Digital Promise

MAY 25, 2017

The Digital Promise maker learning team spent some time in Greer, South Carolina this winter observing and filming the Riverside Middle School Library Club students as they worked to design solutions to problems they identified in their community. If that doesn’t sum up middle school, I don’t know what does.

Library 110

Library Middle School Tradition Lesson Plan 110

Moler's Musing

JANUARY 10, 2025

Cognitive load theory is completely ignored, and its clear the materials werent designed with middle school learners in mind. To keep the focus on critical thinking, I didnt include answer choicesstudents had to come up with their responses based on their prior knowledge. citizenship test.

Lesson Plan 116

Lesson Plan Government Critical Thinking Middle School 116

The Hechinger Report

FEBRUARY 10, 2025

The emphasis on phonics in many schools is still relatively new and may need more time to yield results. But a growing chorus of education advocates has been arguing that phonics isnt enough. They say that being able to decode the letters and read words is critically important, but students also need to make sense of the words.

Teaching 136

Teaching Charter School Social Studies Geography 136

ED Surge

JANUARY 16, 2025

This flavor of internet short-form content absurd, easily produced, no plot appears to be having an effect on its viewers that is being felt by schools and youth mental health experts. Educators have talked for years about students shortening attention spans and how kids struggle to follow the most basic of instructions.

K-12 120

K-12 Middle School Critical Thinking High School 120

Dangerously Irrelevant

JANUARY 24, 2023

And so it begins… I am on sabbatical in Spring 2023, unpacking deeper learning in elementary and middle schools. If there is an inquiry- and problem-based learning school that serves grades K-8 that you think I should try and visit, or if you’d like to learn more about what I’m doing and learning, please get in touch!

Middle School 86

Middle School Leadership Advocacy Critical Thinking 86

TCI

FEBRUARY 28, 2025

But what exactly makes learning truly “active,” and why are educators embracing this approach? Research shows that active learning increases student performance, reduces failure rates, and fosters deeper critical thinking. times less likely to fail than those in traditional lecture-based classes.

K-12 52

K-12 Education Critical Thinking Tradition 52

ED Surge

FEBRUARY 14, 2024

Imagine IM’s Inspire Math video Climbing Mount Everest links the drama of mountaineering to middle school work on percentages. It fosters critical thinking, problem-solving skills and a deeper understanding of mathematical principles by placing students as active learners rather than passive recipients of information.

Education 126

Education Pedagogy Critical Thinking Middle School 126

Digital Promise

NOVEMBER 16, 2015

Yet as schools break away from traditional models of education, new challenges emerge. We wanted to know: what do educators see as their top challenges? Students who participate in guided collaborative projects improve critical thinking and social skills needed for college and careers ( P21 , 2015).

K-12 120

K-12 Education Civics Middle School 120

The Hechinger Report

DECEMBER 28, 2020

What stands out for me is how readers remain interested in basic research into how kids learn, from reading to critical thinking to collaborating with peers. Thank you to everyone who has read and commented on my weekly stories about education data and research. How the last recession affected higher education.

Research 119

Research Tutoring Education Critical Thinking 119

TCI

JANUARY 6, 2025

TCI, a leader in K-12 educational content and curriculum, is proud to announce that its K-6 and 7-12 Social Studies programs have received favorable reviews in the latest textbook adoption reports released by the Office of Instructional Materials & Library Services within the Mississippi Instructional Materials Review Board.

K-12 52

K-12 Social Studies Local History Critical Thinking 52

ED Surge

AUGUST 16, 2023

The integration of AI tools in English language arts (ELA) instruction has emerged as a potentially transformative pedagogical approach that could redefine the traditional landscape of education. You are still a thinking and feeling human being! You should never give up your voice and replace it with AI.

Education 98

Education Middle School Critical Thinking Teaching 98

The Hechinger Report

SEPTEMBER 8, 2019

This week marks National Arts in Education Week , a time for us to highlight the transformative power of the arts in education. Arts education for all students is fundamental to a well-rounded education. No matter the path, arts education provides a way to creative careers of the future.

Education 103

Education Civics Critical Thinking Cultures 103

Digital Promise

DECEMBER 15, 2014

This past year was eventful in education – we saw new measures to connect schools around the country , concepts like maker spaces, design thinking, and coding make their way into the mainstream, and teachers become more tech-savvy and connected. Looking to 2015, what will the new year bring for the future of education?

