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About Dr. Blackburn

Barbara R. Blackburn 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. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Now an Associate Professor, she received the 2006 award for Outstanding Junior Professor at Winthrop University, where she coordinates a graduate program for teachers, teaches graduate classes, supervises student teachers, and collaborates with area schools on special projects.


Tales From A Teacher's Heart is a video series that tells heartwarming stories about students, schools, and teachers like you. The above tale recounts my visit to Valley Middle School, where I found a strong community that was in need of a little encouragement. This story reminds us that a school is at its best when teachers support each other by focusing on their strengths.

For more videos like this one, please visit www.talesfromateachersheart.com.

Blackburn is the author of seven books, including Classroom Motivation from A to Z, Classroom Instruction from A to Z, and Literacy from A to Z. Her newest book, Rigor is NOT a Four Letter Word shows teachers how they can raise the level of rigor in their classrooms and provide challenging learning experiences for their students. She is currently writing The Principalship from A to Z with Dr. Ron Williamson, Eastern Michigan University.

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. Her most popular topics include:

  • Rigor is NOT a Four-Letter Word
  • Motivating, Engaging Instruction Leads to Higher Achievement
  • High Expectations and Increased Support Lead to Success
  • Content Literacy Strategies for the Young and the Restless
  • Motivating Yourself and Others
  • Effective Staff Development: Practices for School Leaders

For more information, or to contact Dr. Blackburn about a possible presentation, click here.


Dr. Blackburn's Blog

Excerpt from a recent blog entry

"I often listen to teachers describe students who simply aren't living up to their potential. They could learn, but they don't. They could achieve, but they don't. They could thrive, but they don't. These are not the students who can't, who need our attention and support to help them unlock skills, strategies, or content. These are the students who don't, who don't seem to want to. And that's a much tougher issue. How do you help someone who doesn't want your help? In Chapter I of Classroom Motivation, "It's All About Me", I discuss the "two foundational elements for intrinsic motivation: People are more motivated when they value what they are doing, and when they believe they have a chance for success (p. 62)." So if desire isn't evidenced, which of these two elements is missing? Or do your students have only a surface value or belief, one that isn't strong enough to support the needed behaviors when things get tough?"

Read Dr. Blackburn's Blog