Barbara R. Blackburn
Barbara has dedicated her life to improving motivation, instruction, and rigor for students and teachers alike. Ranked #4 in the Top 30 Global Gurus in Education, she has been a teacher, a professor, and a consultant. Currently author of 22 books, she is an international speaker, and she regularly works with schools and districts in the areas of rigor, assessment, differentiation, student motivation and engagement, and leadership.
Subjects: Education
Biography
Barbara has dedicated her life to raising the level of rigor and motivation for professional educators and students alike. What differentiates Barbara’s 22 books are her easily executable concrete examples based on decades of experience as a teacher, professor, and consultant. Barbara’s dedication to education was inspired in her early years by her parents, Bob and Rose. Her father’s doctorate and lifetime career as a professor taught her the importance of professional training. Her mother’s career as school secretary shaped Barbara’s appreciation of the effort all staff play in the education of every child.Ranked #4 of the Top 30 Global Gurus in Education, Barbara has taught early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school students and has served as an educational consultant for three publishing companies. She received her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Teaching from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. In 2006, she received the award for Outstanding Junior Professor at Winthrop University. She recently left her position at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte to write and speak full-time.
In addition to speaking at state and national conferences, she also regularly presents workshops for teachers and administrators in elementary, middle, and high schools. Her workshops are lively and engaging and filled with practical information.
Education
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Ph.D. Curriculum and Teaching, UNC-Greensboro, 2000
Areas of Research / Professional Expertise
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Instructional Rigor, Rigorous Assessments, Differentiation and Rigor, Student Motivation and Engagement, School Leadership
Personal Interests
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Spending Time with Family, Writing, Reading, Watercolor Painting
Websites
Books
Articles
Staying on Task with Meaningful Student Talk
Published: Nov 25, 2022 by Middleweb
Authors: Barbara R. Blackburn
Subjects:
Education
Characteristics of Effective Academic Discourse
Every Teacher Makes a Difference – Every Day
Published: Nov 25, 2022 by Middleweb
Authors: Barbara R. Blackburn
Subjects:
Education
Tips to inspire you and your students.
Effective School Leaders Are Prepared for a Crisis
Published: Nov 07, 2022 by Middleweb
Authors: Ronald Williamson and Barbara Blackburn
Subjects:
Education
Tips for preparing for and dealing with a crisis.
3 Principles for Engaging Students
Published: Aug 27, 2018 by UKEdMagazine
Authors: Barbara R. Blackburn
Subjects:
Education
How you can engage student at a higher level.
Creating an Inviting Classroom Environment
Published: Aug 18, 2018 by Middleweb
Authors: Barbara R. Blackburn
Subjects:
Education
Strategies and ideas for spicing up your classroom environment.
8 Characteristics of Effective Advocates
Published: Jul 31, 2018 by edCircuit
Authors: Barbara R. Blackburn , Robert Blackburn, and Ron Williamson
Subjects:
Education
How can you advocate for your school?
Author of the Month; Rigor and Differentiation in the Classroom
Published: Jul 09, 2018 by Routledge
Authors: Barbara R. Blackburn
Subjects:
Education
After being named Author of the Month, I responded to questions about my work and my inspiration.
3 Ways to Teach Students to Take Responsibility
Published: Jul 06, 2018 by edCircuit
Authors: Barbara R. Blackburn
Subjects:
Education
Ideas for teaching students responsibility.
Assess Students Using Projects & Performance
Published: Jun 20, 2018 by Middleweb
Authors: Barbara R. Blackburn
Subjects:
Education
Using project and performance-based learning
4 Creative Ways Writing Can Enhance Learning
Published: Jun 01, 2018 by EdCircuit
Authors: Barbara R. Blackburn
Subjects:
Education
Excite students through writing!
News
Rigor Checks: Expert Reviews of Assessments
By: Barbara R. Blackburn
Subjects: Education
With the push for increased rigor in schools, it’s often difficult to tell what is and isn’t rigorous. With her Rigor Check, Barbara brings her expertise to that problem with an expert review of instructional assessments. Customized for each school or district, Barbara reviews assignments, assessments, and/or instructional practices for rigor. She then provides a written analysis, along with specific suggestions for next steps. Barbara can complete an off-site review of the assignments and assessments, and she offers the option of on-site walk-throughs of instructional practices, as well as off-site reviews of recorded instruction. Additionally, she can train teachers and leaders on the process, which builds expertise, shared ownership and sustainability.