Stronge & Associates, LLC

Support for New Teachers
Fish Out of Water? An Interview with Amy Bindas and Dr. James Stronge - October 2024 Transitioning into a new teaching role can feel overwhelming, especially when navigating a new school environment. In this latest podcast episode, we dive into how schools can effectively support new teachers who may feel like "fish out of water." We explore strategies for creating a positive school climate and fostering strong mentorship relationships that help novice teachers thrive. Join us as we discuss practical approaches to building a welcoming work culture, establishing meaningful mentor-mentee connections, and empowering new educators to find their footing and flourish from day one. Amy Bindas, of the CESA6 Growth and Development Center, and Dr. James Stronge, weigh in with tangible advice and tips. Download Listen Online How Do We Help New Teachers Survive and Thrive? An Interview with Dr. James Stronge - August 2024 Welcome to the Stronge & Associates Smart from the Start podcast, a podcast aimed at helping educators survive and thrive in the classroom through tangible resources, timesaving tips, and evidence-based strategies. Download Listen Online	Helping New Teachers Thrive, An Interview with Dr. James Stronge and Dr. Justin Baeder - August 2024 How can we tailor feedback into manageable pieces during observations of new teachers to help them improve without overwhelming them? Dr. Justin Baeder of The Principal Center and Principal Center Radio, and Dr. James Stronge, provide practical advice and tips. Download Listen Online Stronger Together: How We Can Empower and Support New Teachers - September 2024 The beginning of a new school year is an exciting and exhilarating time for administrators, teachers, students and families; however, the start of a new year often comes with new initiatives that may be oriented around curriculum, instructional strategies Read more Maximizing the Power of Mentorships for New Teachers - February 2023 The significance and benefits of a quality mentorship cannot be understated in the new teacher induction process. Perhaps most notably, new teacher induction programs and mentoring help support the retention of new teachers Read more

Support for New Teachers

Fish Out of Water? An Interview with Amy Bindas and Dr. James Stronge - October 2024
Transitioning into a new teaching role can feel overwhelming, especially when navigating a new school environment. In this latest podcast episode, we dive into how schools can effectively support new teachers who may feel like "fish out of water." We explore strategies for creating a positive school climate and fostering strong mentorship relationships that help novice teachers thrive. Join us as we discuss practical approaches to building a welcoming work culture, establishing meaningful mentor-mentee connections, and empowering new educators to find their footing and flourish from day one. Amy Bindas, of the CESA6 Growth and Development Center, and Dr. James Stronge, weigh in with tangible advice and tips.
Download
Listen Online

How Do We Help New Teachers Survive and Thrive? An Interview with Dr. James Stronge - August 2024
Welcome to the Stronge & Associates Smart from the Start podcast, a podcast aimed at helping educators survive and thrive in the classroom through tangible resources, timesaving tips, and evidence-based strategies.
Download
Listen Online

Helping New Teachers Thrive, An Interview with Dr. James Stronge and Dr. Justin Baeder - August 2024
How can we tailor feedback into manageable pieces during observations of new teachers to help them improve without overwhelming them? Dr. Justin Baeder of The Principal Center and Principal Center Radio, and Dr. James Stronge, provide practical advice and tips.
Download
Listen Online

Stronger Together: How We Can Empower and Support New Teachers - September 2024
The beginning of a new school year is an exciting and exhilarating time for administrators, teachers, students and families; however, the start of a new year often comes with new initiatives that may be oriented around curriculum, instructional strategies Read more

Maximizing the Power of Mentorships for New Teachers - February 2023
The significance and benefits of a quality mentorship cannot be understated in the new teacher induction process. Perhaps most notably, new teacher induction programs and mentoring help support the retention of new teachers Read more

Mentoring
Maximizing the Power of Mentorships for New Teachers - February 2023 The significance and benefits of a quality mentorship cannot be understated in the new teacher induction process. Perhaps most notably, new teacher induction programs and mentoring help support the retention of new teachers Read more	Stronger Together: How We Can Empower and Support New Teachers - September 2024 The beginning of a new school year is an exciting and exhilarating time for administrators, teachers, students and families; however, the start of a new year often comes with new initiatives that may be oriented around curriculum, instructional strategies Read more

Instructional Planning
How to Increase Student Learning through Clear Learning Objectives - September 2020 There is ample research evidence to support the importance of well-designed and clear student learning objectives (Faulconer, 2017). Learning objectives are statements that describe what students are expected to achieve as a result of instruction. Read more

