Cathy Lacey
@cathylacey.bsky.social
Public Educator | Reframing Practice & Sparking Instructional Shifts for Student Impact | PD Designer | Speaker | Micro-credential Developer | SCASCD Emerging Leader | Founder, Blazers LLC
Pinned
Cathy Lacey
@cathylacey.bsky.social
· Mar 16
Professional learning must disrupt ineffective habits and create clarity, not just add noise. Without a shift in thinking, no amount of strategy will lead to sustained change, and that means student learning & outcomes won’t change either! #ProfessionalLearning #EdChat #EduCoach
Professional learning must disrupt ineffective habits and create clarity, not just add noise. Without a shift in thinking, no amount of strategy will lead to sustained change, and that means student learning & outcomes won’t change either! #ProfessionalLearning #EdChat #EduCoach
March 16, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Professional learning must disrupt ineffective habits and create clarity, not just add noise. Without a shift in thinking, no amount of strategy will lead to sustained change, and that means student learning & outcomes won’t change either! #ProfessionalLearning #EdChat #EduCoach
Reposted by Cathy Lacey
If you need students to put things in order - whether it is a timeline for history or parts of a sentence in language class - you can do that in @Quizizz.bsky.social! This is an example of a timeline my students learned in French 4. @alanacolabella.bsky.social #youcanwithQuizizz #langchat
March 15, 2025 at 4:00 PM
If you need students to put things in order - whether it is a timeline for history or parts of a sentence in language class - you can do that in @Quizizz.bsky.social! This is an example of a timeline my students learned in French 4. @alanacolabella.bsky.social #youcanwithQuizizz #langchat
Reposted by Cathy Lacey
January 19, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Excited for 2025! I’ll present at #ASCDAnnual & more on #Scaffolding strategies that empower all learners. Equity First: scaffolding isn’t just support—it’s a pathway to access & excellence. Honored to be a featured speaker at #MSMatters2025 - thank you @heroichistory22.bsky.social! #EduCoach
December 31, 2024 at 4:02 PM
Excited for 2025! I’ll present at #ASCDAnnual & more on #Scaffolding strategies that empower all learners. Equity First: scaffolding isn’t just support—it’s a pathway to access & excellence. Honored to be a featured speaker at #MSMatters2025 - thank you @heroichistory22.bsky.social! #EduCoach
Reposted by Cathy Lacey
When administrators fail to confront toxic behaviors, they pave the way for valuable staff to depart; no teacher or employee will thrive in an environment where toxicity is allowed to flourish. #DrHSpeaks #EduSky #BlackEduSky #EduMatch
December 29, 2024 at 2:26 PM
When administrators fail to confront toxic behaviors, they pave the way for valuable staff to depart; no teacher or employee will thrive in an environment where toxicity is allowed to flourish. #DrHSpeaks #EduSky #BlackEduSky #EduMatch
I’m presenting at ISTELive+ASCD Annual Conference 2025 in San Antonio! 🎉 My session, Boosting Student Success: Effective Scaffolding Strategies Across Disciplines, explores visual, verbal, & written supports to engage all students & elevate learning. ✨ #ASCDAnnual #ISTELive25 #ISTE25 #Scaffolding
December 19, 2024 at 10:57 PM
I’m presenting at ISTELive+ASCD Annual Conference 2025 in San Antonio! 🎉 My session, Boosting Student Success: Effective Scaffolding Strategies Across Disciplines, explores visual, verbal, & written supports to engage all students & elevate learning. ✨ #ASCDAnnual #ISTELive25 #ISTE25 #Scaffolding
I love using the ATLAS Protocol to explore data with teachers. This approach creates a safe, collaborative space to focus on describing, interpreting, & identifying actionable next steps. It’s all about equity, reflection, & meaningful decisions to inform future instruction. #EduCoach #EduSky #Data
December 14, 2024 at 2:41 PM
Reposted by Cathy Lacey
Day 1/25: Need accessible color combinations that actually look good? This fantastic colour generator by @erikdkennedy.bsky.social helps you create beautiful, WCAG-compliant colour pairs in seconds!
