me despite the decades...

Heather Lyon
Jan 155 min read
45 views
0 comments


Plot Twist
Hello, Dirty Dancing. The mere mention of those two words likely conjures up images of Patrick Swayze's iconic lift, Jennifer Grey's...

Heather Lyon
Jan 84 min read
38 views
0 comments


Present Company Included
Hello, If I were to ask you to tell me about a present you received that you really loved—for whatever reason—what comes to mind? A...

Heather Lyon
Dec 11, 20245 min read
53 views
0 comments


Tell Me Why
Hello, In 1999, The Backstreet Boys released, "I Want It That Way." In the song, the chorus declares, "Tell me why" repeatedly. While the...

Heather Lyon
Dec 4, 20247 min read
51 views
0 comments
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