Andrew Johnson | Minnesota State University, Mankato (original) (raw)

Courses by Andrew Johnson

If you understand the process, academic writing (including writing a literature review) is easy. ... more If you understand the process, academic writing (including writing a literature review) is easy. These are the six steps in the academic writing process: 1. Research to gather data, 2. Pre-draft, 3. Write a first draft, 4. Revise, 5. Edit, and 6. Share or publish. This course will describe the process needed to write high-quality academic writing. It is appropriate for college level writers, those writing a thesis or dissertation, those writing academic papers or reports, and those seeking to publish academic articles.

13 video lessons481 views

Action research is systematic observation of one's own teaching practice. Action research is one... more Action research is systematic observation of one's own teaching practice. Action research is one of the most effective ways to connect research and research-based theory directly to classroom practice. This course will describe the basic elements of action research, data collection, and demonstrate how it can be used for teacher professional development.

8 video lessons217 views

This course provides an introduction and overview of four important areas related to social justi... more This course provides an introduction and overview of four important areas related to social justice and racial equity in education: (a) critical race theory, (b) culturally responsive teaching, (c) the school-to-prison pipeline, and (d) getting more teachers of color into our clasrooms.

9 video lessons207 views

Videos by Andrew Johnson

When does fidelity become educational malpractice? When it dis-empowers classroom teachers from ... more When does fidelity become educational malpractice? When it dis-empowers classroom teachers from making the decisions that are best for their students. This video mini-lecture unpacks the concept of "fidelity". Dr. Andy Johnson, Reading Specialist. www.teaching-reading.com

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This video describes the neurocognitive basis behind racial bias.

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Seven tenets of critical race theory: 1.Racism is normal. 2. Change occurs only when it aligns ... more Seven tenets of critical race theory:
1.Racism is normal.
2. Change occurs only when it aligns with the interests of those in power.
3. Race is a social construct.
4. No person has a single identity
5. All people in a category do not think and act the same
6. The stories of people must be heard.
7. Cultural parochialism and white superiority are factors in maintaining systemic racism.

521 views

This is a recording of a webinar focusing on reading comprehension.

33 views

This video mini-lecture describes the essence of constructivism, Bruner's discovery learning, and... more This video mini-lecture describes the essence of constructivism, Bruner's discovery learning, and Ausubel's meaningful verbal learning and expository teaching.

110 views

Poetry should be part of every English Language Arts curriculum in Kindergarten through grade 12.... more Poetry should be part of every English Language Arts curriculum in Kindergarten through grade 12. This video describes how. 16 different poetry forms, structures, techniques, or ideas are presented here. Adopt and adapt.

76 views

Do not let the International Dyslexia Association fool you. Dyslexia is NOT a brain disorder. T... more Do not let the International Dyslexia Association fool you. Dyslexia is NOT a brain disorder. This short video provides some relevant background information.

560 views

This is a pre-recording of a webinar that took place on October 16, 2021. It describes how to tea... more This is a pre-recording of a webinar that took place on October 16, 2021. It describes how to teach writing for students in kindergarten through graduate school using the 5-step writing process. Writing is easy if you follow the process. We can't expect students to write well if we do not teach them the process.

224 views

This video describes 21 pedagogical strategies that could be considered multisensory reading inst... more This video describes 21 pedagogical strategies that could be considered multisensory reading instruction .... or mega-multisensory reading instruction.

188 views

This video is a recording of a webinar defining critical thinking and showing how critical thinki... more This video is a recording of a webinar defining critical thinking and showing how critical thinking skills should be taught.

273 views

Academic writing is easy if you understand the process. This short video provides a few more sim... more Academic writing is easy if you understand the process. This short video provides a few more simple tips for writing the literature review.

249 views

This lecture describes schema theory as it relates to learning, comprehending, and knowing.

11 views

This is a pre-recording of a conference presentation at the Japanese Association of Language Teac... more This is a pre-recording of a conference presentation at the Japanese Association of Language Teaching.

16 views

This is a pre-recording of a webinar from December 11, 2021. It describes how to teach grammar i... more This is a pre-recording of a webinar from December 11, 2021. It describes how to teach grammar in meaningful contexts. Teaching grammar in isolation is a very ineffective way to teach grammar. Skills learned here rarely transfer to real-life writing and speaking situations

484 views

There are six types of writing that should be included in a K-12 curriculum: persuasive writing, ... more There are six types of writing that should be included in a K-12 curriculum: persuasive writing, narrative writing, expository writing, writing in the arts, inquiry writing, and communication.
This is a recording of a webinar describing strategies, graphical organizers, and other tips for teaching narrative writing in K-12 classrooms.

109 views

A lot of yelling that takes place in Reading World occurs because people are trying to have a sha... more A lot of yelling that takes place in Reading World occurs because people are trying to have a shared conversation, but have different conceptions of similar terms. This conversation clears up a lot of misconceptions. For example, word identification is much different from word recognition.

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This video mini-lecture describes how teachers might apply behavioral learning theory (classical ... more This video mini-lecture describes how teachers might apply behavioral learning theory (classical conditioning) in their classroom.

14 views

13 video lessons481 views

8 video lessons217 views

9 video lessons207 views

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This video describes the neurocognitive basis behind racial bias.

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521 views

This is a recording of a webinar focusing on reading comprehension.

33 views

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This lecture describes schema theory as it relates to learning, comprehending, and knowing.

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If we want students to become good writers, we must address every step of the five-step writing p... more If we want students to become good writers, we must address every step of the five-step writing process. This video describes how to teacher pre-writing and pre-pre-writing skills and strategies. Dr. Andy Johnson, Reading Specialist. www.teaching-reading.com

1 views

This video describes 6 strategies that can be used across the curriculum to develop students' wor... more This video describes 6 strategies that can be used across the curriculum to develop students' word learning. Dr. Andy Johnson, Reading Specialist. www.teaching-reading.com

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Why isn't your reading intervention working? Why are all students not "cured" of their reading d... more Why isn't your reading intervention working? Why are all students not "cured" of their reading disability? This video provides some insight. Dr. Andy Johnson, Reading Specialist. www.teaching-reading.com

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There are some who believe that you should not focus on comprehension in pre/K and grades1. They... more There are some who believe that you should not focus on comprehension in pre/K and grades1. They think the focus should be on decoding. They claim that children need to be able to decode before they can comprehend. If I thought reading was simply sounding out words, I’d agree. But since I know that reading is creating meaning with print, and meaning-making should be at the center of reading instruction at all levels, I know it would be very silly to wait to address comprehension.
Students can and should be engaged in comprehension activities at the very earliest stages of reading instruction, even before they have mastered decoding. What comprehension instruction looks like at the emergent levels looks much different than at later levels. However, an important thing to keep in mind is that at these early levels you are building the foundations for what comes next. If you wait until students have mastered decoding and other word recognition skills, you will have lost valuable instructional opportunities.

The Science of Reading promotes the exclusionary use of strategies and practices that have been s... more The Science of Reading promotes the exclusionary use of strategies and practices that have been shown to be effective using controlled experimental or quasi-experimental research and conducted in actual classroom settings. Further, this standard should be the basis upon which decisions should be made about reading instruction and reading policies. LETRS fails to meet this basic SoR standard. Yet it is being promoted by SoR advocates. In Minnesota, it's one of three required teacher professional development programs.

LETRS is one of the professional development programs mandated by the Minnesota Department of Edu... more LETRS is one of the professional development programs mandated by the Minnesota Department of Education. Because my trust in the MN DOE is strong, I knew that I would find thousands of studies conducted in multiple languages to support the proposition that LETRS professional development (a) enabled teachers to teach better, (b) readers to read better, and (c) was better than other forms of professional development. Easy-peasy, simple-pimple.

