Emulate Before Innovating: COVID or No COVID
Every time we boarded an airplane to travel, my wife would open the airline magazine and complete the three levels of Sudoku puzzles: ...
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The New 3Rs Academic Transformation
The Right Systems, The Right Resources, The Right People
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by Blaine Helwig
Aug 14, 20214 min read
‘Fix’ Fluency --- or, Comprehension ‘Breaks Down!’
Word fluency will drive comprehension proficiency since the students can read and not deplete their ‘CPU’ trying to decipher the most...
359 views
by Blaine Helwig
Feb 7, 20215 min read
Teaching to the Test - A Better Understanding of the Phrase
I have heard the expression – Teaching to the Test – for many years, but I had not deeply considered the thinking behind the phrase until...
623 views
by Blaine Helwig
May 13, 20205 min read
Distance Learning – Pandemic Lessons Learned
The pandemic has brought to light many underlying issues in our society. Some incidents were surprising; for instance, I was astounded...
48 views
by Blaine Helwig
Dec 17, 20195 min read
It’s the Gaps, Stupid! – Part 1
The famous American political phrase, “It’s the economy, stupid” is attributed to James Carville and coined during Bill Clinton's...
82 views
by Blaine Helwig
Dec 16, 20197 min read
It’s the Gaps, Stupid! – Part 2
Small Gaps Widen to Larger Chasms While hiking the 500-mile-long El Camino in Spain a couple of summers ago, a small pain ensued on the...
81 views
by Blaine Helwig
Aug 29, 20193 min read
Align, Teach, Practice and Do Well!
A middle distance runner competing in a 3,200 meter or 5 kilometer race practices and trains differently than a long distance runner...
47 views
by Blaine Helwig
Aug 17, 20194 min read
In Title 1 Schools, Facts are Stubborn Things
When I was in college, my statics and dynamic professor proposed a no homework versus a double homework wager to his students. He...
60 views
by Blaine Helwig
Dec 12, 20183 min read
Is Title 1 Public Education 'Working'? – Depends on Perspective!
I do not own a washing machine. Never have. I use the condominium laundry room with its ten washing machines and dryers to handle my...
128 views
by Blaine Helwig
Nov 28, 20184 min read
Practice without Improvement – A Title 1 Invariant!
“How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” This old joke is amusing and timeless because of the obviousness of its one-word punchline: Practice!...
102 views
by Blaine Helwig
Oct 25, 20183 min read
Bridge Resources and Their Academic Need
About 15 years ago, I attended weekly central administrator meetings as an elementary program supervisor in a large urban Texas school...
65 views
by Blaine Helwig
Aug 9, 20183 min read
A Title 1 Principal Can't Buy Academic Success
In the 1970’s, my father started the first Christmas tree farm in South Dakota. A slotted hole was dug using a long steel spade shovel...
41 views
by Blaine Helwig
May 5, 20184 min read
Why is Effective Title 1 School Reform Not Happening?
Federal and State money flows into the Title 1 public schools. The river of money flows regardless of academic results each school year,...
37 views
by Blaine Helwig
Feb 16, 20184 min read
Scoreboards, Performance, Practice and Reflection
The other night I was watching the latest release of ESPN’s 30 for 30 – a remarkable and interesting documentary series highlighting...
67 views
by Blaine Helwig
Jan 4, 20183 min read
"Work the Problem!"
My wife and I watched the Tom Hanks’ movie, Apollo 13 over the Holiday break. The movie has many memorable scenes of heroism and...
45 views
by Blaine Helwig
Dec 1, 20173 min read
Testing: What ALL is being assessed?
Educators test students throughout the school year. Students are frequently assessed via both formative and summative assessments ranging...
55 views
by Blaine Helwig
Sep 28, 20172 min read
What are the Benefits of Stop-Gap Resources?
I am of the belief that Title 1 academic education reformation involving high percentages of students classified as economically...
25 views
by Blaine Helwig
Sep 21, 20173 min read
The Guaranteed Gamble – Academic Title 1 Success
In late April of 2014, I was at central office for a meeting when I ran into another Title 1 elementary principal. The STAAR (State of...
48 views
by Blaine Helwig
Sep 14, 20173 min read
What Are "Stop-Gap Resources?"
‘Stop-Gap Resources’ are a moniker that I believe accurately describes their function when used in Title 1 schools or with students...
202 views
by Blaine Helwig
Sep 8, 20174 min read
Deceptive Educational Belief Systems
Mark Twain once said, “It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so.” This...
58 views
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