Diversity Talks
Diversity Talks is a Rhode Island organization dedicated to bringing students to the forefront of conversations about race and equity. This group, founded by two students and a teacher, trains students to lead teacher professional development around race and diversity. The founders believe that to help schools address issues of inequality in education, students’ own voices… Read More ›
Tools for Scaling Best Practices: Windows, Bridges and Roadmaps
Our last two articles (here and here) explored the scaling of Work-Study Practices (WSPs, a.k.a., deeper learning competencies) in New Hampshire, the growth of this education innovation in the state and the role of a statewide, nonprofit intermediary, the New Hampshire Learning Initiative (NHLI) as a scaling agent. There is another driver of scale observed… Read More ›
Dual Capacity-Building Framework for Family-School Partnerships
This tool is an update of the groundbreaking framework for family-school partnerships, designed in 2014 by researcher and family engagement expert Karen Mapp, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education and the Southwest Educational Development Lab. The revisions were made after several years of research which point to the pivotal role of trust in… Read More ›
15 Classroom Resources for Discussing Racism, Policing and Protest
This blog article offers many useful resources to help teachers talk to students about racism and current events. This article discusses the importance of tackling tough conversations about race, racism, and the related protests with students; even when these must occur virtually. It includes a lengthy list of resources that teachers can use right away.… Read More ›
Schools Call Parents “Co-Teachers,” but We Have No Idea What We’re Doing
This article is a plea to educators to remember families and caregivers during remote learning school closures. The article reminds educators that parents must often act as co-teachers during remote learning but have received no training. It encourages educators to provide more scaffolding to help parents take on this new role. This article can serve… Read More ›
Educators Tackle Tough Conversations about Race and Violence – This Time Virtually
This article discusses the importance of discussing current events with students. It presents examples of the many different ways that educators around the country are tackling tough conversations with their students about current events and systemic racism while students are participating in remote learning. Source Organization: Chalk Beat Visit the Resource
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 ›
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 ›
Not a Normal Convening but What’s Normal Anyway?
The Student-Centered Learning Research Collaborative hosted its bi-annual grantee convening May 7-8. Our original plans were to meet in Philadelphia and visit with student activists and educators, but like so many of us are doing these days, we shifted everything to virtual. We met on screens rather than in rooms. We connected over Wi-Fi rather… Read More ›
As Educators Grapple With COVID-19 Challenges, Supporting Undocumented Students & Families Must Be a Priority
This article brings to the forefront the importance of supporting the most vulnerable families during COVID-19 school closures, especially immigrant families without documentation. As school leaders and educators know, students must have their basic needs met and feel a level of safety and well-being for effective learning to take place. Yet undocumented families may be… Read More ›
Wide Open Schools
This website features a free collection of high-quality online learning experiences for kids curated by the editors at Common Sense. In response to school closures, more than 25 organizations came together with a shared vision to make learning from home an experience that inspires kids, supports teachers, relieves families and restores community. The site will… Read More ›