Teacher empowerment has been central to good education. Teachers' unions led to better schools, ... more Teacher empowerment has been central to good education. Teachers' unions led to better schools, better educational outcomes, and better teachers. Yet, teachers' unions have let outside interests change public education. You have sat silent as teachers have been asked to do more with less. You’ve sat in silence as teachers are forced to implement one-size-fits-all scripted reading programs. Teachers are forced to engage in state-mandated educational malpractice for reading instruction … and you say nothing.
Anybody can say nothing.
But nobody can say anything.
And nothing is said by anybody.
The only thing worse than not having a union is having a union that does nothing.
A union that does nothing is not a union. It’s a Tupperware party.

We need good information to help us determine what is and isn’t real. And in order to make good... more We need good information to help us determine what is and isn’t real. And in order to make good educational decisions, we must be able to evaluate our sources of information. Our sources should be true. We cannot build truth based on untruth and semi-truths. Two half-truths do not make a whole truth. You cannot build a house on a foundation of sand. You cannot make good decisions about reading instruction based on inaccurate or incomplete information. Hence, we must be able to evaluate our sources to ensure we’re getting good information

Many in the SoR movement have a condition called dsyresearchlia. Dysresearchlia is an unwilling... more Many in the SoR movement have a condition called dsyresearchlia. Dysresearchlia is an unwillingness to read or an inability to understand reading research. It impacts 3% to 5% of the population. Contrary to popular belief, it is not a brain disorder. That is, even though brain imaging research has shown there to be anomalies in the brains of dysresearchiliacs, with a basic educational research course, these anomalies largely disappear. Also, scientists have proven that listening to Dr. Johnson’s podcasts helps mitigate the effects of dysresearchlia in 75.3% of cases. Further, researchers have shown that reading his books cures dysresearchlia in 98.7% of cases. And these are real researchers and scientists … not the one’s who wear white lab coats and do commercials about toothpaste and bent carrots on TV. Not those fake ones who publish in academic journals.

Dysresearchliacs make up a disproportionate number of people within the Science of Reading movement. There is a correlation coefficient of .8 between science of reading membership and dysresearchlia. So what are we to assume? The science of reading causes dysresearchlia. Just like phonemic awareness causes reading achievement, science of reading causes dysresearchia.

There are a variety of types of lessons and learning experiences. One lesson plan format cannot ... more There are a variety of types of lessons and learning experiences. One lesson plan format cannot possibly fit all types of lessons. Different types of lessons call for different lesson plan formats. Described here are formats for six distinctly different types of lessons. For these lessons, a purpose statement is used instead of a behavioral objective. The purpose statement reflects a cognitive approach to teaching and learning. However, feel free to insert a behavioral objective if that works for you.

Good religion is not a matter of practice, belief system, Holy Book, or interpretation. At the en... more Good religion is not a matter of practice, belief system, Holy Book, or interpretation. At the end of the day, good religion is that which enables each person to develop their full spiritual-intrapersonal-interpersonal potential. This is, to better nurture and give to self, others, and one’s environment. Different practices and beliefs are better for different people.
Good reading instruction is not a standardized curriculum, program, method, or set of strategies. Good reading instruction is that which best enables each child to develop their full literacy potential. That is to read and understand print for real-world purposes and to use print to create meaning for real-world purposes.

Science of Reading enthusiasts (I call them zealots), disregard basic scientific principles when ... more Science of Reading enthusiasts (I call them zealots), disregard basic scientific principles when it suits their purpose.: I could live with a science of reading if the SoR zealots applied the scientific principles they claim to worship and adore to all of reading reality. That is, if the scientific principles that they insist be used to determine what is effective reading instruction were also used to establish cause and effect, I could live with the zealotry. But they abandon their cherished scientific ideals when identifying problems and evaluating solutions to problems. Look at the reading laws passed by 32 state legislatures. Look at the testimony by “experts”. You will see the word “science” used a lot, but science is much different from ‘I-think-isms’, anecdotal evidence, and personal experiences.

Developing a sense of audience is important for writers at all stages and levels. A sense of aud... more Developing a sense of audience is important for writers at all stages and levels. A sense of audience gives the writer a sense of what to say and how to best say it. The best way to develop a sense audience is to provide one. This is done in step 5 of the five-step writing process: sharing and publishing. Sharing is used here to indicate a one-time, in-person listening or reading of somebody’s writing. Sharing strategies include authors chair, small groups, open mic day, dramatic readings, and drama. Publishing is used here to indicate writing that can be read or listened to by many people over time. Sharing strategies include podcast and audio recordings, video recordings, class books, newspapers, arts magazines, and writing contests.

A reading teacher can change the very nature of time.

There are five kinds of time you will find in a reading class. Allocated time. There is the amou... more There are five kinds of time you will find in a reading class.
Allocated time. There is the amount of time allocated for instruction.
Off-task time (OTT). There is OTT when students are doing things unrelated to the lesson or learning objective.
TOT. There is also time on task (TOT), this is time where students are actively engaged in learning activities.
AET. There is Academic Engagement Time (AET), this is the time where students are cognitively and behaviorally on-task or engaged in learning activities that are within their zone of proximal development.
Flow state time. Here the student is completely absorbed, focused on a single task or activity. They are directing all their attention toward something that they are motivated to do or be engaged with.
Academic engagement time is good. Flow state time is the best for learning. Magic teachers, if they are empowered to make the choices that are best for their students know how to align reading instruction with students’ interests to create flow state time.
A teacher's #1 job is to help children fall in love with books. After that, much of reading instruction takes care of itself.

Gloria Ladson-Billings (2014) describes culturally sustaining pedagogy as consisting of three int... more Gloria Ladson-Billings (2014) describes culturally sustaining pedagogy as consisting of three interacting and interconnected elements (a) high academic standards that focus on students’ total intellectual growth, (b) cultural competence and inclusion, and (c) critical or sociopolitical consciousness. It’s the interaction of these elements that creates culturally sustaining pedagog. Each of these elements is described here along with some writing activities. This is far from a comprehensive list of activities to promote it.

The terms phonological awareness, phonemic awareness and phonics are often confused. Phonologic... more The terms phonological awareness, phonemic awareness and phonics are often confused.
Phonological awareness refers to the ability to focus on the sound of speech, as well as intonation, rhythm, syllables, word boundaries, and rhyme. Phonemic awareness is the ability to hear and manipulate individual phonemes within words. Phonemes are the smallest units of sound within spoken words. English has 41-44 phonemes. Phonemic awareness is purely auditory. Phonics refers to making letter-sound associations and using that knowledge to decode individual words.

Below are strategies and practices in six areas that research has found to be effective (Boscolo,... more Below are strategies and practices in six areas that research has found to be effective (Boscolo, 2010; Graham, 2018; Graham, Harris, & Chambers, 2017; Graham, Harris, & Santangelo, 2015; Graham & Harris, 2019; MacArthur, & Graham, 2017; Rowe, 2010).

There are four things to consider when examining research-based strategies and evidence-based pra... more There are four things to consider when examining research-based strategies and evidence-based practices:
1. One size does not fit all.
2. No single study in education proves anything.
3. There are no magical strategies, approaches, methods, or programs that work best for all students, all the time, and for all situations.
4. All evidence-based practices or research-based strategies should be contextualized.

This is an excerpt from my book, Johnson, A. (2021). Designing meaning-based interventions for re... more This is an excerpt from my book, Johnson, A. (2021). Designing meaning-based interventions for reading. Guildford Press. Struggling readers are not homogeneous entities (Allington & McGill-Franzen, 2017). Not all struggling readers who have word identification or fluency deficits have comprehension deficits. Likewise, not all struggling readers who have comprehension deficits have word identification and fluency deficits. This chapter focuses on comprehension.

