Awareness, Knowledge, Action: One Middle-School Classroom’s Journey to Empowerment
College pennants hang on the walls of a charter middle school and shout the names of academic institutions far from this western US city. “HARVARD,” one reads in big, block letters. “MICHIGAN,” “TEXAS,” “WILLIAM & MARY.* The charter school has gone all-in on college. Students start the day by gathering in a large room the… Read More ›
The Research Collaborative and Equity: Framing the Conversation
In education research, whose knowledge do we most trust? Who is at the table when we make decisions about where we’ll investigate, what data we’ll gather, and how we’ll make meaning of our observations? And whose voices are represented when we interpret findings and translate them for a variety of audiences? The team at the… Read More ›
Researching the Effects of Culturally Responsive Mastery-Based Education
Every year, there are renewed calls to improve, reform and reinvent public education for all students, and particularly for marginalized students. In efforts to transform educational experiences for students of color, students with disabilities and linguistically diverse students, innovative approaches are imagined (or more often, reimagined) in an effort to address the challenges that these… Read More ›
Explore the Student-Centered Learning Continuum (SCL Continuum)
The Nellie Mae Education Foundation, in partnership with the RAND Corporation, has been working hand in hand with teachers, school leaders, and researchers to develop a set of criteria that detail the characteristics of high-quality, student-centered learning in classrooms, schools, and districts — a Student-Centered Learning Continuum (SCL Continuum). This continuum represents a research-based definition of… Read More ›
Creating diverse learning environments: What We Learned from Project Citizen
As an educator in an urban high school in Bridgeport, Connecticut, I see firsthand that race continues to be a divisive force in our society. At the same time, I am optimistic that we can change this by bringing our communities together, starting in our public schools. There is a need for more collaboration among… Read More ›
Will Design Thinking Kill the Rubric
In this article from ASCD Education Update, the authors explore ways to assess student learning when using a design thinking approach. They discuss how rubrics can be used to help students understand how to improve their skills, rather than evaluating finished products. The article includes examples of learning progression tools which students can use to self-assess… Read More ›
When Personalized Learning Also Boosts Special Education Students
This article looks at Brooklyn Laboratory Charter School which is successfully serving a large number of students with learning disabilities, in part because of its commitment to personalizing learning. Students progress at their own rate, not in grade-by-grade lockstep. Teachers are trained to give all students targeted, individualized support with the help of an integrated student information… Read More ›
Access Does not Equal Equity
This article looks at the schools in New York City that are using a mastery-based education model. These schools tend to more closely reflect the diversity of their surrounding communities, and many are also implementing culturally responsive teaching practices. The article also describes the work of the the Mastery Collaborative, launched in 2015 as part of… Read More ›
Making Connections: 53 Teenagers Suggest Creative Ways to Link School Curriculum to the World of 2019
This article in the New York Times showcases the winners of a contest asking students to connect what they are learning in school to their own lives. It includes the full text of the articles submitted by the winners as well as excerpts from runner-ups. Students found new connections between literature and historical events they are… Read More ›
What Student-Centered Schools Look Like
This Education Week special report offers practical examples of student-centered strategies to help schools better meet the personal and academic needs of learners. Strategies highlighted include making classroom content more engaging; helping students forge bonds with each other; prioritizing students in the school’s professional development and discipline approaches; supporting students’ lifestyle needs including mealtimes, sleep, and… Read More ›
Chief Privacy Officers: The Unicorns of K-12 Education
This article discusses how two large school districts handle staffing related to data privacy, Denver Public Schools in Colorado and Baltimore County Public Schools in Maryland. The article acknowledges that while few if any schools hire Chief Privacy Officers, as suggested in a report by the Center for Democracy and Technology, there are examples of districts with staff… Read More ›
8 Ways Schools Can Form a Better Relationship With the Media
This article summarizes key takeaways for working with the media from a panel discussion at the TCEA 2019 conference. San Antonio. The panel, hosted by Chris Piehler of the public relations firm PR With Panache, featured EdSurge and other journalists from Texas. Panelists discussed how schools can effectively use the media to share their success stories. Media coverage… Read More ›