Education 108

Education Civics Pedagogy Lesson Plan 108

Digital Promise

JANUARY 15, 2019

Rather than taking a traditional multiple choice test at the end of their unit on weather, sixth grade students at Gilbert Middle School in South Carolina created their own live weather reports—complete with green screens and fake snow.

Middle School 134

Middle School Critical Thinking Tradition Teaching 134

ED Surge

JULY 17, 2023

These one-to-one initiatives aim to provide students with equal access to educational resources, fostering creativity and critical thinking while preparing them for the demands of a technology-driven world. EdSurge: What was the device rollout planning process like for Newburg Middle School? It was a party!

Education 98

Education Middle School Library Professional Development 98

The Hechinger Report

FEBRUARY 11, 2021

Peter Adams, senior vice president of education, News Literacy Project. As conspiracy theories spread across social media and misleading news stories are shared in internet echo chambers, educators across the country – and the world – are trying to battle misinformation by teaching students to be better consumers of news, media and data.

K-12 145

K-12 Civics Critical Thinking Middle School 145

The Hechinger Report

APRIL 11, 2018

The class combines the academic rigor of AP Psychology with hands-on experience in the field of forensics, the latter as a state-approved career and technical education (CTE) course. Christine Lee, a 17-year-old junior at Tesla STEM High School. We are educating them to be problem-solvers, innovators, to know how to work in a team.”.

Teaching 106

Teaching Education Psychology High School 106

ED Surge

JANUARY 25, 2023

Examples of survey items used by students to evaluate teachers via the Network for Educator Effectiveness. Cognitive engagement: Encouraged students to think deeply about the content. Problem-solving and critical thinning: Encouraged problem-solving and critical thinking.

Teaching 125

Teaching Critical Thinking Middle School Research 125

ED Surge

MARCH 22, 2022

School is not the problem. This statement was shared by a former middle school student of mine during his freshman year of high school. John* was getting all A’s and one B in stark contrast to the B’s, C’s, and D’s received in middle school. Students are the problem.”

Middle School 121

Middle School Tradition Critical Thinking High School 121

The Hechinger Report

MARCH 8, 2021

Project-based learning is a personal passion of “Star Wars” director George Lucas, who has often described how he was bored in school until he learned to use a camera and started to make films. This middle school project-based instruction was tested on more than 100 students in high-poverty schools in California.

Project-Based Learning 145

Project-Based Learning Middle School Social Studies High School 145

Psych Learning Curve

JANUARY 31, 2020

Researchers say that reducing the burden of teaching experienced by so many teachers is critical to improve student success — both academically and behaviorally. Researchers say that reducing the burden of teaching experienced by so many teachers is critical to improve student success — both academically and behaviorally.

Middle School 52

Middle School Psychology Critical Thinking Cultures 52

ED Surge

MAY 8, 2023

That’s the question the middle school class was struggling to answer. Fractions hadn’t really connected with the students, says John Barclay, a teacher in Richmond Public Schools in Virginia. It takes critical thinking and a sense for the numbers to even understand how or why a student’s approach might be wrong, Barclay says.

K-12 135

K-12 Critical Thinking Middle School Pedagogy 135

Digital Promise

MAY 23, 2019

Jefferson County Public Schools, Louisville, Kentucky (Cohort 5). The five Jefferson County Public Schools participating in the initiative—The Academy @ Shawnee Middle School, Frederick Law Olmsted Academy North, Lassiter Middle School, Newburg Middle School, and W.E.B. IT Leader of the Year.

Middle School 121

Middle School Leadership Public School Professional Development 121

The Hechinger Report

OCTOBER 14, 2020

Unlike at Olmsted, the highest-scoring elementary school in the city, students at Eve scored around the dismal city average in math and English in 2019, when fewer than a quarter of students passed state tests. Wealthy schools identify more children as gifted than poor ones. School administrators often see gifted education as a frill.

Education 145

Education Elementary School High School Public School 145

The Hechinger Report

DECEMBER 9, 2021

The end goal is not to just provide access to digital devices — it’s to develop the skills to use these tools for heightened learning, critical thinking and self-expression. Integrating computational thinking into every classroom is not something that can be left to individual educators.