The first part of this paper contains a variety of podcasts and YouTube videos related to the Sci... more The first part of this paper contains a variety of podcasts and YouTube videos related to the Science of Reading and educational research. Everyone in the world has my permission to use these in any way.

The second part of this paper contains a list of citations to relevant articles related to the Science of Reading.

Recently, the Minnesota State Legislature passed the Read Act, sponsored by Democratic representa... more Recently, the Minnesota State Legislature passed the Read Act, sponsored by Democratic representative Heather Edelson. It's a law based on the fad of the day; the shiny new thing called the "science of reading". Ironically, this law is based on misconceptions and un-understandings related to both science and reading. This law states that I and other literacy professors in Minnesota must follow, with fidelity, the mandates put forth by state lawmakers. These are lawmakers who have never taught a kid to read, who have never read a research article related to reading instruction, and whose knowledge about reading instruction is reliant on the information given to them by radios journalists and podcasters (present company excepted). Representative Heather Edelson smiling as she destroys reading instruction in Minnesota.

I could live with a science of reading if the SoR zealots applied the scientific principles they ... more I could live with a science of reading if the SoR zealots applied the scientific principles they claim to worship and adore to all of reading reality. That is, if the scientific principles that they insist be used to determine what is effective reading instruction were also used to establish cause and effect, I could live with the zealotry. But they abandon their cherished scientific ideals when identifying problems and evaluating solutions to problems. Look at the reading laws passed by 32 state legislatures. Look at the testimony by “experts”. You will see the word “science” used a lot, but science is much different from ‘I-think-isms’, anecdotal evidence, and personal experiences.

Various initiatives are underway in Minnesota and around the country to promote racial consciousn... more Various initiatives are underway in Minnesota and around the country to promote racial consciousness in K-12 teaching (R4615). Some of these show great promise for helping to realize goals related to racial equity and social justice articulated by key professional organizations guiding teacher education and educational research nationwide (AACTE; AERA; AESA).

On Saturday, May 1st, 2021 a group of teachers, teacher educators, administrators, and others fro... more On Saturday, May 1st, 2021 a group of teachers, teacher educators, administrators, and others from around the state of Minnesota and three other states met for conversation. The purpose was to address the problem related to the lack of teachers of color in our classrooms in Minnesota and around the country. Three questions were used to initiate this conversation:

1. What are the filters that keep students of color from entering teacher preparation programs?
2. What are the filters that keep students of color from completing teacher preparation programs?
3. What can we do?

13 filters below were identified. The are presented here.

Bad decisions are often made because the problem-solver does not know the basic processes involve... more Bad decisions are often made because the problem-solver does not know the basic processes involved in effective problem solving. This short video describes two simple heuristics that are useful in a variety of situations.

One of the ideas for getting more teachers of color into the classroom has been to lo... more One of the ideas for getting more teachers of color into the classroom has been to look at fast-track alternative teacher preparation programs such as Teach for America. These kinds of programs are based on the spaghetti model: Throw enough spaghetti on the wall and some of it will stick. In other words - throw a bunch of low-paid, poorly prepared teachers into the classroom and some will eventually stick around, making it to a second year.

Let me ask you this: Would you go to a fast-track dentist? What about a dentist who was part of a Dentists for America program? Most would say no. We expect a certain level of training and expertise from those in whom we entrust with the care of our teeth. Why would we think it appropriate to expect anything less of those who we entrust with the care and education of our children?

Only 16% of the US teaching force are teachers of color. This is a problem. On Saturday, May 1 st... more Only 16% of the US teaching force are teachers of color. This is a problem. On Saturday, May 1 st , 2021 a group of teachers, teacher educators, administrators, and others from around the state of Minnesota and three other states met for conversation. The purpose was to address the problem related to the lack of teachers of color in our classrooms in Minnesota and around the country. The Mankato NAACP Education Committee was also consulted. Three questions were used to initiate this conversation:
1. What are the filters that keep students of color from entering teacher preparation programs?
2. What are the filters that keep students of color from completing teacher preparation programs?
3. What can we do?

So what is culturally responsive teaching (CRT), culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP), or cultural... more So what is culturally responsive teaching (CRT), culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP), or culturally sustaining pedagogy (CSP)? What exactly is? People talk about it. It seems incredibly important. It’s mentioned in the books and articles I read and is said to be very, very important. I want to use CRT in my teacher education courses. I also want to teach my students to be able to use CRT in their future elementary classrooms. So, what specific strategies should I learn and use?
This chapter excerpt describes my journey toward a better understand of culturally responsive teaching. I

The terms “teacher professionalism” and “professional dispositions” are often used when assessing... more The terms “teacher professionalism” and “professional dispositions” are often used when assessing preservice and practicing teachers. But what is “teacher professionalism”? What dispositions are the “correct” ones for teachers? And who gets to decide these things? This chapter excerpt explains why the Danielson Framework for Teaching is still being used.

Disagreements are good. Differing points of view are healthy for any organization or group. Con... more Disagreements are good. Differing points of view are healthy for any organization or group. Conflicting ideas provide a broader view of situations and more potential possibilities. You see more sides of the problem and generate more potential solutions. Questioning new ideas or proposals allows them to be fully vetted. This is how programs, policies, schools, institutions, and teacher preparation programs grow and evolve.
Embracing a variety of ideas, philosophies, and viewpoints has always

Teaching is far more than being a technician implementing the “correct strategy” when one of the ... more Teaching is far more than being a technician implementing the “correct strategy” when one of the products seems defective. To be fully teacher, one must be fully present. Being fully teacher means being fully human. It is about being in relationship. It is about caring. It is about feeling. It is about keeping children from disappearing.

Teachers are the most significant variable in determining the quality of education students rece... more Teachers are the most significant variable in determining the quality of education students receive and the amount of learning that occurs. Yet, when it comes to discussions about how to enhance learning or improve the quality of education, this most significant variable is often ignored. To make this variable even more significant, there must be continued investment in teacher professional development. Action research can be an efficient and effective method to use in this regard. This chapter will examine the following: (a) the process of becoming an expert teacher, (b) the basics of action research, (c) traditional professional development for teachers, (d) strategies for developing teacher expertise, (f) proposals, products, and presentations, and (g) effective professional development and action research

The American’s with Disabilities Act was enacted in July of 1990. It is a law designed to ensure... more The American’s with Disabilities Act was enacted in July of 1990. It is a law designed to ensure and protect the civil rights of individuals with disabilities. Title I of this act has to do with employment. This article is written with educators in mind (teachers and professors); however, the information here should help all people understand what their civil rights are under the ADA and provide guidance as to how to claim them.

A teacher evaluation plan must be flexible enough to be useful and pragmatic enough to be used. ... more A teacher evaluation plan must be flexible enough to be useful and pragmatic enough to be used. And since schools and teachers are not standardized products, a standardized evaluation tool would be highly ineffective. Non-profit entities are welcome to use this plan. andrew.johnson@mnsu.edu

Described here are 11 attributes based on my values and philosophy as a holistic educator. I sur... more Described here are 11 attributes based on my values and philosophy as a holistic educator. I sure hope nobody tries to create rubrics out of them and use them to evaluate teachers.

The Madeline Hunter lesson plan format was popular in the late 1970's and 1980's and is still bei... more The Madeline Hunter lesson plan format was popular in the late 1970's and 1980's and is still being used today (Hunter, 1982; Hunter, 2004). Hunter's original purpose here was to provide a platform that would enable educators to have conversations about effective teaching. However, it quickly moved away from being a conversational platform to becoming a teaching recipe. Schools and teacher preparation programs began to use the seven elements described in Hunter's model of instruction to observe and evaluate teachers. Just Follow the Recipe. The Hunter Direct Instruction Model (HDIM) is similar to other direct instruction models. These models reduce the act of teaching to following a set of steps.

