Jennifer Gonzalez
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cultofpedagogy.bsky.social
Jennifer Gonzalez
@cultofpedagogy.bsky.social
4.2K followers 5.1K following 200 posts
Teacher of teachers.
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cultofpedagogy.bsky.social
I’ll walk you through five specific structures you can choose from to plan solid, interesting instruction for an extended class period, the kind of teaching that will make those 90 minutes fly by.
www.cultofpedagogy.com/block-schedu...
Making the Most of a 90-Minute Class | Cult of Pedagogy
Whether you're brand-new to block scheduling or you've been doing it for years, these strategies will have you handling those 90 minutes like a boss.
www.cultofpedagogy.com
October 6, 2026 at 10:08 PM
cultofpedagogy.bsky.social
"Middle school provides a perfect opportunity to incorporate interdisciplinary lessons across content areas to bolster foundational skills."
Michele Haiken via @middleweb.bsky.social
www.middleweb.com/54174/joinin...
Blending ELA and Science Inquiry to Explore Climate Change
An interdisciplinary unit blends science inquiry and ELA skill sets to help middle schoolers make sense of the news about extreme weather and climate change.
www.middleweb.com
October 1, 2026 at 9:46 PM
cultofpedagogy.bsky.social
Most parents want to be generous to their community. And most teachers and schools create a fair system for school supplies. The problem comes when the expectations of the parent (and thus the child) are different from the systems the school has set up.

www.cultofpedagogy.com/community-su...
Community Supplies in the Classroom: Clearing Up the Confusion | Cult of Pedagogy
Sharing supplies has become a common practice in elementary schools. Unfortunately, not all parents are happy with it. Let's clear up some misunderstandings.
www.cultofpedagogy.com
September 29, 2026 at 8:54 PM
cultofpedagogy.bsky.social
Why do so many school improvement efforts lose momentum or get replaced by something else? This week I talked with Jal Mehta & Max Yurkofsky about what gets in the way — and what’s going right in places where meaningful change actually takes hold. www.cultofpedagogy.com/continuous-i...
Why School Improvement Fails So Often | Cult of Pedagogy
Meaningful change takes more than a good program or process. Here’s what helps educators solve problems together and make real progress.
www.cultofpedagogy.com
September 28, 2026 at 5:16 PM
cultofpedagogy.bsky.social
"I realized my students didn’t need more activities—they needed more opportunities to practice the same decoding skills in a focused, connected way."
Jess Dalrymple via @edutopia.org
www.edutopia.org/article/15-m...
A 15-Minute Small Group Routine That Builds Stronger Decoding Skills
This simple, time-saving structure targets one phonics pattern at a time until students master it.
www.edutopia.org
September 24, 2026 at 9:43 PM
cultofpedagogy.bsky.social
Teachers say important things while students are still talking. No one is waiting for complete and utter quiet. And our audience is missing stuff.
www.cultofpedagogy.com/5-second-sol...
A 5-Second Solution for a Talkative Class | Cult of Pedagogy
When I observe teachers, I see this problem more than anything else. If they fixed it, they would notice an instant difference in how well their classes go.
www.cultofpedagogy.com
September 22, 2026 at 9:44 PM
cultofpedagogy.bsky.social
"Reflection creates space for learning to be an active, continuous, and recursive process."
Lynne Dorfman, Catherine Gehman, Pérsida Himmele, and Aileen Hower via @ascdofficial.bsky.social
www.ascd.org/blogs/three-...
Three Ways of Looking at Reflection
When students look at, in, and out during learning, they can improve their meaning-making and deepen their understanding.
www.ascd.org
September 17, 2026 at 9:05 PM
cultofpedagogy.bsky.social
I’ve come to the conclusion that if someone wants to be a master teacher, acts of subversion are a necessary part of the job.
www.cultofpedagogy.com/subversion/
Subversion: An Essential Tool of the Master Teacher (Interview with Melinda Anderson) | Cult of Pedagogy
Sometimes, to do right by their students, good teachers have to break the rules.
www.cultofpedagogy.com
September 15, 2026 at 8:20 PM
cultofpedagogy.bsky.social
Differentiation can feel impossible to sustain. In the final post of our Back to Basics series, I offer a more doable approach: the “something is better than nothing” method. If you’ve thrown in the towel on differentiation, this is a way back in.
www.cultofpedagogy.com/realistic-di...
A Realistic Approach to Differentiation | Cult of Pedagogy
Back to Basics, Part 4: Now that the lessons are in place, we'll build in differentiation using a process that will keep things from getting overwhelming.
www.cultofpedagogy.com
September 14, 2026 at 7:53 PM
cultofpedagogy.bsky.social
"We have the ability to do a little bit less grading while still providing students with valuable feedback for their growth."
@mirplo.bsky.social via @edutopia.org
www.edutopia.org/article/how-...
The Endless Pile: How to Mitigate Grading Woes
By reserving grades for work that truly measures progress and using feedback for everything else, teachers can reduce stress and give students clear guidance for growth.
www.edutopia.org
September 10, 2026 at 9:46 PM
cultofpedagogy.bsky.social
You teach your heart out. Really just knock it out of the park. Then you ask a question students should know the answer to … and nothing. What's going on?

