EP 113 Resources, curriculum, and tech that work with Dr. Jared Thompson

“We’re only going to use technology and some of these apps and gadgets if we can’t, ourselves, do it better in the classroom. I don’t think there’s an app or an online resource that’s going to supplement picking a really great, rich, grade-level text and then guiding students through it.” Dr. Jared Thompson is the Assistant Principal of Carmel Middle School in Charlotte, NC, a large middle school in Charlotte Mecklenburg School District made up of students from many different neighborhoods. In this episode of The Dash Podcast we discuss how having a district-wide standard curriculum helps teachers focus on student engagement, when it’s appropriate to eschew technology for tried and true teaching methods, and how their diverse group of students help each other learn. 2:55 - The professional development practices in Charlotte Mecklenburg schools 9:00 - Having a standard curriculum across the district can help teachers focus on student engagement 10:50 - Can there be too much technology in a learning environment? 14:00 - The benefits of diversity in schools 20:50 - How sports help you succeed beyond the football field 22:55 - The importance of finding culturally relevant materials