With a new school year comes a new school-wide initiative. Depending on how many years of teaching you have under your belt, you may remember these terms making the rounds. Cloze reading. Chunking and scaffolding. Differentiation. Flipped classrooms.
*Comes closer and whispers*
Asynchronous learning.
While there’s nothing wrong with a new term gaining popularity, buzzwords tend to follow a certain pattern. A school leader hypes up a new word or initiative in a brief PD session. Despite very little (and in some cases, inadequate) training, teachers are expected to put the term into practice immediately. Posters are made. Committees are born. Then, the term is either a) repeated ad nauseam without providing teachers the time, resources, and other supports to actually practice it, b) turned into something it was never intended to be (I’m looking at you, growth mindset), or c) never brought up again.
On Reddit, teachers are guessing this year’s buzzwords after reading this invitation from user @misterdudebro:
Let’s play: Guess this years new buzz word/catchphrase/initiative etc…
byu/misterdudebro inTeachers
There were the old standbys:
Rigor, accountability, and responsibility.
Comment
byu/misterdudebro from discussion
inTeachers
Giving grace (note: to students, not yourself).
Comment
byu/misterdudebro from discussion
inTeachers
Grit, growth mindset.
Comment
byu/misterdudebro from discussion
inTeachers
The more recently “rebranded” terms:
Fidelity.
Comment
byu/misterdudebro from discussion
inTeachers
More fidelity!
Comment
byu/misterdudebro from discussion
inTeachers
Expert.
Comment
byu/misterdudebro from discussion
inTeachers
And some new guesses for this year:
Grading reform.
A worthy discussion, so let’s hope it doesn’t end up in the buzzword graveyard.
Comment
byu/misterdudebro from discussion
inTeachers
Universal Design for Learning.
Comment
byu/misterdudebro from discussion
inTeachers
Vertical articulation.
Comment
byu/misterdudebro from discussion
inTeachers
A return to “positivity.” Oh boy.
Comment
byu/misterdudebro from discussion
inTeachers
Learning loss.
Comment
byu/misterdudebro from discussion
inTeachers
Invisible co-teachers.
Comment
byu/misterdudebro from discussion
inTeachers
Quality first and metacognition.
Comment
byu/misterdudebro from discussion
inTeachers
This year, I hope you remember my helpful acronym for success: United. Grit. Growth mindset. Grading reform. Giving grace. Higher-order thinking skills.
Otherwise known as UGGGGH.
I’m making T-shirts.
What are your best guesses for this year’s education buzzwords? Let us know in the comments.
Plus, for more articles like this, be sure to subscribe to our newsletters.
