Principals Guide: Creating an Effective SEL Program that Boosts Achievement
This report can help school leaders begin implementing a SEL program, create buy-in and support staff. It discusses common challenges and offers advice and examples of best practices for implementation and assessment of SEL programs. While this guide is sponsored by a specific SEL program, the practical advice can be applied by school leaders using… Read More ›
Agriculture Students Harness Innovation
This article looks at the reworking of one district’s agricultural program to incorporate more 21st century skills. Across the country instruction in many agricultural classes now emphasizes inquiry, project-based learning, and technology. Students are exposed to the fields of data science, genetics, biotechnology, robotics, veterinary science, and food science to prepare for careers of the… Read More ›
STEM for Social Justice
This issue of ASCDExpress pulls together many articles that look at STEM from a social justice lens. Together the articles provide many ideas for ways to encourage interest and provide more opportunities in STEM for youth typically underrepresented in these fields. Articles look at how to use mentorships and opportunities to explore real world problems to… Read More ›
Individualized Learning Plans for College and Career Readiness
This report from National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), in partnership with Hobsons, examines how states and schools are using Individual Learning Plans (ILPs). ILPs developed by students in collaboration with educators to support their academic and career futures through goal setting and tracking, are being used in schools around the country. The research summarized… Read More ›
Schools Out
This tool, created by five education leaders, takes the reader through a visualization exercise to explore what a totally new, learner-centered education experience could look like. Through accompanying study/discussion questions it pushes readers to consider how they might contribute to the development of young people in their own communities. This exercise could be used to… Read More ›
The Better Math Teaching Network
The Better Math Teaching Network is a group of researchers and practitioners looking to transform high school math instruction to become more student-centered. The network is committed to changing math instruction and professional development for math teachers. For a glimpse of the network in action, this article in MindShift discusses how algebra teachers in the network are using improvement… Read More ›
Want to Offer Internships At Your School? A Tool To Make It Easier
This article describe the online tool developed by the Big Picture Learning network to help their schools facilitate and manage internship experiences for their students. The tool, called ImBlaze, includes a searchable database of internship opportunities. Students, then use a phone app to log hours and set goals. The app also encourages more communication between… Read More ›
When Equity and Student-Centered Learning Go Hand in Hand
I spent two days at the Student-Centered Learning Research Collaborative meeting last week. Kudos to the Student at the Center team for integrating equity and student-centered learning so deeply that they were one and the same. I’ll share three highlights of the meeting: First, Eric Toshalis opened up the meeting with an acknowledgment that the meeting was taking place… Read More ›
Secondary Traumatic Stress for Educators: Understanding and Mitigating the Effects
This article shines a light on the impact supporting students who have gone through trauma has on educators. Teachers often find themselves in the role of counselor, nurturing their students emotionally, not just academically. Taking on this role can have an impact on caregivers. This article discusses ways in which school leaders can acknowledge and… Read More ›
Inside the Fishbowl: A Tool for Student Discussions
In this article, a teacher shares her experiences using relevant world events as topics for deep, student-led discussions. She has found the approach engages students and puts them in charge of their learning on the topic. It also builds social emotional skills, such as empathy, and has strengthened her classroom community. This article offers an… Read More ›
Center on Technology and Disability
The Center on Technology and Disability (CTD), funded by the U.S. Department of Education, is designed to increase the capacity of families and providers to advocate for, acquire, and implement effective assistive and instructional technology (AT/IT) practices, devices, and services. These technologies have the potential to help youth with disabilities better access the general educational curriculum,… Read More ›
Quality and Equity by Design: Charting the Course for the Next Phase of Competency-Based Education
This report seeks to advance K-12 competency education by examining key factors required to bring competency education to scale while ensuring quality and sustainability. Specifically, it looks at four issues: Quality Equity Meeting students where they are Policy The report incorporated feedback and recommendations from stakeholders who attended the National Summit on K-12 Competency-Based Education. It provides… Read More ›