Try it here: www.learnui.design/tools/access...
Try it here: www.learnui.design/tools/access...
The Accessible Color Generator
Create accessible color pairings using your brand colors.
www.learnui.design
December 2, 2024 at 11:47 AM
Day 1/25: Need accessible color combinations that actually look good? This fantastic colour generator by @erikdkennedy.bsky.social helps you create beautiful, WCAG-compliant colour pairs in seconds!
Try it here: www.learnui.design/tools/access...
Try it here: www.learnui.design/tools/access...
Without evaluating, how do we know if #ProfessionalLearning is making an impact? 🤔
📋 My go-to for measuring- Guskey’s Framework:
1️⃣ Participant Reactions
2️⃣ Participant Learning
3️⃣ Organizational Support
4️⃣ Use of New Knowledge
5️⃣ Student Learning Outcomes
What tools do you use to evaluate PL? #EduCoach
📋 My go-to for measuring- Guskey’s Framework:
1️⃣ Participant Reactions
2️⃣ Participant Learning
3️⃣ Organizational Support
4️⃣ Use of New Knowledge
5️⃣ Student Learning Outcomes
What tools do you use to evaluate PL? #EduCoach
December 2, 2024 at 3:07 PM
Without evaluating, how do we know if #ProfessionalLearning is making an impact? 🤔
📋 My go-to for measuring- Guskey’s Framework:
1️⃣ Participant Reactions
2️⃣ Participant Learning
3️⃣ Organizational Support
4️⃣ Use of New Knowledge
5️⃣ Student Learning Outcomes
What tools do you use to evaluate PL? #EduCoach
📋 My go-to for measuring- Guskey’s Framework:
1️⃣ Participant Reactions
2️⃣ Participant Learning
3️⃣ Organizational Support
4️⃣ Use of New Knowledge
5️⃣ Student Learning Outcomes
What tools do you use to evaluate PL? #EduCoach
Reposted by Cathy Lacey
Sometimes the best way to move forward is to let go. Release the weight of those who don’t understand your vision or add toxicity to your space. Surround yourself with collaborators who inspire, uplift, and share the journey. Keep riffing with possibility. #LeadershipRiffs #EduSky
December 1, 2024 at 11:52 PM
Sometimes the best way to move forward is to let go. Release the weight of those who don’t understand your vision or add toxicity to your space. Surround yourself with collaborators who inspire, uplift, and share the journey. Keep riffing with possibility. #LeadershipRiffs #EduSky
Reposted by Cathy Lacey
🚨 NEW BLOG 🚨
‘Disciplinary talk’
“Disciplinary talk is a recognition that mathematicians, scientists, and geographers, communicate in subtly different ways, and that talk routines can be well matched to curriculum content in those different areas.”
alexquigley.co.uk/disciplinary...
‘Disciplinary talk’
“Disciplinary talk is a recognition that mathematicians, scientists, and geographers, communicate in subtly different ways, and that talk routines can be well matched to curriculum content in those different areas.”
alexquigley.co.uk/disciplinary...
November 30, 2024 at 9:12 AM
🚨 NEW BLOG 🚨
‘Disciplinary talk’
“Disciplinary talk is a recognition that mathematicians, scientists, and geographers, communicate in subtly different ways, and that talk routines can be well matched to curriculum content in those different areas.”
alexquigley.co.uk/disciplinary...
‘Disciplinary talk’
“Disciplinary talk is a recognition that mathematicians, scientists, and geographers, communicate in subtly different ways, and that talk routines can be well matched to curriculum content in those different areas.”
alexquigley.co.uk/disciplinary...
