Don Marlett

Don has been an educator for 20+ years. Before joining Learning-Focused, he taught High School and Middle School Science and was a school administrator. Don has participated in school evaluations focused on implementing High Yield Strategies. In addition, he partnered with various state DOE to support leaders as well as present at numerous conferences hosted by multiple leadership organizations in Florida, NC, Ohio, WV, TN, and KY Don leads product development, provides leadership training and coaching, and coaches educators in the implementation of the High-Yield strategies.

Learning Through Mistakes: How Deliberate Errors Can Boost Student Engagement and Retention

By Don Marlett

Forget Everything You Know About Note-Taking: Unleash the Power of Deliberate Errors! Imagine a world where making mistakes in class boosts your learning. Sounds crazy, right? Well, a new study suggests that incorporating deliberate errors into your note-taking can be a game-changer. This blog dives deep into the fascinating concept of “deliberate erring” and how…

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The Essential Distinction Between Learning and Performance: Insights for K-12 Educators

By Don Marlett

When it comes to teaching, the ultimate goal is to ensure students understand new concepts and skills and be able to apply that knowledge in varying contexts long after they’ve left the classroom. However, this ambition brings educators face-to-face with a paradoxical truth illuminated by Nicholas C. Soderstrom and Robert A. Bjork from the University…

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Teaching Students Error Analysis: A Pathway to Critical Thinking

By Don Marlett

Last year, I visited classrooms with April Shackleford, the principal of Lucama Elementary, recently recognized as a Blue Ribbon School. We walked into a 4th-grade math classroom, and the first thing I noticed were students working in pairs and discussing math problems.  As we walked around the classroom, it became clear that students were working…

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Impact of Structured Review (Effective Year-Round Review Strategies for Students)

By Don Marlett

The end of the year always brings up an important topic: What is the best way to organize and provide student review strategies? However, if we only review at the end of the year, we have missed an opportunity to improve student outcomes. At its most effective, review is meant to be provided year-round and…

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getting to know your students

6 “Get to Know You” Activities & Icebreakers In the Classroom

By Don Marlett

The beginning of a new school year is always an exciting yet anxious time, and getting your students started on a positive note is important. Your first impression should be of high energy and excitement about being together, and you want to reinforce your enthusiasm about how and what your new students will be learning…

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Impact of Previewing in Science: Example from the Classroom

By Don Marlett

In a 5th Grade Science classroom at Barnes Elementary School in Wilson County, the students and teachers had a secret folder. The folder was the idea of the 5th Grade Science Teacher. This one particular class was scoring in the 20s and 30s on assessments. This was about half of what the other three classes were scoring. So the teacher created…

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Previewing in Math: Using Instructional Strategies in the Classroom

By Don Marlett

I have had the privilege of working with Dr. Rene Spry and her teachers at Oxford Elementary School in Catawba County. After attending Accelerating Learning with Previewing training, she recruited a few select teachers and began implementing Previewing this year. After visiting her school and hearing about the impact of Previewing, I followed up with…

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catching up at kids and at-risk students

Accelerate Learning: How Do You Move Them Forward Quickly and Effectively?

By Don Marlett

Schools and school districts know the importance of communicating a shared vision of success for their students, staff, and community. This vision often focuses on the idea of preparing students for their future. But what happens to that future when students struggle, year after year, and fall continuously behind? How do we teach all students…

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7 Formative Assessment Strategy Examples (That Aren’t Your “Same Old, Same Old”)

By Don Marlett

Let’s be real — repeatedly using the same old Formative Assessments or Assessment Prompts could be boring. How many times have you written “exit ticket” on your lesson plan this year? If you are tired of the same strategies, your students probably are too. The repeated “exit ticket” is frequently overused and bland. Worse, it…

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Developing Teacher Expertise – The Obstacle and Opportunity

By Don Marlett

It is a common practice to think about your teaching journey and wonder how you got to where you are today. 

The skills you’ve developed and the strategies you use with your students determine your expertise. It is important then, to consider, at what point are you an expert of a particular skill or strategy?

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