Instructional Strategies
Student Engagement How to Effectively Engage Students with Classroom Discussion - February 2020 Classroom discussion is one of the instructional methods that can move students from passive participants to active meaning makers (Walsh & Sattes, 2015). Stimulating dialogues can enhance student engagement. Read more How to Effectively Promote Student Engagement - June 2020 Student engagement is vital to academic achievement. Engaged students are attentive and participative. They are invested and enthusiastic about learning. They also persist longer and use more self-regulation to accomplish goals. Read more Smart from the Start: Increasing Joy in the Classroom - June 2023 Emotions have always played an important part in education, whether you recognized it or not. As teachers weneed to encourage the well-being of our students because their affective qualities support their academicdevelopment and skills (Norrish et al., 2013) and academic success (Suldo et al, 2011) Read more Smart from the Start: Welcoming Students and Creating Meaningful First Impressions - September 2023 Greeting and welcoming students is important in establishing the tone and classroom culture, and it also solidifies students’ first impression of you and their new classroom. Both new and veteran teachers must carefully consider the ways in which they welcome a new class of students at the beginning of each new school year. Read more	Direct Instruction What It Is and How It Works - January 2020 The direct instruction model was created by Siegfried Engelmann and his colleagues in the 1960s. Statistically, direct instruction has an effect size o Looking at 500 research studies across 50 years, a synthesis of this line of research found strong positive results in using direct instruction across multiple school settings, Read more Questioning Elevating Instruction with Essential Questions - June 2022 Teachers everywhere differ in subtle and marked ways in their styles of instructional delivery. These differences are attributable to an array of factors, including the training and skill set of the teacher, the classroom context, the content they teach, the age and developmental level of students, Read more Classroom Discussion How to Effectively Engage Students with Classroom Discussion - February 2020 Classroom discussion is one of the instructional methods that can move students from passive participants to active meaning makers (Walsh & Sattes, 2015). Stimulating dialogues can enhance student engagement. Read more

Instructional Strategies

Student Engagement

How to Effectively Engage Students with Classroom Discussion - February 2020
Classroom discussion is one of the instructional methods that can move students from passive participants to active meaning makers (Walsh & Sattes, 2015). Stimulating dialogues can enhance student engagement. Read more

How to Effectively Promote Student Engagement - June 2020
Student engagement is vital to academic achievement. Engaged students are attentive and participative. They are invested and enthusiastic about learning. They also persist longer and use more self-regulation to accomplish goals. Read more

Smart from the Start: Increasing Joy in the Classroom - June 2023
Emotions have always played an important part in education, whether you recognized it or not. As teachers weneed to encourage the well-being of our students because their affective qualities support their academicdevelopment and skills (Norrish et al., 2013) and academic success (Suldo et al, 2011) Read more

Smart from the Start: Welcoming Students and Creating Meaningful First Impressions - September 2023
Greeting and welcoming students is important in establishing the tone and classroom culture, and it also solidifies students’ first impression of you and their new classroom. Both new and veteran teachers must carefully consider the ways in which they welcome a new class of students at the beginning of each new school year. Read more

Direct Instruction

What It Is and How It Works - January 2020
The direct instruction model was created by Siegfried Engelmann and his colleagues in the 1960s. Statistically, direct instruction has an effect size o Looking at 500 research studies across 50 years, a synthesis of this line of research found strong positive results in using direct instruction across multiple school settings, Read more

Questioning

Elevating Instruction with Essential Questions - June 2022
Teachers everywhere differ in subtle and marked ways in their styles of instructional delivery. These differences are attributable to an array of factors, including the training and skill set of the teacher, the classroom context, the content they teach, the age and developmental level of students, Read more

Classroom Discussion

How to Effectively Engage Students with Classroom Discussion - February 2020
Classroom discussion is one of the instructional methods that can move students from passive participants to active meaning makers (Walsh & Sattes, 2015). Stimulating dialogues can enhance student engagement. Read more

Family Engagement
Six Tips for Communicating with Parents in Virtual and Hybrid Learning Contexts - November 2020 In a typical school year, school leaders capitalize on an array of strategies for communicating andengaging with parents [1] on a regular basis. There are opportunities to talk with parents who volunteertheir time in school buildings, Read more