The teacher is the most significant variable in determining the quality of reading instruction st... more The teacher is the most significant variable in determining the quality of reading instruction students receive. Becoming an expert in any field, including reading instruction, takes time and continued study. Thus, to make sure that teachers of reading have the necessary knowledge and research-based strategies, we must provide them access to high quality professional development opportunities. A pragmatic teacher development solution is offered here.

Carl Rogers (1994) described three teacher traits that are necessary for learning: (a) respect, (... more Carl Rogers (1994) described three teacher traits that are necessary for learning: (a) respect, (b) empathetic understanding, and (c) genuineness or congruence.

This article examines requirements for teacher education field experiences in the context of rese... more This article examines requirements for teacher education field experiences in the context of research related to teaching, learning, and teacher education

This article describes three philosophical views of teaching.

This chapter explores the area of professionalism for teachers. Know that there are widely diff... more This chapter explores the area of professionalism for teachers. Know that there are widely differing views on exactly what this is. This is because one’s concept here is very highly related to one’s teaching philosophy as well as one’s personal and professional values.

It has been my experience that education is most effective when the prime directive is to do wh... more It has been my experience that education is most effective when the prime directive is to do what Marie Montessori proposed in 1946, and that is to help each child discover and then release his or her full potential. our schools should be vehicles for self-actualization. Self-actualization here is the state where one is able to accept and express of one’s inner core or self and begin to actualize those capacities and potentialities found there

Often, K-12 education is perceived as some sort of an assembly line. Here, students are put on a... more Often, K-12 education is perceived as some sort of an assembly line. Here, students are put on a conveyer belt in kindergarten and marched down the same path at the same speed. All the students on this assembly line get the exact same parts at the exact same place. In this crazy factory model, tests are used as a form of quality control to ensure that the “right” parts are indeed being added, and that these parts are suitably attached. This approach is very fine if you are manufacturing automobiles, but is horrendously inadequate and even damaging if you are trying to develop unique, thinking, caring human beings.

This paper is a precursor to chapters found in my book, Essential Learning theories and their app... more This paper is a precursor to chapters found in my book, Essential Learning theories and their applications. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield (Johnson, 2019). here I explore humanistic learning theory, holistic education, and three views of teaching: transmission, transaction, and transformation.

Individualized education programs (IEPs) are plans developed for students with disabilities to en... more Individualized education programs (IEPs) are plans developed for students with disabilities to ensure that (a) they have educational goals germane to their specific needs, (b) there is a plan for achieving these goals, and (c) there are measurable benchmarks to make sure they are making progress toward these goals. This excerpt examines IEPs in the context in which they exist.

This is a short paper that contains the six essential elements of holistic learning theory - and ... more This is a short paper that contains the six essential elements of holistic learning theory - and video mini-lectures describing specific pedagogical strategies related to each element.

This article describes the effects of a person-centered open system applied in an educational set... more This article describes the effects of a person-centered open system applied in an educational setting.

A system is an interacting and interdependent set of elements working together to form a unified ... more A system is an interacting and interdependent set of elements working together to form a unified whole. Arthur Combs (1999) described two common types of systems used in organizations: top-down (managed) closed systems and person-centered open systems. This article describes the effects of a top-down closed system applied in and educational setting

A teacher evaluation plan must be flexible enough to be useful and pragmatic enough to be used. ... more A teacher evaluation plan must be flexible enough to be useful and pragmatic enough to be used. This is such a plan. And since schools and teachers are not standardized products, a standardized evaluation tool would be highly ineffective.

This plan provides the structure necessary for teachers and administrators to work together to identify goals that are right for their schools and classrooms. It should be adapted to meet the unique needs of varying types of schools and classrooms.

The teacher is the most significant variable in determining the quality of reading instruction st... more The teacher is the most significant variable in determining the quality of reading instruction students receive. How do we make sure that teachers of reading have the necessary knowledge and research-based strategies to enable them to help all students reach their full literacy potential,?

If our education systems seek to prepare students to live constructively in the real world, and i... more If our education systems seek to prepare students to live constructively in the real world, and if that goal is to be more than a mouthed platitude, then part of that education must include conflict resolution skills. Conflict resolution skills are a form of social skills that enable students to constructively deal with the conflict they will encounter in their own lives (Johnson, 2009).

When function at its highest, human education helps each human being achieve his or her full pote... more When function at its highest, human education helps each human being achieve his or her full potential. When this occurs, learning is viewed in terms of personal growth and the development of each human’s full potential. This occurs, not just on an intellectual level, but also on an emotional, psychological, creative, social, physical, and even spiritual or transcendent level.

This article describes how world religions can be used to teach values. Personal values are the ... more This article describes how world religions can be used to teach values. Personal values are the traits, characteristics, virtues, or dispositions that one finds to be important or of worth. They are an internal state reflected outward. Helping students develop a personal set of values that enable them to nurture self, others, society, and the environment is part of achieving this end.

Humans are sentient beings. This means that we are aware of ourselves, our sensations, our subjec... more Humans are sentient beings. This means that we are aware of ourselves, our sensations, our subjective thoughts and perceptions, and our emotions. Not only are we aware, but we are aware of our awareness. This is sentience. This short article describes Jung's four levels of consciousness, enlightenment, and individuation.

Any type of growth or creativity involves a tearing away of the old so that new structures can be... more Any type of growth or creativity involves a tearing away of the old so that new structures can be created. This article describes this process and puts it in the context of the Buddha’s journey toward enlightenment, Christ’s crucifixion, Silverman”s theory of dysynchrony, Piaget’s equilibration principle, and Dabrowski’s theory of positive disintegration. The similar processes of creativity and enlightenment are then illustrated using the Wallas Model of creativity that describes the four stages of this process: preparation, incubation, insight, and verification

To teach from another's educational philosophy is to be a dancing monkey. To teach from your own... more To teach from another's educational philosophy is to be a dancing monkey. To teach from your own educational philosophy is to be an authentic teacher. This article describes my journey from the top-down, atomistic view of reality and behaviorism - to being and becoming an holistic educator.

This article describes three levels of beliefs and examines how these in turn affect our metaphys... more This article describes three levels of beliefs and examines how these in turn affect our metaphysical paradigms and our educational practice. Our level of beliefs also determine the types of educational research we believe to be relevant.

It has been my experience that education is most effective when the prime directive is to do w... more It has been my experience that education is most effective when the prime directive is to do what Marie Montessori proposed in 1946, and that is to help each child discover and then release his or her full potential. The Indian philosopher, Krishnamurti proposed that education’s goal should be to free individuals from the illusion of one’s cultural conditioning so that they can think and value for themselves. Thomas Moore, in The Seat of the Soul, recommends that schools strive to develop depth of feeling and imagination, instead of only focusing on knowledge and skills. I agree with each of these, and I would add that our schools should be vehicles for self-actualization. Self-actualization here is the state where one is able to accept and express of one’s inner core or self and begin to actualize those capacities and potentialities found there.

Constructivism is a theory of learning that aligns most closely with cognitive psychology; howeve... more Constructivism is a theory of learning that aligns most closely with cognitive psychology; however, it also seems to reinforce and be reinforced by research in the areas of cognitive neuroscience, humanistic learning theory, and holistic learning theory.