Reposted by Cathy Lacey
Teacher-turned-LXD insight: Stop 'selling' PD. Inspired by biomimicry, I see it as an ecosystem where we learn from each other. Districts get expertise, I gain new perspectives—natural growth, not forced sales. The best relationships emerge organically! #LXD #TeacherPD #SystemsThinking #L&D
November 25, 2024 at 5:36 PM
Teacher-turned-LXD insight: Stop 'selling' PD. Inspired by biomimicry, I see it as an ecosystem where we learn from each other. Districts get expertise, I gain new perspectives—natural growth, not forced sales. The best relationships emerge organically! #LXD #TeacherPD #SystemsThinking #L&D
I’ve been learning from Blake Harvard for years-his blog posts have challenged me to rethink outdated practices I learned in undergrad. Know better, do better! His insights have made me a better teacher. It was incredible to learn from him at USA Festival of Edu, and I can’t wait to read his book!
Check out what Dr. Sweller has to say about my book!!!
"Blake Harvard has brilliantly accomplished this explanatory task. I recommend this book to all engaged in the teaching profession."
Preorder here:
US tinyurl.com/4jjsp7w5
UK tinyurl.com/43jv298n
"Blake Harvard has brilliantly accomplished this explanatory task. I recommend this book to all engaged in the teaching profession."
Preorder here:
US tinyurl.com/4jjsp7w5
UK tinyurl.com/43jv298n
November 25, 2024 at 1:52 PM
I’ve been learning from Blake Harvard for years-his blog posts have challenged me to rethink outdated practices I learned in undergrad. Know better, do better! His insights have made me a better teacher. It was incredible to learn from him at USA Festival of Edu, and I can’t wait to read his book!
Reposted by Cathy Lacey
New post and podcast episode on how multitasking sneaks into our classrooms and messes with learning.
www.cultofpedagogy.com/multitasking/
www.cultofpedagogy.com/multitasking/
Avoiding the Pitfalls of Multitasking in School
Multitasking sneaks into our classrooms and interferes with learning, and it happens in ways you may not even notice.
www.cultofpedagogy.com
November 25, 2024 at 1:20 AM
New post and podcast episode on how multitasking sneaks into our classrooms and messes with learning.
www.cultofpedagogy.com/multitasking/
www.cultofpedagogy.com/multitasking/
Reposted by Cathy Lacey
⭐️ New Blog ⭐️
Can metacognition help reduce mind wandering? A new study looked to find out…
www.innerdrive.co.uk/blog/metacog...
Can metacognition help reduce mind wandering? A new study looked to find out…
www.innerdrive.co.uk/blog/metacog...
Can Metacognition reduce mind-wandering? | InnerDrive
Mind-wandering is a common challenge that can hinder students’ ability to engage fully with learning. Find out how the use of metacognition can help reduce this.
www.innerdrive.co.uk
November 21, 2024 at 9:48 AM
⭐️ New Blog ⭐️
Can metacognition help reduce mind wandering? A new study looked to find out…
www.innerdrive.co.uk/blog/metacog...
Can metacognition help reduce mind wandering? A new study looked to find out…
www.innerdrive.co.uk/blog/metacog...
Stevie’s point ⬇️ about tailoring goals to each school’s context is spot on! 💯 #ProfessionalLearning must consider the school culture. Leveraging your school’s unique identity ensures PL resonates w/ teachers & addresses their real challenges. How does your school’s culture shape PL💬? #EduCoach
It’s difficult to have my own goals if they don’t align with the schools I’m supporting. So, as a tech coach I find my goals differing to each school I support.
November 24, 2024 at 5:07 PM
Stevie’s point ⬇️ about tailoring goals to each school’s context is spot on! 💯 #ProfessionalLearning must consider the school culture. Leveraging your school’s unique identity ensures PL resonates w/ teachers & addresses their real challenges. How does your school’s culture shape PL💬? #EduCoach
. #ProfessionalLearning is most impactful when it aligns with a school’s overarching vision. Coaches play a major role as change agents, inspiring equitable, high-quality learning experiences.
