Connecting Learning to Careers
In this article, Hamutal Bernstein, research associate at the Urban Institute, explores the many ways that Connected Learning is a personalized approach to learning that is beneficial to students in today’s classrooms. Young people are living their lives in densely connected, media-saturated contexts, connecting to peers through social media. Connected Learning aims to harness this… Read More ›
Looking Under the Hood of Competency-Based Education
This study by the American Institutes for Research rigorously examined the relationship between competency-based education (CBE) practices and changes in these learning capacities (such as the skills, behaviors, and dispositions that enhance student capacity to learn in school). CBE, an instructional approach that emphasizes what students learn and master rather than how much time they… Read More ›
Recognizing the Importance of Support Staff in a Student-Centered School
Student support staff (school counselors, case managers, mentors, social workers etc.) are rarely central to education reform conversations, but in the era of personalization, their knowledge and expertise can greatly benefit the changing classroom. Students and teachers can rely on these staff to bridge social/emotional strategies with academic learning. Emotions, research shows, direct students’ learning… Read More ›
Popularity of Ed Tech Not Necessarily Linked to Products’ Impact
This article explores the different methods of using technology and whether those methods are improving our schools or hindering them. Digital learning tools that fit well within existing classrooms and don’t disrupt the educational status quo tend to be the most widely adopted, despite their limited impact on student learning. This pattern in K-12 raises… Read More ›
National Youth Leadership Council
This organization works to promote service learning in schools across the country. Through service-learning projects, students apply academic skills and knowledge to a real community need, accelerating student achievement by strengthening academic, civic, and character outcomes. To achieve this goal they develop student leadership, encouraging student voice for meaningful change; support educators with customized professional development… Read More ›
Generator School Network
The online community, managed by the National Youth Leadership Council, is for educators and youth interested in service-learning experiences that allow students to apply classroom knowledge and skills to a real world community need. This free resource includes a large number of tools, research, and online learning communities. Of particular interest is the Generator, a… Read More ›
Restorative Justice: A Different Approach to Discipline
This article, from a teacher’s perspective, provides an overview of the rise of restorative practices in schools. It then discusses how one teacher works with students to build a respect agreement in the classroom. The same teacher discusses how using restorative discipline practices in the classroom helps her build relationships with students and allows them… Read More ›
The Impact of Enhancing Students’ Social and Emotional Learning: A Meta-Analysis of School-Based Universal Interventions
This research report, published in 2011, is a frequently cited document in the field of social-emotional learning (SEL). The study looked at 213 school-based SEL programs designed for students in kindergarten through high school. Compared to controls, students who participated in these SEL programs demonstrated improved social and emotional skills, attitudes, behavior, and academic performance.… Read More ›
School Counselors Embrace Social Emotional Learning
This article asserts that social emotional learning can provide a unifying vision, structure, processes, and assessment tools to assist school counselors in becoming effective change agents in their schools. The article describes a case study in which counselors helped teachers complete a social emotional intelligence survey, reviewing their own social emotional competencies and comparing them… Read More ›
Social-Emotional Learning Assessment Measures for Middle School Youth
This 2011 research review was designed to assist middle school educators with choosing appropriate measures of social and emotional skills over time. Children with strong social and emotional (SEL) skills have been shown to excel in school, and quality SEL programs are imperative to address the social, emotional, and academic needs of students. The purpose… Read More ›
“Paying attention?” an App Asks – Helping Kids Monitor Their Own Classroom Behavior
This article describes an app called I-Connect designed to help students monitor their motivation and attention to tasks. The article describes how the app is being used by students who need additional supports to help stay on task. The app can be customized to check in once about homework or punctuality or can send reminders… Read More ›
Six Seconds: Emotional Intelligence Network
This organization is committed to helping people improve emotional intelligence (EQ), the ability to tune in, connect, and respond. The organization offers training and tools to measure and improve EQ. Six Seconds The Emotional Intelligence Network offers measurement tools, applications, games, and organizational metrics to better understand emotional strengths and weaknesses. Of interest is the The… Read More ›