Education has lost its soul. The idealism of the 70s was crushed upon the rocks of the back-to-t... more Education has lost its soul. The idealism of the 70s was crushed upon the rocks of the back-to-the-basics movement of the 80s. In today’s hyper-testing environment, there is little room for real learning, creativity, innovation, passion, and curiosity. Today, education today is more about what we do to students than what students do. Adopting a humanistic approach to education is one way to find our way back.

This article provides a brief overview of holistic learning theory and holistic education. It is ... more This article provides a brief overview of holistic learning theory and holistic education. It is based on the principle of interconnectedness, a common element in quantum physics, shamanism, systems theory, and perennial philosophy. Holistic learning theory perceives each human entity as a system of interacting dimensions, all of which need to be addressed when educating the complete person. Humans have a natural tendency to evolve. Holistic education strives to create the conditions toward this end. Holistic education seeks to be transformational, inviting both students and teachers to discover their full potential as learners, as members of society, and as human beings.

The inner curriculum is a school’s plan for addressing the inner life of its students. It is a se... more The inner curriculum is a school’s plan for addressing the inner life of its students. It is a series of experiences and activities that help students examine their emotions, imagination, intuition, ideals, values, and sense of spirituality. The inner curriculum can be inserted into any curriculum that is currently in place and is comprised of four elements: (a) intrapersonal, (b) expressing the intrapersonal, (c) interpersonal, and (d) the human condition. Related video mini-lectures are included at the end.

This short paper and attached mini-lecture provides an overview of direct instruction and describ... more This short paper and attached mini-lecture provides an overview of direct instruction and describes the basic elements. Direct instruction is an important pedagogical tool that all teachers should have; however, it should be a tool; not an approach to teaching reading and writing.

If you believe reading to be simply sounding out words, then the concept of the 3-cueing systems ... more If you believe reading to be simply sounding out words, then the concept of the 3-cueing systems makes no sense at all. However, this short article and three short mini-lectures describe (a) how the brain creates meaning with print, (b) the top-down/bottom-up, neurocognitive processes used, and (c) the wide research based used to support it. A list of reference citations is also provided.

This short article and attached mini-lecture describes the 3 cueing systems the brain uses to cre... more This short article and attached mini-lecture describes the 3 cueing systems the brain uses to create meaning with print. Dr. Andy Johnson, Reading Specialist. www.OPDT-Johnson.com

This 1-minute mini-lecture describes another strategy to use with students with severe reading di... more This 1-minute mini-lecture describes another strategy to use with students with severe reading disabilities.

This 2-minute mini-lesson describes a simple, student-friendly activity for developing reading fl... more This 2-minute mini-lesson describes a simple, student-friendly activity for developing reading fluency and word identification skills. It works especially well with struggling older readers. Dr. Andy Johnson, Reading Specialist. www.OPDT-Johnson.com

This 4-minute mini-lecture describes some simple phonemic awareness activities for older students.

This video mini-lecture describes how to use a story re-telling chart and a maze to assess compre... more This video mini-lecture describes how to use a story re-telling chart and a maze to assess comprehension. These are examples of more-direct types of assessment.

This 7-minute mini-lecture describes all elements of teaching comprehension of expository text. ... more This 7-minute mini-lecture describes all elements of teaching comprehension of expository text. Include are teacher pre-reading strategies, comprehension study skill strategies, and activities for develop cognition related to the teaching of expository text. Dr. Andy Johnson, Reading Specialist. www.OPDT-Johnson.com

This 2-minute mini-lecture describes a strategy called scaffolded writing. It is used to develop ... more This 2-minute mini-lecture describes a strategy called scaffolded writing. It is used to develop syntactical and phonological cuing systems for word identification with students reading at the emergent level. Dr. Andy Johnson, Reading Specialist. www.OPDT-Johnson.com

This 4-minute mini-lecture describes how sight word should be addressed in a reading program. Dr.... more This 4-minute mini-lecture describes how sight word should be addressed in a reading program. Dr. Andy Johnson, Reading Specialist. www.OPDT-Johnson.com

This 6-minute mini-lecture describes brain-based approaches to teaching phonics. Dr. Andy Johnson... more This 6-minute mini-lecture describes brain-based approaches to teaching phonics. Dr. Andy Johnson, Reading Specialist. www.OPDT-Johnson.com

This 5-minute mini-lecture describes the transactive view of reading and shows how the brain crea... more This 5-minute mini-lecture describes the transactive view of reading and shows how the brain creates meaning with print using 3 cuing systems: semantic, syntactic, and grapho-phonological. Dr. Andy Johnson, Reading Specialist, www.OPDT-Johnson.com

This 4-minute mini-lecture is Part 1 of a two part series describing how to teach literacy to stu... more This 4-minute mini-lecture is Part 1 of a two part series describing how to teach literacy to students whose first language is not English.

This 4-minute mini-lecture describes some strategies that can be used to teach students whose fir... more This 4-minute mini-lecture describes some strategies that can be used to teach students whose first language is NOT English.

This 2-minute mini-lecture demonstrates how to use cloze and maze to develop students semantic cu... more This 2-minute mini-lecture demonstrates how to use cloze and maze to develop students semantic cuing system. This improves their ability to identify words during the act of reading. Dr. Andy Johnson, Reading Specialist, www.OPDT-Johnson.com

This 8-minute mini-lecture describes how to teach students to create meaning with text.

This 4-minute mini-lecture describes concepts of print and phonemic awareness strategies for emer... more This 4-minute mini-lecture describes concepts of print and phonemic awareness strategies for emergent level literacy learners. Dr. Andy Johnson, reading specialist.

This 8-minute mini-lecture describes how to enhance students' ability to comprehend or create mea... more This 8-minute mini-lecture describes how to enhance students' ability to comprehend or create meaning with text.

This is the 3-minute mini-lecture is provides an objective, research-based description of whole l... more This is the 3-minute mini-lecture is provides an objective, research-based description of whole language. It is not an approach or method; rather, it is an understanding or paradigm of how people learn to read and write.

This is the 8-minute mini-lecture is provides an objective, research-based description of whole l... more This is the 8-minute mini-lecture is provides an objective, research-based description of whole language. It is not an approach or method; rather, it is an understanding or paradigm of how people learn to read and write.

What is educational psychology? It involves a bit of philosophy, psychology, research, and theor... more What is educational psychology? It involves a bit of philosophy, psychology, research, and theories. This short overview explains.

Sigmund Freud (1856 to 1939) is considered to be one of the pioneers of modern psychology. His ... more Sigmund Freud (1856 to 1939) is considered to be one of the pioneers of modern psychology. His theory of personality states that (a) the human psyche (personality) has more than one aspect (see below) and (b) the unconscious mind can be highly influential in directing human behavior. Freud did not invent the idea of the unconscious. His contribution was an understanding of how impulses and ideas contained in the unconscious were often prevented from becoming conscious. This chapter excerpt describes some of the basics elements of his theory.

. Systemic racism has to do with systems (political, economic, legal, judicial, and educational)... more . Systemic racism has to do with systems (political, economic, legal, judicial, and educational). It includes the policies, procedures, rules, laws, regulations, traditions, institutions, and the paradigms that disadvantage people of color while providing advantage to the white privileged majority in terms of opportunities and resources. Systemic racism, whether implicit or explicit, intentional or unintentional, is so emmeshed in the fiber of our society, that it often seems normal and goes unnoticed. As such, systemic racism calls for a systemic response.

This chapter excerpt is a more through examination of race and disability than a previous article... more This chapter excerpt is a more through examination of race and disability than a previous article post. These are both social constructs. They were categories created by human beings to categorizes other humans beings. This article provides an overview of race and disability.

Disability is an area of diversity that needs to be considered in conversation related to diversi... more Disability is an area of diversity that needs to be considered in conversation related to diversity. Disability is also an area that intersects with race (intersectionality). You will seem of this intersectionality in this article.

