Robin J. Fogarty

Robin J. Fogarty, PhD, has trained educators throughout the world in curriculum, instruction, and assessment strategies. She has taught at all levels, served as an administrator, and consulted with state departments and ministries of education.
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Use positive feedback rather than negative thinking

What Will Your Verse Be?: Using Intellectual Humility to Foster Student Agency

Presenter linkBrian M. PetePresenter linkRobin J. Fogarty
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Categories: Instruction

“‘O Me! O Life! … life exists and identity, that the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.’ What will your verse be?” (Dead Poets Society, Robin Williams)

Developing student agency begins with a tiny kernel of inspiration, such as this moving query to the young boys in Dead Poets Society. These words are magical. It assumes each one of the boys in the huddle can and will have “a verse” all his own. In fact, for some, that very moment sets them on a journey they have yet to realize. Read more

Worm sense and flower power

What Do These Three Classrooms Have in Common?

Presenter linkBrian M. PetePresenter linkRobin J. Fogarty
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Categories: Instruction

Your assignment, if you choose to accept it, is to read the following three classroom scenarios and determine what they have in common, beyond the obvious things like, they occur in schools, etc. Accomplishing this task means you will have to search for clues to this open-ended question, you will have to think creatively and critically and that will be easier if you can demonstrate a tolerance for ambiguity. You will have to understand that your inquiry, your search for knowledge, is more important than any specific answer. And finally, to find commonality in these 3 scenarios, you probably need to relax and have a little fun . . . You brain likes when you smile. Read more

Reflective practices can help differentiate learning.

I’m Different! And, You are Too!—Using Reflection to Differentiate Instruction

Presenter linkBrian M. PetePresenter linkRobin J. Fogarty
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Categories: Instruction

Differentiation means different. It means different than every other human being. It means, “I’m unique and so are you.” And, it means that, literally, we’ve been different places, we know different things, we’ve read different books, and we’ve listened to different music. More importantly, we think different thoughts, make different connections, and generally, have a unique uniqueness that no one else on the face of this earth has. Read more

In the 21st Century, it is necessary to Learn, Unlearn, and Re-Learn

21st Century Learning, Unlearning, Re-learning

Presenter linkBrian M. PetePresenter linkRobin J. Fogarty
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Categories: 21st Century Skills

The 21st Century teacher leader is the one who can learn, unlearn, and relearn. These words offer a truth that is as relevant today as it was when Toeffler wrote it in Future Shock, 1970. In honor of his passing this past June, I had revisited this prophetic book that had made such an impression on me and I realized that these words are indeed, alive and well in 2017.

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