K-12 141

K-12 Critical Thinking Middle School Social Studies 141

ED Surge

DECEMBER 20, 2021

Student interest in computer science far exceeds access to computer science education, especially among historically underserved populations. Findings from a recent Gallup survey note that student interest in computer science far exceeds access to computer science education, especially among historically underserved populations.

K-12 143

K-12 Economics Critical Thinking Middle School 143

The Hechinger Report

JANUARY 2, 2023

Why learn art in school? The arts have been part of public education almost from the beginning. Nineteenth century education reformer Horace Mann, the father of American public schools, believed that the arts enhanced learning. He made drawing and music part of the Massachusetts curriculum for “common schools.”

Teaching 145

Teaching Museum Elementary School Critical Thinking 145

The Hechinger Report

DECEMBER 6, 2023

Editor’s note: This story led off this week’s Future of Learning newsletter, which is delivered free to subscribers’ inboxes every other Wednesday with trends and top stories about education innovation. Conservative politicians today increasingly see social studies teachers as targets, attendees said.

Social Studies 141

Social Studies Teaching Civics Advocacy 141

The Hechinger Report

OCTOBER 2, 2023

These and similar scenes from public schools around the country are more than just young learners having fun with recycled materials. This is STEM education in action: Hands-on projects help students develop critical thinking skills while sparking interest in science, technology, engineering and math.

K-12 138

K-12 Elementary School Museum Critical Thinking 138

The Hechinger Report

DECEMBER 21, 2023

Editor’s note: This story led off this week’s Future of Learning newsletter, which is delivered free to subscribers’ inboxes every other Wednesday with trends and top stories about education innovation. Bringing a “culturally responsive” framework to math instruction was a major focus of the educators’ convention.

K-12 130

K-12 Cultures Critical Thinking Middle School 130

ED Surge

NOVEMBER 7, 2022

Remember that heavy feeling you sometimes got as a kid heading into yet another school day? Middle school Guidance Counselor Rachelle Vallon remembers the feeling, too. But she doesn't want that to be how kids experience school going forward.

Middle School 121

Middle School Critical Thinking Humanities High School 121

Digital Promise

FEBRUARY 5, 2019

Seeking to increase educational equity and powerful use of technology through digital learning coaching, Digital Promise launched the Dynamic Learning Project (DLP) in 2017, with generous support from Google. I think that makes you feel like, ‘Oh, then I want to try some new things.’ … It’s a really friendly growth environment.”.

Cultures 95

Cultures Middle School Critical Thinking Teaching 95

Digital Promise

APRIL 12, 2016

Inside its borders are two of the nation’s best school districts — Cajon Valley Union School District and Vista Unified School District — that are working to provide students with the highest caliber of education possible. Vista Unified School District.

Middle School 91

Middle School Elementary School Critical Thinking Social Studies 91

Digital Promise

FEBRUARY 27, 2020

What happens when this same approach is applied to school districts? In partnership with the Center for Global Education at Asia Society , the League of Innovative Schools has launched innovation study tours –– a learning opportunity focused on deeper learning and equity. Education at Asia Society.

Middle School 102

Middle School Social Justice Cultures Professional Development 102

Digital Promise

MARCH 5, 2020

The Future Ready Librarians ® initiative has already changed the conversation about ways in which teacher librarians lead, teach, and support innovative learning in schools. The Future Ready Librarians initiative aligns school libraries and librarians with strategic work through the Future Ready Librarians Framework. Failing Forward.

Library 114

Library Artifacts Advocacy Tradition 114

The Hechinger Report

OCTOBER 4, 2016

Ryan Ren, 14, loves the soccer fields around his middle school in Arcadia, California. But Ryan, now a student at Dana Middle School, hasn’t been to Guangzhou in a while. “There’s an increase in wealth in the newly minted middle class, and a lot of parents want [their children] to have the U.S.

K-12 111

K-12 Private School Middle School Tutoring 111

The Hechinger Report

MAY 8, 2019

Editor’s note: This story led off this week’s Future of Learning newsletter, which is delivered free to subscribers’ inboxes every Wednesday with trends and top stories about education innovation. Seventh graders on Stony Brook School’s project-based learning team research how to take care of chickens ahead of an egg delivery.

Project-Based Learning 112

Project-Based Learning Tradition Middle School Social Studies 112