Learning Through Teaching: Building Critical Consciousness in My Classroom
Looking back on my time teaching English, I know I didn’t include enough books by Black and Brown authors, or books by women. In film class, I predominantly showed white men telling stories about white men because those were the movies I knew and had watched and studied. I was limited by own life experiences… Read More ›
Educator Competencies: Video Examples of ‘Growth Mindset’
By mastering the 12 foundational competencies, educators can build a solid foundation for continued growth. The competencies are a subset of those outlined in the Educator Competencies for Personalized, Learner-Centered Environments, created to empower a growing number of teachers to implement and scale up a transformation of their classrooms into places of personalized, student-centered learning.… Read More ›
Educator Competencies: Video Example of ‘Growth Mindset’
By mastering the twelve foundational competencies, educators can build a solid foundation for continued growth. The competencies are a subset of those outlined in the Educator Competencies for Personalized, Learner-Centered Environments, created to empower a growing number of teachers to implement and scale up a transformation of their classrooms into places of personalized, student-centered learning. While… Read More ›
Resource Round-Up: Honoring Student Voice with Authentic Products
Engagement can be an ongoing struggle in remote and traditional classroom settings, but there are technologies and strategies available that can open the door to many authentic student projects. Blogs, podcasts, digital storytelling, and a variety of non-traditional genres of writing can feel closer to the kind of communication students do out of school. Below… Read More ›
Highlighting the Importance of Relationships During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Associate Principal Darius Green sat down to reflect and describe what student-centered learning has been like for his school community during COVID-19. For him, building relationships is the cornerstone of a thriving school community. Leaders and educators must be honest in how they address social injustices to give each student what they need to be… Read More ›
A Need to Evolve: The Impact of Strained Education Systems
Education systems’ capacity to address the complex problems they face is limited. Will new approaches and funding address looming challenges? Or will systems continue to rely on inadequate approaches and structures? KnowledgeWorks’ Lillian Pace, vice president of policy and advocacy, and Rita Pello, program manager for impact and improvement, join Jason Swanson, director of strategic foresight, to… Read More ›
Maintaining an Equity Focus During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Principal Arria Coburn and classroom teacher, Ellen Foley, sat down with us to reflect and discuss what it’s been like to keep schools and classrooms student-centered and focused on producing and sustaining equitable outcomes. Arria Coburn is a principal of the Springfield Renaissance School, a 6-12 EL Education School in Springfield, Massachusetts. She’s serving her… Read More ›
Sustaining Student-Centered Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Principal Arria Coburn and classroom teacher, Ellen Foley, sat down with us to reflect and discuss what it has been like to ensure schools and classrooms are student-centered, engaging and full of learning. Arria Coburn is a principal of the Springfield Renaissance School, a 6-12 EL Education School in Springfield, Massachusetts. She’s serving her sixth… Read More ›
Promising Practices and Recommendations for Designing Dual Enrollment for Students from Special Populations
In Dual Enrollment for Students from Special Populations: Improving College Transitions for English Learners, Students with Disabilities, Foster Youth and Young People Experiencing Homelessness, JFF explores promising practices and recommendations for designing dual enrollment with the assets and needs of these students at the center. Interest in dual enrollment opportunities in California is at an all-time high, enough… Read More ›
Student and Teacher Agency in Action: the Self-Direction Toolkit Development Process
Researchers tell us and employers confirm that individuals who demonstrate the 21st-century skills of self-direction, communication, creativity and collaboration excel in post-secondary and career experiences. So the more schools can support the development of those crucial skills, the more we’ll be ensuring our graduates are successful in both the workplace and college. Figuring out how… Read More ›
One School’s Commitment to Equity Using Student-Centered Learning
We know that within the past year lower-income families have been relegated to remote learning with inconsistent or nonexistent internet service, improper removal from special education services, lack of suitable WIFI-enabled devices, insufficient or nonexistent childcare, food insecurity and innumerable other challenges. Comparatively, wealthier families have in-person classes, higher diversion rates to private schools, availability… Read More ›
Personalizing Secondary Math: Productive Struggle, Rich Content and Collaboration
You might look at our below average scores on international mathematics tests and conclude that American students struggle in math, but the latest research suggests they actually don’t struggle enough. Sure, they struggle with math content, in part, because the secondary mathematics curriculum is jam-packed. Like 40 others, my state relies on the Common Core… Read More ›