---
title: BetterLesson Blog | Julie Mason, BetterLesson Coach, and Darcy Mueller, ELA Teacher
description: Stay up-to-date with the latest teaching strategies, trends, tactics and more in our comprehensive blog. Read the latest updates.
---
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- [Professional Development](https://betterlesson.com/professional-development/)
- [Instructional Leadership](https://betterlesson.com/professional-development/instructional-leadership/)
- [Inclusive and Responsive Practices](https://betterlesson.com/professional-development/inclusive-and-responsive-practices/)
- [Curriculum and Academic Content](https://betterlesson.com/professional-development/curriculum-and-academic-content/)
- [Flexible Instructional Models](https://betterlesson.com/professional-development/flexible-instructional-models/)
- [Student-Centered Teaching and Learning](https://betterlesson.com/learning-experiences/student-centered-teaching)
- [Learning Catalog](https://betterlesson.com/catalog/)
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- [For Leaders](https://betterlesson.com/learning-experiences/pd-for-leaders)
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- [Meet Our Coaches](https://betterlesson.com/learning-experiences/our-coaches)
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- [Learning Walks](https://betterlesson.com/learning-experiences/learning-walks)
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Featured Post
# Choosing Your Path to Education Leadership
The need for effective teacher leaders is ongoing and urgent in K-12 schools. Each teacher lends their expertise and talent to the overall welfare of\[...\]
[Read Featured Article](https://blog.betterlesson.com/education-leadership-path)
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## Julie Mason, BetterLesson Coach, and Darcy Mueller, ELA Teacher
### Recent Posts
[](https://blog.betterlesson.com/testing-the-waters-alternatives-to-consider-if-you-dont-want-to-jump-right-into-choice-boards)
## [Testing The Waters: Alternatives To Consider If You Don’t Want To Jump Right Into Choice Boards](https://blog.betterlesson.com/testing-the-waters-alternatives-to-consider-if-you-dont-want-to-jump-right-into-choice-boards)
by [Julie Mason, BetterLesson Coach, and Darcy Mueller, ELA Teacher](https://blog.betterlesson.com/author/julie-mason-betterlesson-coach-and-darcy-mueller-ela-teacher)
Published May 29, 2018
We are nearing the school year’s end, and we are starting to think about summer: sun, time off, and swimming! This year we jumped right into refining\[...\]
[Read Article](https://blog.betterlesson.com/testing-the-waters-alternatives-to-consider-if-you-dont-want-to-jump-right-into-choice-boards)
[](https://blog.betterlesson.com/passing-the-baton-tips-and-tools-to-support-your-students-to-take-the-lead)
## [Tips and Tools To Support Your Students To Take The Lead](https://blog.betterlesson.com/passing-the-baton-tips-and-tools-to-support-your-students-to-take-the-lead)
by [Julie Mason, BetterLesson Coach, and Darcy Mueller, ELA Teacher](https://blog.betterlesson.com/author/julie-mason-betterlesson-coach-and-darcy-mueller-ela-teacher)
Published May 09, 2018
Seeing our students take what we give them and run with it is one of the most rewarding parts of teaching. Ultimately, they finish the race alone,\[...\]
[Read Article](https://blog.betterlesson.com/passing-the-baton-tips-and-tools-to-support-your-students-to-take-the-lead)
[](https://blog.betterlesson.com/blog/2018/04/16/in-the-trenches-tips-and-tools-for-choice-board-management)
## [Tips and Tools For Choice Board Management](https://blog.betterlesson.com/blog/2018/04/16/in-the-trenches-tips-and-tools-for-choice-board-management)
by [Julie Mason, BetterLesson Coach, and Darcy Mueller, ELA Teacher](https://blog.betterlesson.com/author/julie-mason-betterlesson-coach-and-darcy-mueller-ela-teacher)
Published April 16, 2018
Which activity should I choose? What do I do when I’m done? Can you help me?
[Read Article](https://blog.betterlesson.com/blog/2018/04/16/in-the-trenches-tips-and-tools-for-choice-board-management)
[](https://blog.betterlesson.com/blog/2018/03/27/pulling-back-the-curtain-a-behind-the-scenes-look-at-choice-board-implementation)
## [Pulling Back the Curtain: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Choice Board Implementation](https://blog.betterlesson.com/blog/2018/03/27/pulling-back-the-curtain-a-behind-the-scenes-look-at-choice-board-implementation)
by [Julie Mason, BetterLesson Coach, and Darcy Mueller, ELA Teacher](https://blog.betterlesson.com/author/julie-mason-betterlesson-coach-and-darcy-mueller-ela-teacher)
Published March 27, 2018
So you’ve made a choice board. You value student agency in the classroom, and you’re ready to try this thing. Before you put your board center stage,\[...\]
[Read Article](https://blog.betterlesson.com/blog/2018/03/27/pulling-back-the-curtain-a-behind-the-scenes-look-at-choice-board-implementation)
[](https://blog.betterlesson.com/blog/2018/02/15/shift-not-shift-teachers-progress-towards-using-choice-boards)
## [To Shift or Not to Shift: A Teacher's Progress Towards Using Choice Boards](https://blog.betterlesson.com/blog/2018/02/15/shift-not-shift-teachers-progress-towards-using-choice-boards)
by [Julie Mason, BetterLesson Coach, and Darcy Mueller, ELA Teacher](https://blog.betterlesson.com/author/julie-mason-betterlesson-coach-and-darcy-mueller-ela-teacher)
Published February 15, 2018
In my work as an instructional coach at BetterLesson, I support teachers from New York to Montreal to Egypt to make shifts in their practice and try\[...\]
[Read Article](https://blog.betterlesson.com/blog/2018/02/15/shift-not-shift-teachers-progress-towards-using-choice-boards)
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