Assessment
How to Use Student Rubrics to Increase Student Learning and Work Quality - March 2020 A rubric is usually a one- or two-page document that lays out the specific expectations for an assignment, by dissecting an assignment into its component parts, setting forth a set of criteria, and providing a detailed description of what constitutes acceptable or unacceptable levels of performance for each of those parts or criteria (Reddy & Andrade, 2010; Stevens & Levi, 2012). Read more How to Increase Student Learning through Clear Learning Objectives - September 2020 There is ample research evidence to support the importance of well-designed and clear student learning objectives (Faulconer, 2017). Learning objectives are statements that describe what students are expected to achieve as a result of instruction. Read more An Antidote to Learning Loss: Unlocking the Potential of Pre-assessment - September 2021 As classroom around the globe reopen and students return to their in-person learning settings, teachers accross grade levels and contexts will be confronted with the common challenge: How to assess and adress the learning gaps that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic? Read more	Mirrors and Windows: Teaching Students to Self-assess - February 2022 Although Sydney Harris, an American journalist, may have intended broader meaning in his comment, it iscertainly relevant that we empower our students to reflect on their learning in ways that open their mindsto future learning. Recent events have made it clear that preparing students for the 21st century requiresthat Read more Aligning Assessments to Curriculum and Instruction - April 2022 The children’s song, “Dem Bones,” tells us, “your ankle bone connected to your leg bone, your leg boneconnected to your knee bone, your knee bone connected to your thigh bone…” Even though the knee andankle are joints that connect bones, the idea that all these bones and joints work together is important Read more Aligning Assessments to the Curriculum and Instruction - April 2024 Assessments are powerful tools in classrooms and schools for determining the impact of instruction; however, the inferences drawn from assessments are only as strong as the assessment in terms of its validity, reliability, and alignment to the curriculum and instruction. Read more

Assessment

How to Use Student Rubrics to Increase Student Learning and Work Quality - March 2020
A rubric is usually a one- or two-page document that lays out the specific expectations for an assignment, by dissecting an assignment into its component parts, setting forth a set of criteria, and providing a detailed description of what constitutes acceptable or unacceptable levels of performance for each of those parts or criteria (Reddy & Andrade, 2010; Stevens & Levi, 2012). Read more

How to Increase Student Learning through Clear Learning Objectives - September 2020
There is ample research evidence to support the importance of well-designed and clear student learning objectives (Faulconer, 2017). Learning objectives are statements that describe what students are expected to achieve as a result of instruction. Read more

An Antidote to Learning Loss: Unlocking the Potential of Pre-assessment - September 2021
As classroom around the globe reopen and students return to their in-person learning settings, teachers accross grade levels and contexts will be confronted with the common challenge: How to assess and adress the learning gaps that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic? Read more

Mirrors and Windows: Teaching Students to Self-assess - February 2022
Although Sydney Harris, an American journalist, may have intended broader meaning in his comment, it iscertainly relevant that we empower our students to reflect on their learning in ways that open their mindsto future learning. Recent events have made it clear that preparing students for the 21st century requiresthat Read more

Aligning Assessments to Curriculum and Instruction - April 2022
The children’s song, “Dem Bones,” tells us, “your ankle bone connected to your leg bone, your leg boneconnected to your knee bone, your knee bone connected to your thigh bone…” Even though the knee andankle are joints that connect bones, the idea that all these bones and joints work together is important Read more

Aligning Assessments to the Curriculum and Instruction - April 2024
Assessments are powerful tools in classrooms and schools for determining the impact of instruction; however, the inferences drawn from assessments are only as strong as the assessment in terms of its validity, reliability, and alignment to the curriculum and instruction. Read more

Feedback
How to Maximize Student Feedback in Hybrid and Virtual Learning Contexts - April 2021 There is no substitute for quality teaching and instruction; unfortunately, virtual and hybrid instructional settings result in limited face-to-face interactions between teachers and students.Consequently, teachers must maximize instructional opportunities to provide feedback to students and Read more Formative Feedback for Teacher Growth and Reflection - April 2023 The importance and utility of feedback cannot be understated, as effective feedback is important for all learners, notjust students but also adults (Hattie & Timperley, 2007; Lipnevich, 2009). Providing effective feedback allows teachersto evaluate their performance and set new performance goals for themselves (Feeney, 2007). Read more	Addressing Learning Gaps: Formative Feedback for the Win! - November 2021 Among the many challenges teachers face this school year is how to evaluate and subsequently address the learning gaps that were widened during the pandemic and how to prioritize instructional strategies that lead to results. There is no easy solution; however, Read more Helping New Teachers Thrive, An Interview with Dr. James Stronge and Dr. Justin Baeder - August 2024 How can we tailor feedback into manageable pieces during observations of new teachers to help them improve without overwhelming them? Dr. Justin Baeder of The Principal Center and Principal Center Radio, and Dr. James Stronge, provide practical advice and tips. Download Listen Online

Feedback

How to Maximize Student Feedback in Hybrid and Virtual Learning Contexts - April 2021
There is no substitute for quality teaching and instruction; unfortunately, virtual and hybrid instructional settings result in limited face-to-face interactions between teachers and students.Consequently, teachers must maximize instructional opportunities to provide feedback to students and Read more