Motivation is an internal state that causes us to direct attention or engage in or maintain a beh... more Motivation is an internal state that causes us to direct attention or engage in or maintain a behavior. So, how do we motivate students to learn? This is the crux of it all. This chapter excerpt describes several theories of motivation, all of which can be used to help us understand human behavior.

Carl Jung believed that humans are inwardly whole, but that most of us have lost touch with impor... more Carl Jung believed that humans are inwardly whole, but that most of us have lost touch with important parts of our selves. This has led to a fragmentation of consciousness. We do not know who we are. We are not able to achieve our full potential. It is only by undertaking the inner journey that leads to the gradual integration and unification of all parts of self that we are able to find wholeness. This process is called individuation. It enables us to realize our uniqueness, discover our talents, tap into our true Self, and become self-actualized.

David Ausubel’s theory of meaningful verbal learning emphasizes the importance of structure and c... more David Ausubel’s theory of meaningful verbal learning emphasizes the importance of structure and connecting new information to known. Whereas Jerome Bruner recommended discovery learning, Ausubel identified reception learning using expository teaching as the most effective method to use in helping students construct new knowledge. Highlights and implications of his theory are described here.

This paper describes some of Jerome Bruner’s big ideas. His learning theory posits that learning... more This paper describes some of Jerome Bruner’s big ideas. His learning theory posits that learning is an active process in which learners construct new knowledge based on their current knowledge. A closer look at some of the basic elements of Bruner’s ideas related to teaching and learning are included.

Creative is an important trait in improving all aspects of our lives; yet, because it cannot be e... more Creative is an important trait in improving all aspects of our lives; yet, because it cannot be easily quantified, it is given too little attention in our schools. Creativity is a form of problem solving that relies on being able to first identify problems then redefine them. Some personal traits or characteristics are more amenable to creativity than others; however, all can improve their ability to think creativity through the use of creative thinking skills and by understanding the process of creativity.

Social learning is a change in mental processes that creates the capacity to demonstrate differen... more Social learning is a change in mental processes that creates the capacity to demonstrate different behaviors that occurs as a result of observing others (Ormrod, 2012). This short paper presents four ideas for using social learning to develop positive behaviors.

Social learning is a change in mental processes that creates the capacity to demonstrate differen... more Social learning is a change in mental processes that creates the capacity to demonstrate different behaviors that occurs as a result of observing. Four ideas for using social learning to develop positive behaviors are presented here:

Classical conditioning involves two stimuli being paired together many times so that eventually, ... more Classical conditioning involves two stimuli being paired together many times so that eventually, when each of them occurs independently, they both produce the same response.
As we saw in John Watson’s experiments with Little Albert (Watson & Rayner, 1920), negative emotions can be classically conditioned. This occurs in a classroom when emotions such as fear, humiliation, frustration, boredom, shame, or despair are linked with learning or school experiences (Ormrod, 2012). Eventually, school and the things to be learned there become associated with these negative emotions. Positive emotions enhance learning; negative emotions impede or disrupt learning. Thus, one way to enhance learning is to reduce negative emotions.

An athletic analogy can be used to help address issues related to the definition and identificati... more An athletic analogy can be used to help address issues related to the definition and identification of students in gifted education. Gifted athletes are those who are capable of outstanding performance within an athletic domain. This view of giftedness reflects Howard Gardner=s definition of intelligence. And, while standardized measures indicate specific attributes which may enhance performance, students with outstanding talent are identified by their performance within the context of a specific domain. Thus, a more holistic concept of giftedness and a matching procedure for identification should be applied in order to help develop a wider variety of talents.

This is a short overview of B.F. Skinner's theory of operant conditioning. Links to four short m... more This is a short overview of B.F. Skinner's theory of operant conditioning. Links to four short mini-lectures are included.

Carl Jung used this as metaphor for the psyche. In all humans there are light, surface, and shad... more Carl Jung used this as metaphor for the psyche. In all humans there are light, surface, and shadow. Light is that to which we attend within the psyche. Shadow is that to which attention is withheld. Our attention focused in a specific area turns shadow to light and light to shadow. Surface contains our ego ideals. These are the standards of conduct or personal traits that a person values and to which he or she aspires. These have been shaped by the development of the ego or conscious personality and are derived in great part from one’s interaction with society, peer groups, parents, and religious mores. This article examines and describes various elements of the shadow.

We come to know reality in four ways: through (a) sense perception, (b) logic and reasoning, (c) ... more We come to know reality in four ways: through (a) sense perception, (b) logic and reasoning, (c) emotions or emotional intelligence, and (e) intuition or spiritual intelligence. But using only one or two of these areas extensively to the detriment of others creates imbalance and a false impression of reality. Traditionally our public schools, colleges, and universities in Western society have done just this. They have declared that only the first two of these are legitimate ways of knowing (sense perception and logic). Thus is created a false sense of reality, the grand façade that you see before you today. This article examines all four ways of knowing and shows how these can be used to make good decisions.

Consciousness is awareness. To expand consciousness means to bring into awareness of a wider var... more Consciousness is awareness. To expand consciousness means to bring into awareness of a wider variety of stimuli, both internal and external. This includes incorporating unconscious material into personal consciousness. It also involves becoming aware of things of a higher spiritual dimension. Here one begins to sense the subtleties of the spiritual dimension, to hear the still small voice within and feel the gentle prompting of the angels. This article seeks to further illustrate this process.

Out of death comes life. It is the death of the old that brings birth of the new. This theme oc... more Out of death comes life. It is the death of the old that brings birth of the new. This theme occurs countless times and in varying forms throughout mythology, religion, literature, science, psychology, education, and in our daily lives. This article describes how the death and rebirth experiences of the Buddha are reflected in our own spiritual, intellectual, creative, psychological, and emotional growth experiences.

A belief system is a network of proposition comprised of what we consider to be true or factual a... more A belief system is a network of proposition comprised of what we consider to be true or factual about reality. Each of us has a vast network of belief systems that act as a scaffold to help us make sense of the world around us. As we encounter new data we use this network to perceive, interpret, analyze, and organize this data. Our belief systems also act as filters to eliminate data that does not correlated with our existing constructs. In this sense, our beliefs can limit thinking and learning.

Educational research is used to create the theories upon which we design educational policies an... more Educational research is used to create the theories upon which we design educational policies and practices. Theories help to organize relevant empirical facts (empirical means they can be observed or measured) in order to create a context for understanding phenomena. Sometimes people try to dismiss an idea or practice with which they do not agree by saying it is just a bunch of theory, meaning I guess that the theoretical realm is somehow far removed from the practical realm, perhaps even having a different set of laws that govern it. But this would be a misunderstanding of what a theory is.
A theory is a way to explain a set of facts. Put another way, if reality were a dot-to-dot picture, a theory would be a way to connect a set of data dots (see Figure 1). However varying theories connect different data dots in different ways resulting in a wide variety of pictures and practices. Thus, varying theoretical perspectives, while based on a set of empirical data, can often advocate different practices or practical notions. An example would be behavioral learning theory and cognitive learning theory, both of which are based on solid empirical evidence.

Call for Submissions-Volume III The Journal of Equity and Social Justice in Higher Education is a... more Call for Submissions-Volume III The Journal of Equity and Social Justice in Higher Education is a peer-reviewed academic journal that focuses on promoting change related to social justice and equity in higher education. Besides traditional academic articles, we are especially interested in publishing visual art, cartoons, humor, satire, and a variety of creative works that address issues related to equity and social justice on college campuses. This is the place to push the boundaries. Don't be afraid to say what needs to be said.

