Meaningful Summer PD at Home
This article discusses ways for teachers to gain valuable professional development from home. The author suggests 4 activities and provides details to get started. Ideas include exploring podcasts, getting certified to use a particular product through the free Google Certified educator program, or making your own conference from free content provided by many organizations whose… 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 ›
Students Speak Out on COVID-19
This article, written by two high school seniors, describes their experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic. They provide thoughts on the impact on their future plans as well as ways they coped with uncertainty. They also explain what supports from teachers were most and least helpful. This article provides a great example of students’ experiences in… Read More ›
Formative Assessment and Online Learning: What Are Non-Negotiables for the New School Year?
In this article, three teachers committed to formative assessment share thoughts on which of their teaching practices must be incorporated into any teaching, whether remote or in-person, in the coming school year. Each teacher shares their thoughts on a critical practice. These include the importance of leveraging student voice, focusing on the iterative process and… Read More ›
How Educators Are Showing Up for Black Students Following Protests
This in-depth article from Education Week’s Teacher blog looks at ways educators are discussing the protests against police brutality with students during remote learning. It includes many examples and insights from teachers who are having these tough conversations with students remotely. Teachers of any subject and grade can also get more ideas from the list… Read More ›
6 Ways District Leaders Can Build Racial Equity
In this article, Education Week staff asked six district leaders to share specific practices and processes they use in their school systems to promote equity. Suggestions ranged from getting community involvement to rethinking resources and staffing. All the suggestions require deep reflection on district and school practices and assumptions. This article offers advice for district… Read More ›
Students Are Demanding Anti-Racist Curriculum and Instruction
This article from Education Week’s Teacher blog discusses the important involvement of youth in recent social-justice demonstrations, petitions and demands. The article outlines the demands made by students in several different parts of the country for their respective school districts to embrace, including demands such as more culturally diverse and explicitly antiracist curriculum. Educators will… Read More ›
Transitioning and Sustaining Competency-Based Education During School Closures
This article looks at the remote learning experience of South Bronx Community Charter High School (SBC), a school launched in 2016 with a strong competency education approach. A mastery-based approach positioned them to make a smoother transition to remote learning. The article discusses several strategies they continued to rely on strong relationships with advisors and… Read More ›
Providence Students Use Data to Participate in System Change
Beyoncé and many others have said, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” This is particularly true during the myriad crises presented by our current pandemic. But even before COVID-19, way back in the summer of 2019, it was all lemons for educators in Providence, RI. A blistering report from the Johns Hopkins Institute told… Read More ›
The Blended Learning Models that Can Help Schools Reopen
This article explores two approaches to blended learning that could be used in schools, providing a mix of in-person and remote learning. In particular, the article discusses flipped learning in which students watch videos of content at home and use class time for more involved work. This enriched virtual model has students completing most of… Read More ›
Why There’s A Push To Get Police Out Of Schools
This article and accompanying podcast from MindShift explores the rationale for decreasing police in schools. This has long been a goal of the black lives matter. This article explains the call for decreasing police presence in schools. It suggests several student-centered alternatives to increase student safety including restorative justice programs, positive behavioral interventions and supports… Read More ›
The Sciences of Teaching
In this Educational Leadership article, the authors discuss how the fields of neuroscience and psychology come together to shed light on what is known about teaching and learning. They look at ways knowledge from both fields provides insight into four commonly discussed scientific findings about learning. They explore the importance of growth mindset, linking new… Read More ›