Formative Feedback for Teacher Growth and Reflection - April 2023
The importance and utility of feedback cannot be understated, as effective feedback is important for all learners, notjust students but also adults (Hattie & Timperley, 2007; Lipnevich, 2009). Providing effective feedback allows teachersto evaluate their performance and set new performance goals for themselves (Feeney, 2007). Read more

Addressing Learning Gaps: Formative Feedback for the Win! - November 2021
Among the many challenges teachers face this school year is how to evaluate and subsequently address the learning gaps that were widened during the pandemic and how to prioritize instructional strategies that lead to results. There is no easy solution; however, Read more

Helping New Teachers Thrive, An Interview with Dr. James Stronge and Dr. Justin Baeder - August 2024
How can we tailor feedback into manageable pieces during observations of new teachers to help them improve without overwhelming them? Dr. Justin Baeder of The Principal Center and Principal Center Radio, and Dr. James Stronge, provide practical advice and tips.
Download
Listen Online

School Leadership
Survive & Thrive—The School Leader During a National Crisis… 5 Tips to Help You Emerge a Stronger Leader - April 2020 As school leaders, each of us undoubtedly has led our organization through calm seas when the waters were smooth and all was well. We also learned how to keep a steady hand-on-helm when the skies turned gray and the waters became choppy. Read more Are You Ready for Your New Teachers? - June 2024 As the dust barely settles from the close of one school year, administrators are already rolling up their sleeves,creating lengthy to-do lists, and immersing themselves in preparations for the start of the subsequent academicyear. Read more Strategic Planning: Is it Worth the Hassle? - November 2023 We all know that time is a finite resource, and as a result, we must prioritize doing what works to ensure we maximize opportunities and impact. The process of quality strategic planning in schools is labor- and time- intensive and may result in stakeholders asking themselves: Is it worth it? Read more	Stronger Together: How We Can Empower and Support New Teachers - September 2024 The beginning of a new school year is an exciting and exhilarating time for administrators, teachers, students and families; however, the start of a new year Read more What is Teacher Leadership and Why Does it Matter? - November 2024 Increasing demands for school improvement have resulted in teachers taking on more leadership roles as pricipals recognize the benefits of having a shared model of leading. Read more

School Leadership

Survive & Thrive—The School Leader During a National Crisis… 5 Tips to Help You Emerge a Stronger Leader - April 2020
As school leaders, each of us undoubtedly has led our organization through calm seas when the waters were smooth and all was well. We also learned how to keep a steady hand-on-helm when the skies turned gray and the waters became choppy. Read more

Are You Ready for Your New Teachers? - June 2024
As the dust barely settles from the close of one school year, administrators are already rolling up their sleeves,creating lengthy to-do lists, and immersing themselves in preparations for the start of the subsequent academicyear. Read more

Strategic Planning: Is it Worth the Hassle? - November 2023
We all know that time is a finite resource, and as a result, we must prioritize doing what works to ensure we maximize opportunities and impact. The process of quality strategic planning in schools is labor- and time- intensive and may result in stakeholders asking themselves: Is it worth it? Read more

Stronger Together: How We Can Empower and Support New Teachers - September 2024
The beginning of a new school year is an exciting and exhilarating time for administrators, teachers, students and families; however, the start of a new year Read more

What is Teacher Leadership and Why Does it Matter? - November 2024
Increasing demands for school improvement have resulted in teachers taking on more leadership roles as pricipals recognize the benefits of having a shared model of leading. Read more

Teacher Evaluation
Teacher Evaluation for Blended/Virtual Teaching - December 2020 In our October issues, we looked at how effective blended/virtual teaching can be similar and different from the best practices in conventional classrooms. In this issue, we will continue the discussion to focus on how teacher evaluation needs to change in new blended/virtual setting. Read more

Blended (Hybrid) and Virtual Teaching
Lessons Learned on Virtual Learning and Family Engagement in the Time of COVID-19 - May 2020 We are in an unprecedented time of grappling with the challenges of school closures and moving to online learning options due to the pernicious spread of the coronavirus globally. However, our schools and educators have been resourceful and resilient like Read more Best Practices in Blended and Virtual Teaching - October 2020 Over the past few months, we have faced unprecedented challenges in moving education online and delivering quality learning to our students remotely. As we begin the new academic year with the coronavirus still raging, many schools have decided to proceed with a blended plan for teaching. Read more Six Tips for Communicating with Parents in Virtual and Hybrid Learning Contexts - November 2020 In a typical school year, school leaders capitalize on an array of strategies for communicating andengaging with parents [1] on a regular basis. There are opportunities to talk with parents who volunteertheir time in school buildings, Read more	Supporting Classroom Discussions in Remote and In-Person Learning Contexts - February 2021 Classroom discussions present a powerful instructional tool for engaging learners and releasing responsibility to students. It is critical for both in-person and remote learners to have opportunities to meaningfully participate in discourse with their peers. Read more How to Maximize Student Feedback in Hybrid and Virtual Learning Contexts - April 2021 There is no substitute for quality teaching and instruction; unfortunately, virtual and hybrid instructional settings result in limited face-to-face interactions between teachers and students.Consequently, teachers must maximize instructional opportunities to provide feedback to students and Read more