All research is not equal. This chapter provides some basic tips for evaluating the research use... more All research is not equal. This chapter provides some basic tips for evaluating the research used in your academic writing. Being able to read and evaluate research will also serve you well in your professional practice. But I want to reiterate a point previously made: No single study should be the final word on anything. You will need to review many studies to get a sense of any topic in any field. Reviewing multiple studies from multiple perspectives provides context for your topic and also acts as check on extreme or outlier positions.

The chapter expert describes when to use the word 'that' and when to use 'which'.

This chapter excerpt provides all the information you will need related to the comma and how to u... more This chapter excerpt provides all the information you will need related to the comma and how to use it in your writing. It is not complicated if you understand these four simple rules.

This chapter describes the process of writing a literature review and what the product should loo... more This chapter describes the process of writing a literature review and what the product should look like

This short chapter describes the elements and uses of an annotated bibliography and provides an e... more This short chapter describes the elements and uses of an annotated bibliography and provides an example of how they are used in a research proposal.

This brief outline identifies and describes the elements that should be included in any research ... more This brief outline identifies and describes the elements that should be included in any research study: abstract, introduction, review of the literature, methodology, findings, and discussion.

Presented here are three proposal forms that could be used for action research projects as well a... more Presented here are three proposal forms that could be used for action research projects as well as ideas for products and presentations for disseminating these projects.

Action research projects can be designed to identify, elucidate, and then align your teaching pra... more Action research projects can be designed to identify, elucidate, and then align your teaching practices with a set of values and/or an educational philosophy

Action research is a type of research related to one’s professional practice. In the field of ed... more Action research is a type of research related to one’s professional practice. In the field of education, it can be defined as the process of studying a school, classroom, or teaching-learning situation with the purpose of understanding and improving the quality of actions or instruction. In this sense, it is the ultimate form of teacher reflection. Described in this chapter expert are the basic elements and the steps of action research.

For teacher professional development, you do not have to rely on experts to tell you what does an... more For teacher professional development, you do not have to rely on experts to tell you what does and does not work or to explain to you what research says about something. Action research enables you to become your own expert. This article describes how action research can be used to develop each of the four types of knowledge necessary for teacher expertise: pedagogical knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge, content knowledge, and knowledge of learners and learning.

A personal pronoun takes the place of a person or people. Just like other pronouns, personal p... more A personal pronoun takes the place of a person or people. Just like other pronouns, personal pronouns are used to avoid repetition. This reduces the clumsiness and enhances readability of the sentence.

This short chapter excerpt describe eleven basic fundamental elements of academic writing.

This is an excerpt from my book, 'Academic Writing: Process and Product' published by Rowman and ... more This is an excerpt from my book, 'Academic Writing: Process and Product' published by Rowman and Littlefield. Here I describe how to evaluation qualitative and quantitative research.

Effective decisions in education related to policies, products, procedures, programs, or practic... more Effective decisions in education related to policies, products, procedures, programs, or practices are made based on a body of research (vs. one or two studies). To be critical consumers of educational research, we must understand some of the basics. The first thing to understand here is the difference between research and simply doing a study or collecting data. This short article describes the salient characters of education research. Video mini-lectures are included.

Analysis means to break something down into its component parts so that it can be understood. In ... more Analysis means to break something down into its component parts so that it can be understood. In action research, data are analyzed and organized into categories so that others might come to understand the reality you are trying to represent. Three elements related to data analysis are presented in this chapter: (a) accuracy and credibility; (b) validity, reliability, and triangulation; and (c) inductive analysis.

Action research can be defined as the process of studying a real school or classroom situation to... more Action research can be defined as the process of studying a real school or classroom situation to understand and improve the quality of actions or instruction. It is a systematic and orderly way for teachers to observe their practice or to explore a problem and a possible course of action. This chapter provides an overview of this powerful teaching tool.

This 4-minute mini-lecture examines the nature of science, research, and theories. Dr. Andy John... more This 4-minute mini-lecture examines the nature of science, research, and theories. Dr. Andy Johnson, Reading Specialist. www.OPDT-Johnson.com

This 3-minute video describes the basic elements of educational research as defined by the Scient... more This 3-minute video describes the basic elements of educational research as defined by the Scientifically Based Research in the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002

This 7-minute mini-lecture describes the research-based elements for teaching concepts and puts t... more This 7-minute mini-lecture describes the research-based elements for teaching concepts and puts this into a lesson plan format.

This 2-minute mini-lecture describes a brief overview of educational psychology.

This 6-minute mini-lecture describes the basics of human learning from a cognitive, neurological,... more This 6-minute mini-lecture describes the basics of human learning from a cognitive, neurological, and humanistic perspective.

This 4-minute mini-lecture describes emotional intelligence.

This 4-minute mini-lecture describes intelligence from the perspective of Spearman, Horn, and Cat... more This 4-minute mini-lecture describes intelligence from the perspective of Spearman, Horn, and Cattell.

This 3-minute mini-lecture describes how to use Robert Sternberg's Triarchic Intelligence Theory ... more This 3-minute mini-lecture describes how to use Robert Sternberg's Triarchic Intelligence Theory to enhance lessons and learning.

This chapter examines the teaching of civics and government, and of economics. It includes a list... more This chapter examines the teaching of civics and government, and of economics. It includes a list of the NCSS teacher expectations in each of these content areas as well as ideas for teaching. This chapter ends with a description of global education, a newer area of social studies that incorporates a variety of disciplines and their global impact.

Social studies is not simply a body of knowledge and a set of skills. Instead, social studies is... more Social studies is not simply a body of knowledge and a set of skills. Instead, social studies is a dynamic process that uses knowledge and skills to enable greater understanding of self, others, societies, institutions, nations, and environments. In this way, it has the potential to become a vehicle for improved community, national, and global citizenship. A holistic approach to social studies education will enable you to implement it.

This chapter excerpt describes research-based best practices in social studies education. This e... more This chapter excerpt describes research-based best practices in social studies education. This excerpt also describes social studies curriculum and NCSS Content Standards, Pedagogical Standards, and Essential Skills for Social Studies.

This chapter excerpt describes the salient elements of conflict resolution. Included are strateg... more This chapter excerpt describes the salient elements of conflict resolution. Included are strategies that should be taught in every classroom at all levels. Video mini-lectures are included at the end.

This chapter excerpt describes the salient elements of problem-solving and problem-based learning... more This chapter excerpt describes the salient elements of problem-solving and problem-based learning. Video mini-lectures are included at the end.

This chapter excerpt defines social studies as a study of humans interacting. It also describes ... more This chapter excerpt defines social studies as a study of humans interacting. It also describes what is involved in social studies teaching and learning.

This chapter excerpt describes what critical and creative thinking skills are and demonstrates ho... more This chapter excerpt describes what critical and creative thinking skills are and demonstrates how to embed them within a curriculum. Mini-lectures are included.

This chapter excerpt describes the elements of inquiry learning and demonstrates a variety of str... more This chapter excerpt describes the elements of inquiry learning and demonstrates a variety of strategies for implementing inquiry learning.

This is an excerpt from my social studies book. It describes how to teach leadership and leaders... more This is an excerpt from my social studies book. It describes how to teach leadership and leadership skills as part of social studies education.

This chapter excerpt describes a practical way to help students develop their own values, virtues... more This chapter excerpt describes a practical way to help students develop their own values, virtues, and ethical codes within a public school setting.

This chapter excerpt describes how to design a social studies curriculum based on good books and ... more This chapter excerpt describes how to design a social studies curriculum based on good books and language arts activities.

This chapter excerpt describes how to include conflict resolution as part of an elementary or mid... more This chapter excerpt describes how to include conflict resolution as part of an elementary or middle school social studies curriculum.