Guest post by @blakeharvard.bsky.social
www.cultofpedagogy.com/stare/
Why Students Give You the Blank Stare, and What to Do About It | Cult of Pedagogy
You teach your heart out. Really just knock it out of the park. Then you ask a question students should know the answer to … and nothing. What's going on?
www.cultofpedagogy.com
September 8, 2026 at 9:36 PM
cultofpedagogy.bsky.social
"In the same way educators are looking closely at early literacy, we have to examine what’s happening in early elementary grades in math—from the moment kids enter school."
Nardi Routten @ascdofficial.bsky.social
ww.ascd.org/blogs/to-imp...
To Improve Math Instruction, Get Kids Thinking Earlier
A stronger foundation for early elementary math skills starts with small changes to make learning stick.
ww.ascd.org
September 3, 2026 at 9:02 PM
cultofpedagogy.bsky.social
We're in part 3 of my four-part Back to Basics series on instructional planning. With our objectives and assessment plan in place, we're ready to write the daily lesson plans that will give students the skills and knowledge they need to be successful. www.cultofpedagogy.com/how-to-write...
How to Write a Lesson Plan | Cult of Pedagogy
Back to Basics, Part 3: With the assessment plan in place, it's time to plan the daily lessons that will move students toward success.
www.cultofpedagogy.com
September 2, 2026 at 8:06 PM
cultofpedagogy.bsky.social
Dress codes are meant to create safe, positive learning environments in schools, but too many of them have the opposite effect.

www.cultofpedagogy.com/dress-code/
Time to Take a Look at Your Dress Code | Cult of Pedagogy
Many dress codes unfairly target students in certain populations, doing more harm than good. This guide will help you review and revise your current policy.
www.cultofpedagogy.com
September 1, 2026 at 9:14 PM
cultofpedagogy.bsky.social
"Quality physical education classes do more than teach sports skills—they create spaces where every student feels motivated, supported, and successful."
Jake Bersin via @novakeducation.bsky.social
www.novakeducation.com/blog/udl-in-...
UDL in Physical Education: Making Every Student Feel Included
Explore how Universal Design for Learning in physical education fosters inclusivity, engagement, and growth for every student, regardless of their abilities.
www.novakeducation.com
August 27, 2026 at 10:38 PM
cultofpedagogy.bsky.social
If you find yourself feeling unsure about how to choose between all the different approaches and tools, returning to these four principles will absolutely put you on solid ground.