Blended (Hybrid) and Virtual Teaching

Lessons Learned on Virtual Learning and Family Engagement in the Time of COVID-19 - May 2020
We are in an unprecedented time of grappling with the challenges of school closures and moving to online learning options due to the pernicious spread of the coronavirus globally. However, our schools and educators have been resourceful and resilient like Read more

Best Practices in Blended and Virtual Teaching - October 2020
Over the past few months, we have faced unprecedented challenges in moving education online and delivering quality learning to our students remotely. As we begin the new academic year with the coronavirus still raging, many schools have decided to proceed with a blended plan for teaching. Read more

Six Tips for Communicating with Parents in Virtual and Hybrid Learning Contexts - November 2020
In a typical school year, school leaders capitalize on an array of strategies for communicating andengaging with parents [1] on a regular basis. There are opportunities to talk with parents who volunteertheir time in school buildings, Read more

Supporting Classroom Discussions in Remote and In-Person Learning Contexts - February 2021
Classroom discussions present a powerful instructional tool for engaging learners and releasing responsibility to students. It is critical for both in-person and remote learners to have opportunities to meaningfully participate in discourse with their peers. Read more

How to Maximize Student Feedback in Hybrid and Virtual Learning Contexts - April 2021
There is no substitute for quality teaching and instruction; unfortunately, virtual and hybrid instructional settings result in limited face-to-face interactions between teachers and students.Consequently, teachers must maximize instructional opportunities to provide feedback to students and Read more

COVID-19
Survive & Thrive—The School Leader During a National Crisis… 5 Tips to Help You Emerge a Stronger Leader - April 2020 As school leaders, each of us undoubtedly has led our organization through calm seas when the waters were smooth and all was well. We also learned how to keep a steady hand-on-helm when the skies turned gray and the waters became choppy. Read more Lessons Learned on Virtual Learning and Family Engagement in the Time of COVID-19 - May 2020 We are in an unprecedented time of grappling with the challenges of school closures and moving to online learning options due to the pernicious spread of the coronavirus globally. However, our schools and educators have been resourceful and resilient like Read more	Missing Regular School Time: COVID-19's Impact on Student Academic and Social Outcomes - July 2020 Due to the impact of the coronavirus, districts and schools were forced to quickly move brick-and-mortar education to a virtual environment this spring. And we likely will continue in this new normal for an unknown period of time. By the end of June, 112 nations had implemented country-wide closures Read more Picking Up after the Pandemic: Preparing for a New School Year - June 2021 Preparations for the upcoming school year bring hope and a yearning for normalcy as meeting restrictions begin to be lifted around the U.S. and, hopefully, around the world. After a year of hybrid schedules, virtual learning, Read more

COVID-19

Survive & Thrive—The School Leader During a National Crisis… 5 Tips to Help You Emerge a Stronger Leader - April 2020
As school leaders, each of us undoubtedly has led our organization through calm seas when the waters were smooth and all was well. We also learned how to keep a steady hand-on-helm when the skies turned gray and the waters became choppy. Read more

Lessons Learned on Virtual Learning and Family Engagement in the Time of COVID-19 - May 2020
We are in an unprecedented time of grappling with the challenges of school closures and moving to online learning options due to the pernicious spread of the coronavirus globally. However, our schools and educators have been resourceful and resilient like Read more

Missing Regular School Time: COVID-19's Impact on Student Academic and Social Outcomes - July 2020
Due to the impact of the coronavirus, districts and schools were forced to quickly move brick-and-mortar education to a virtual environment this spring. And we likely will continue in this new normal for an unknown period of time. By the end of June, 112 nations had implemented country-wide closures Read more

Picking Up after the Pandemic: Preparing for a New School Year - June 2021
Preparations for the upcoming school year bring hope and a yearning for normalcy as meeting restrictions begin to be lifted around the U.S. and, hopefully, around the world. After a year of hybrid schedules, virtual learning, Read more