Satan, the devil, Lucifer, Beelzebub, Uncle Bo-Bo, or whatever name you want to use is an archety... more Satan, the devil, Lucifer, Beelzebub, Uncle Bo-Bo, or whatever name you want to use is an archetypal image existing in the universal unconsciousness and, if we allow, it will exist within our unconscious as well. We are the ones who bring Satan to life. It is our own fear, hate, and ignorance that breathes life into its nostrils and creates the personification of our shadow side that is then projected out onto the world. And the shadow that is unacknowledged, repressed, or ignored has power over us.

This paper examines the Jesus experience and attempts to put it in a historical context as well a... more This paper examines the Jesus experience and attempts to put it in a historical context as well as the context of other numinous experiences.

consciousness is awareness. To expand consciousness means to bring into awareness of a wider va... more consciousness is awareness. To expand consciousness means to bring into awareness of a wider variety of stimuli, both internal and external. This includes incorporating unconscious material into personal consciousness. It also involves becoming aware of things of a higher spiritual dimension. Here one begins to sense the subtleties of the spiritual dimension, to hear the still small voice within and feel the gentle prompting of the angels. This chapter excerpt seeks to further illustrate this process.

This paper examines biblical research and scholarly work related to homosexuality.

This chapter excerpt explores consciousness, spirituality enlightnement, and transformation in t... more This chapter excerpt explores consciousness, spirituality enlightnement, and transformation in the context of Christianity

This chapter excerpt describes how behaviorism in the form of heaven and hell are used to shape b... more This chapter excerpt describes how behaviorism in the form of heaven and hell are used to shape behaviors within a Christian paradigm.

This paper examines spirituality as a form of stage theory.

This chapter excerpt defines the terms: soul, spirit, and spirituality.

This paper describes religious practice as a means to transform consciousness.

This chapter explores the nature of evil using the Jungian concept of the shadow.

This chapter excerpt explains, from the perspective of cognitive psychology, how we come by our b... more This chapter excerpt explains, from the perspective of cognitive psychology, how we come by our beliefs relative to Christianity and other aspects of religion and spirituality.

This paper examines the Jungian symbols, metaphors, and motifs found in the movie, 'The Wizard of... more This paper examines the Jungian symbols, metaphors, and motifs found in the movie, 'The Wizard of Oz.'.

This chapter excerpt describes the salient elements of the spiritual journey.

Note: Research and art have similar goals or common aims: to reveal truth or to examine and expla... more Note: Research and art have similar goals or common aims: to reveal truth or to examine and explain bits of reality. However, art can sometimes go where mere facts cannot. That is, art can sometimes describe truth more fully and reveal reality more deeply than a mere collection of facts. I am taking a break from my traditional academic writing. What follows may be described as a type of transpersonal research. It's a combination of depth psychology, expository text, personal narrative, and creative fiction. It is an excerpt of a memoir I'm working on called, Coming Out of Another Kind of Closet: Living with Mental Health Issues. The purpose of this particular excerpt is to provide a deeper understanding of anxiety disorders in children as well as to highlight the effect that teacher interactions can have on children who are predisposed toward this condition.

Chapter 3 from my memoir describes the Fourth Grade. Note: Research and art have similar goals ... more Chapter 3 from my memoir describes the Fourth Grade.

Note: Research and art have similar goals or common aims: to reveal truth or to examine and explain bits of reality. However, art can sometimes go where mere facts cannot. That is, art can sometimes describe truth more fully and reveal reality more deeply than a mere collection of facts.
I am taking a break from my traditional academic writing. What follows may be described as a type of transpersonal research. It’s a combination of depth psychology, expository text, personal narrative, and creative fiction. It is an excerpt of a memoir I’m working on called, Coming Out of Another Kind of Closet: Living with Mental Health Issues. The purpose of this particular excerpt is to provide a deeper understanding of anxiety disorders in children as well as to highlight the effect that teacher interactions can have on children who are predisposed toward this condition.

Warning: The language gets a bit rough in parts. I have tried to write with complete honesty. If you are easily offended by expletives, you may not want to read this.

We need good information to help us determine what is and isn’t real. And in order to make good... more We need good information to help us determine what is and isn’t real. And in order to make good educational decisions, we must be able to evaluate our sources of information. Our sources should be true. We cannot build truth based on untruths and semi-truths. Two half-truths do not make a whole truth. You cannot build a house on a foundation of sand. You cannot make good decisions about reading instruction based on inaccurate or incomplete information. Hence, we must be able to evaluate our sources to ensure we’re getting good information.

Teachers' unions have let outside interests change public education. You have sat silent as teac... more Teachers' unions have let outside interests change public education. You have sat silent as teachers have been asked to do more with less. You’ve sat in silence as teachers are forced to implement one-size-fits-all scripted reading programs. Teachers are forced to engage in state-mandated educational malpractice for reading instruction … and you say nothing.
Anybody can say nothing.
But nobody can say anything.
And nothing is said by anybody.
The only thing worse than not having a union is having a union that does nothing.
A union that does nothing is not a union. It’s a Tupperware party.

Journal of Gifted Education and Creativity, 2015

In theory, effective thinking is a trait that is valued by schools at all levels; however, it is ... more In theory, effective thinking is a trait that is valued by schools at all levels; however, it is a skill that is very rarely taught. Teaching thinking skills explicitly and embedding them into a literacy curriculum can help students become more effective critical and creative thinkers. This article defines thinking skills, describes how they should be taught using the elements of effective skills instruction, and describes 18 specific critical and creative thinking skills that can be used across the curriculum at any level. (Contains 10 references and a figure that outlines 10 critical thinking and 8 creative thinking skills.) (Author/RS)

The International Journal of Equity and Social Justice in Higher Education is a peer-reviewed aca... more The International Journal of Equity and Social Justice in Higher Education is a peer-reviewed academic journal that focuses on promoting change related to social justice and equity in higher education. Toward this end, the journal seeks to:
• publish case studies and other academic articles that describe successful use of culturally sustaining pedagogy
• critique and transform existing social, political, cultural, economic, and gender structures that constrain the realization of humankind's full potential
• promote the kind of transformative change that has the potential to disrupt current power structures in society and in higher education
• give voice to traditionally marginalized and silenced voices.
• create a platform for sharing ideas related to culturally responsive teaching, equity, and social justice in higher education.

One of the ideas for getting more teachers of color into the classroom has been to look at fast-... more One of the ideas for getting more teachers of color into the classroom has been to look at
fast-track alternative teacher preparation programs such as Teach for America. These kinds of programs are based on the spaghetti model: Throw enough spaghetti on the wall and some of it will stick. In other words - throw a bunch of low-paid, poorly prepared teachers into the classroom and some will eventually stick around, making it to a second year.
Let me ask you this: Would you go to a fast-track dentist? What about a dentist who was part of a Dentists for America program? Most would say no. We expect a certain level of training and expertise from those in whom we entrust with the care of our teeth. Why would we think it appropriate to expect anything less of those who we entrust with the care and education of our children?

My most popular videos and other postings have been about how to teach writing. Our next webinar... more My most popular videos and other postings have been about how to teach writing. Our next webinar will describe how this is done using the 5-step writing process as well as strategies for teaching each step.

How to Teach Writing – Webinar on October 16, 2021, 7:00 EST, 6:00 CST, 4:00 PST

For this free webinar, we are limited to 500 attendees. Please register in advance:

https://minnstate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zHkEPmnYRIeuENlolmoVoQ

The new International Journal of Equity and Social Justice in Higher Education seeks submissions ... more The new International Journal of Equity and Social Justice in Higher Education seeks submissions for its inaugural publication. Volume 1 broadly explores the topic of antiracist and culturally responsive/sustaining teaching, theory, and practice in higher education contexts.