Author Archives: Courtney O.

Over the years, I’ve come to think of classes as generally falling into three main categories: survey course – skims over major content areas; requires vocabulary study Western History from 1500 to Present; 5th grade biology methods course – mastery of facts, concepts, and procedures; requires rigorous practice Algebra I; Elements of Art and Composition;Continue reading “Class Goal Types”

Written to the student is a specialized term. This is curriculum meant to be read by the student so that the student can understand the presented concept and complete the work independently, without needing assistance from the teacher or parent. When teachers assign work that can be completed without direct supervision, it’s more likely toContinue reading “written to the student”

Reflective discussions, enhanced focus on individual student-teacher relationships, automated retrieval practice, and quality group dynamics are all possible in online classes. Since face-to-face courses are readily available in public schools, my expectation is that I must teach at least as well as a face-to-face course, and wherever possible, better. Because, otherwise, why would students signContinue reading “Success in a rigorous, content-focused online course is possible.”

Digital extras are usually meant for face-to-face classrooms, so they are rarely useful for the all-online classroom. Their inputs and outputs are often designed to be displayed on digital whiteboards, in-class devices, and so on. Just like in a face-to-face classroom, teachers must consider the tradeoffs. Teachers will have to learn how to use theContinue reading “online supplements, apps, and extensions”

My book is now available for pre-order through John Catt Publishers!https://us.johncattbookshop.com/products/the-teaching-online-handbook

This summer, Jenn Naughton and I decided that quarantine homeschoolers needed a hand. Jenn founded the Secular, Inclusive Classical Teachers group on Facebook a while back, but we wanted to reach more people. So we started the Good Enough Homeschool podcast with the explicit goal of reviewing homeschool curricula to share what we liked andContinue reading “I’m on a podcast!”

I had the honor of being asked to present at ResearchEd US 2020 this week. My talk focused on curriculum and planning in the online classroom. More here:https://researchedus2020.wordpress.com/2020/08/11/evidence-supported-instructional-practices-simplicity-vs-rigor-in-the-online-classroom/

On a daily basis, integrating interval spaced, interleaved retrieval practice can be a lot of effort for the harried teacher. Making up new quizzes, figuring out how long it’d been since it was practiced, grading quizzes–I don’t know about you, but sometimes I just want to throw my hands up in frustration. I’ve got other thingsContinue reading “Retrieval Practice for the Busy Teacher”

At the K-12 level, studying the classics means something slightly different than it does at the secondary level. Typically, we’re discussing neo-classical education, which is both very old and very new at the same time. If you’re a regular public school teacher, odds are that you were taught to facilitate students’ construction of meaning fromContinue reading “Why Classical Education?”