What’s your coaching vision? How do you ensure your PL aligns with strategic goals? #EduCoach #EduSky
What’s your coaching vision? How do you ensure your PL aligns with strategic goals? #EduCoach #EduSky
November 23, 2024 at 2:28 PM
. #ProfessionalLearning is most impactful when it aligns with a school’s overarching vision. Coaches play a major role as change agents, inspiring equitable, high-quality learning experiences.
What’s your coaching vision? How do you ensure your PL aligns with strategic goals? #EduCoach #EduSky
What’s your coaching vision? How do you ensure your PL aligns with strategic goals? #EduCoach #EduSky
When you’re in the moment of teaching, it’s hard to fully evaluate what’s happening. That’s why non-evaluative observations are invaluable. A trusted colleague observing and debriefing with you can reveal insights you might otherwise miss. Feedback is key to meaningful reflection! #EduCoach #EduSky
November 22, 2024 at 7:16 PM
This quarter, I’m focusing on ELA-specific #Scaffolding. Effective #ProfessionalLearning thrives on specificity—empowering edus w/ content-specific, actionable strategies rather than general ideas. When Ts can visualize clear steps, implementation becomes realistic & impactful. #EduCoach #EduSky
![The image is by Cathy Lacey and titled "Scaffolding in ELA" with three columns for Visual, Verbal, and Written Scaffolds.
Visual Scaffolds: Includes aids to help students break down texts, organize ideas, and understand literary elements. Examples provided are:
Character relationship maps to explore connections, conflicts, and dynamics in complex texts.
Thematic concept maps linking themes with textual evidence and character actions.
Annotated text examples with marginal notes highlighting literary techniques and themes.
Comparative Venn diagrams to analyze similarities and differences in literature, focusing on themes and author style.
Verbal Scaffolds: Focuses on verbal prompts that guide discussion and analysis. Strategies include:
Reteaching strategies for reading comprehension, like summarizing or making inferences.
Guiding questions such as:
"What can you infer about the character’s motivation based on this paragraph?"
"Why do you think the author chose this setting?"
Prompts for analyzing literary devices like:
"How is figurative language used here to enhance the description?"
"How does the author use symbolism to reinforce the theme?"
Written Scaffolds: Includes written supports to structure writing and develop ideas. Examples are:
Sentence starters for essays, like "The theme of this story is..." or "In the text, the author uses [literary device] to convey...".
Graphic organizers for essay planning (e.g., outlines for argumentative or compare-and-contrast essays).
Word banks with academic vocabulary such as "analyze," "infer," or "symbolism."
Exemplar paragraphs showing well-structured responses, highlighting topic sentences, evidence, and analysis.
The table has a green header for the title and background colors for each column: light blue for Visual Scaffolds, light green for Verbal Scaffolds, and light yellow for Written Scaffolds. Icons represent each category—a lightbulb for Visual, a speech bubble for Verbal, and a notebook for Written.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:iovw2vwatasf526brul3eldp/bafkreieu3ofteozyyf6kjka6eiuxinubthyneww5cvpefnz5gk36wzd3ge@jpeg)
November 20, 2024 at 5:47 PM
This quarter, I’m focusing on ELA-specific #Scaffolding. Effective #ProfessionalLearning thrives on specificity—empowering edus w/ content-specific, actionable strategies rather than general ideas. When Ts can visualize clear steps, implementation becomes realistic & impactful. #EduCoach #EduSky
Our 24-25 teacher-driven book study journey is 🔥! We chose Teaching One-Pagers by @xpateducator.bsky.social b/c of its evidence-informed, yet practical approach. We started w/ a needs assessment to pinpoint challenges and matched them w/ one-pagers that directly address our needs. #EduSky #EduCoach
November 19, 2024 at 2:49 PM
Our 24-25 teacher-driven book study journey is 🔥! We chose Teaching One-Pagers by @xpateducator.bsky.social b/c of its evidence-informed, yet practical approach. We started w/ a needs assessment to pinpoint challenges and matched them w/ one-pagers that directly address our needs. #EduSky #EduCoach
Change takes time. Growth isn’t instant.