www.cultofpedagogy.com/4-laws-of-le...
4 Laws of Learning (and How to Follow Them) | Cult of Pedagogy
In a teaching tailspin? These four research-based principles of instruction will help you focus on what really moves the needle.
www.cultofpedagogy.com
August 25, 2026 at 10:10 PM
cultofpedagogy.bsky.social
"Somewhere in all of the assigning and questioning and reviewing, we risk losing sight of our broader aims."
@larryferlazzo.bsky.social via @edweek.org

www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...
If You Don't See Value in an Assignment, Your Students Won't, Either (Opinion)
From reading to decisionmaking, educators offer ideas on how best to encourage learning.
www.edweek.org
August 20, 2026 at 9:02 PM
cultofpedagogy.bsky.social
This project, which Stephanie and her students had called “The Compliments Project” most of the year and eventually renamed “Spread the Love,” is simple and powerful:

www.cultofpedagogy.com/compliments-...
The Compliments Project | Cult of Pedagogy
If you want to build trust in your classroom, you need to see this video about a powerful activity where students give compliments in an unforgettable way.
www.cultofpedagogy.com
August 18, 2026 at 9:51 PM
cultofpedagogy.bsky.social
We're in week 2 of our four-part Back to Basics series on unit planning! Last week we wrote a set of measurable objectives for a sample unit. This week we build a comprehensive assessment plan that includes diagnostic, formative, and summative assessments.
www.cultofpedagogy.com/how-to-creat...
How to Create an Assessment Plan | Cult of Pedagogy
After writing measurable objectives, the next step is to design an assessment plan that includes diagnostic, formative, and summative assessments.
www.cultofpedagogy.com
August 16, 2026 at 1:32 PM
cultofpedagogy.bsky.social
Watch an 8th grade science teacher apply five dimensions of effective lessons to support students’ understanding of heat transfer.
via @ascdofficial.bsky.social
ascd.org/videos/five-...
Five Dimensions of Effective Lessons
Watch an 8th grade science teacher apply five dimensions of effective lessons to support students’ understanding of heat transfer. To learn more, read Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey’s column "Five Inst
ascd.org
August 13, 2026 at 9:56 PM
cultofpedagogy.bsky.social
For students who have trouble getting started on a task or struggle with one of the earlier steps, this strategy gives them practice with the skills in the later steps.

Interview with Melanie Meehan

www.cultofpedagogy.com/backward-cha...
How to Use Backward Chaining to Differentiate Instruction | Cult of Pedagogy
Starting a student a few steps ahead can help them experience a sense of completion that might otherwise be out of reach.
www.cultofpedagogy.com
August 11, 2026 at 10:34 PM
cultofpedagogy.bsky.social
"Creating space to celebrate small wins, validate struggles, and teach coping mechanisms for design failures or difficult technical tasks directly contributes to a resilient and engaged learner."
Samantha Shane via @edutopia.org
www.edutopia.org/article/inst...
4 Ways to Design Instruction for the Teenage Brain
These strategies, derived from Daniel Siegel’s book Brainstorm, can help you engage students’ attention and willingness to work.
www.edutopia.org
August 6, 2026 at 9:58 PM
cultofpedagogy.bsky.social
I’m proposing a watered-down version of stations that keeps the movement, interactivity and variety while minimizing the prep work.
www.cultofpedagogy.com/chat-stations/
Students Sitting Around Too Much? Try Chat Stations. | Cult of Pedagogy
Your new favorite teaching strategy: This pared-down version of learning stations keeps the movement, interactivity and variety while minimizing the prep work.
www.cultofpedagogy.com
August 4, 2026 at 8:29 PM
cultofpedagogy.bsky.social
What if students could regularly practice noticing and naming character strengths in each other through specific, anonymous nominations? On the podcast this week, we learn a beautiful system that does exactly that from @marcusluther.bsky.social.

www.cultofpedagogy.com/peer-affirma...
A Classroom Ritual for Peer Affirmations | Cult of Pedagogy
What happens when students practice noticing and naming character strengths in each other?
www.cultofpedagogy.com
August 2, 2026 at 11:46 AM
cultofpedagogy.bsky.social
"Too often, our feedback stops at proficiency."
Heather Tobias via @edutopia.org
www.edutopia.org/article/givi...
Giving Students Feedback That Helps Them Grow
New teachers in particular may benefit from trying this four-part framework for guiding students to improve their writing.
www.edutopia.org
July 30, 2026 at 9:43 PM