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Let Flexibility Lead To Alignment

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  In my previous school district, I was the only teacher teaching a physics course with set, district-wide learning outcomes. These same outcomes were also taught in physics classrooms at the other high school in our district. But at our school, I was one of the 2 physics teachers. The other teacher taught the AP-level physics courses. So, in many ways, I had opportunities to incorporate strategies I believed were best for learners and that I found worked best for them without being seen as out of alignment with anyone in our building. My amazing friend and one of my teaching philosophy goddesses, Katie Novak, stated the following misconception about alignment: All teachers must deliver instruction in the exact same way. True alignment, she says, is about shared goals, rigor, and outcomes. Thank you, Katie! Katie has taught me to truly believe that learner variability is the rule, not the exception. I encourage you to take 10 minutes to listen to Katie Novak explain it in the ...
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News Flash: Not All Students Like Tests

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So, I've presented feedback on what students asked me to change.  Now it's time to present some feedback on what students appreciated in the first term and want to see continue.  I'm not putting this out there to make my parents proud.  They don't even know I have a blog.  The reason I'm putting it out there is to let teachers know that students are looking for more personalization in their education.

I'm going to post the picture of the feedback board again so that you can see the areas students said where strengths and wanted to continue as is.


The greatest strengths are in the areas of flexibility in space and pace, choice, and voice.  The other major area is technology.  Technology has allowed for students to express themselves in different assessment formats.  Our learning management system Canvas is what allows me to manage all of this voice and choice and provide the timely feedback.  







I have to thank the following people for their role in my ability to personalize my classroom:

At BCHS, Brett Gruetzmacher and Amie Farley for their strong support as administrators and Andelee Espinosa for her help in incorporating UDL strategies.

At our Elmbrook Central Administration, Dana Monogue and Chris Thompson for starting me on this journey and continuing to promote and support all of my goals.  Also, Erik Kass is the one personl all of my students have to thank for their truly flexible learning environment.


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