'PL in a Bag' allows teachers to implement strategies modeled in #ProfessionalLearning gradually. Teachers explore, apply, reflect, and refine with support. The goal? Pause, process, and use—lasting change happens one (supported) step at a time. #Coaching
'PL in a Bag' allows teachers to implement strategies modeled in #ProfessionalLearning gradually. Teachers explore, apply, reflect, and refine with support. The goal? Pause, process, and use—lasting change happens one (supported) step at a time. #Coaching
November 19, 2024 at 12:06 AM
Change takes time. Growth isn’t instant.
'PL in a Bag' allows teachers to implement strategies modeled in #ProfessionalLearning gradually. Teachers explore, apply, reflect, and refine with support. The goal? Pause, process, and use—lasting change happens one (supported) step at a time. #Coaching
'PL in a Bag' allows teachers to implement strategies modeled in #ProfessionalLearning gradually. Teachers explore, apply, reflect, and refine with support. The goal? Pause, process, and use—lasting change happens one (supported) step at a time. #Coaching
Authentic professional learning goes beyond immediate performance. It’s about creating a durable, evolving understanding through time, practice, & reflection. Bridge the knowing-doing gap by empowering teachers to iterate, refine, & grow! Change requires time & patience #ProfessionalLearning #EduSky
November 17, 2024 at 1:30 PM
Authentic professional learning goes beyond immediate performance. It’s about creating a durable, evolving understanding through time, practice, & reflection. Bridge the knowing-doing gap by empowering teachers to iterate, refine, & grow! Change requires time & patience #ProfessionalLearning #EduSky
Ambition thrives when nurtured by ambitious minds. Building strong peer networks fuels my growth and purpose. I am excited to connect with driven educators and thought leaders on Bluesky to learn and grow together! Let’s connect! #EduSky #PeerPower #ProfessionalLearning #PLN
November 16, 2024 at 3:49 PM
Ambition thrives when nurtured by ambitious minds. Building strong peer networks fuels my growth and purpose. I am excited to connect with driven educators and thought leaders on Bluesky to learn and grow together! Let’s connect! #EduSky #PeerPower #ProfessionalLearning #PLN
Enhancing PD must go beyond familiarizing teachers w/ the content; it should build confidence & strategies to scaffold rigor for learners. Resources must ensure that Ts feel supported in delivering grade-level instruction w/out compromising student readiness. www.the74million.org/article/why-...
Why Teachers Don’t Use the High-Quality Instructional Materials They’re Given
Steiner: Educators don’t believe their students can manage the rigor of grade-level instruction, and they're not wrong. What can be done about it
www.the74million.org
November 16, 2024 at 3:28 PM
Enhancing PD must go beyond familiarizing teachers w/ the content; it should build confidence & strategies to scaffold rigor for learners. Resources must ensure that Ts feel supported in delivering grade-level instruction w/out compromising student readiness. www.the74million.org/article/why-...
Anyone familiar with or earned a micro-credential before? I’ve written about how personalized, competency-based learning made a lasting impact on my development as an educator. Curious how it could impact your journey? Check out my story here: bit.ly/CrED #MicroCredentials #ProfessionalGrowth
Amplifying the Teacher's Voice: A Journey with CarolinaCrED Micro-Credentials - CarolinaCrED : College of Education
bit.ly
November 15, 2024 at 1:10 PM
Anyone familiar with or earned a micro-credential before? I’ve written about how personalized, competency-based learning made a lasting impact on my development as an educator. Curious how it could impact your journey? Check out my story here: bit.ly/CrED #MicroCredentials #ProfessionalGrowth