How to Foster a Positive School Climate in a Virtual World
This article discusses the importance of creating a positive school climate, especially during distance learning. The author details ways to improve culture in four main areas: physical and emotional safety, respect for diversity and equity, relationships, supportive teaching practices and sense of community. This article will be helpful to leaders of schools serving any age… Read More ›
A Plan to Safely Reopen America’s Schools and Communities
This detailed “Plan to Safely Reopen America’s Schools and Communities” was designed to help communities chart a path to safely and responsibly reopen school buildings and other institutions. It features five core pillars based on science as well as educator and healthcare expertise. The document shows how to effectively respond to the crisis, especially emphasizing… Read More ›
Relationships Check
The Relationships Check is a tool to spark self-reflection and conversation among peers and within families. During social distancing, it can be hard to maintain deep relationships with young people. However, meaningful relationships with caring adults are critical to children’s wellbeing during this time. Parents, community partners, educators, or anyone working with youth, can take… Read More ›
Disrupting Inequity: Having Brave Conversations About Bias
This toolkit was designed to help school communities have facilitated conversations about race, bias and prejudice. It features three 90-120 minute facilitated sessions. Sessions are centered around a reading or video with follow-up conversation. Sessions include: Understanding Bias Historical Perspective About Race in America How Does Bias Manifest in Our School? The kit includes a… Read More ›
Leading Schools During the Coronavirus Crisis: Planning for Reopening
This is the third in the ASCD and CDC webinar series focusing on leading schools during the coronavirus crisis. This webinar will focus on what schools and their communities need to consider as they plan on reopening schools. The CDC will discuss current coronavirus-related considerations about reopening schools. The webinar will also cover areas related… Read More ›
Horizons
Hosted by Jobs for the Future, this 4-day virtual learning experience will focus on how to lay the foundation for an equitable economic recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The interactive online experience will feature networking sessions, virtual chats and a design challenge. Industry leaders will also give presentations exploring the ways in which education and… Read More ›
Equity and Excellence Now
In this interactive edWebinar, Dr. Douglas Reeves will share the latest evidence from U.S. and international perspectives on how schools are pursuing equity while maintaining a commitment to excellence and rigor. Participants will learn: How to achieve equity in access to instructional resources, feedback, and grading in complex environments. How to achieve focus for teachers… Read More ›
Tier 1 Social, Emotional and Behavioral Supports to Restart Learning During a Crisis
When school resumes in the fall, young people will be struggling with fear, anxiety, and many other emotions that will affect their academic performance and behavior. This will make the need for social-emotional and behavioral (SEB) supports more critical than ever to ensure students are psychologically and emotionally able to learn. During this webinar Dr.… Read More ›
The Power of Protocols for Equity
In this article, Zaretta Hammond, an expert on equity and building more culturally responsive classrooms, discusses the importance of deep student-led discussions and how to have them. She outlines how to use structured protocols to encourage equitable participation and create more culturally responsive discussions. Her guidance can help teachers in any subject improve student discussions… Read More ›
Can Responsibilities to Family and Community be Empowering for Youth, Even in a Pandemic?
In this article, the author speculates about the empowering effect of personal responsibility young people might gain through service to their families and communities during the pandemic. The author shares research conducted from a Los Angeles community of students who participated, along with their families, in a program to build relationships called Keep Connected and… Read More ›
Fostering a Strong Community in a Virtual Classroom
This article focuses on the importance of building a sense of community during online learning. The author offers practical tips to help students feel comfortable and safe participating in synchronous and asynchronous online learning. The author suggests a process of planning, establishing group norms, and scaffolding students as they learn how to interact online in… Read More ›
Practical Tips for Teaching Online Small-Group Discussions
This practical article suggests ways to facilitate deep discussions amongst peers during online learning. The author details three strategies that can be used during break out sessions held through zoom or other similar platforms. In particular, she discusses the use of real-time note-taking that allows teachers to peek into discussions as they are happening, the… Read More ›