A Principal's Reflections

NOVEMBER 27, 2022

While there are some exceptions, most people do not like to be told what to do, especially when it comes to change. Not only does this often lead to resentment, but it can also inhibit people from doing their best work. I am sure many of us can recount numerous instances during our careers when directives have been leveled down by a leader(s). We end up following through with them in many cases because we are subordinate instead of empowered.

Leadership 534

Leadership Teaching 534

TeachThought

NOVEMBER 26, 2022

It's an extraordinary amount of work to design precise and personalized assessments that illuminate pathways forward for individual students. The post 18 Inconvenient Truths About Assessment Of Learning appeared first on TeachThought.

Teaching 343

Teaching 343

Digital Promise

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

The post How to Bring Students’ Lived Experiences into the Classroom and Spark Authentic Learning appeared first on Digital Promise.

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Dangerously Irrelevant

NOVEMBER 8, 2022

The Commonwealth of Kentucky has leaned hard into the 4 Shifts Protocol to support its schools’ technology integration and instructional redesign work. Over 650(!) Digital Learning Coaches (DLCs) across the state have received a copy of Harnessing Technology for Deeper Learning and are working with their local educators to use the protocol to redesign lessons and units for deeper learning, greater student agency, more authentic work, and rich technology infusion.

Project-Based Learning 145

Project-Based Learning Teaching Education 145

The Hechinger Report

NOVEMBER 28, 2022

Going through public schools in a small Massachusetts city, I had some great teachers. Astoundingly, none of them resembled me, a Black boy in America. I recently graduated from college, and before starting a full-time job this fall, I spent the summer mentoring middle schoolers in New Bedford, another small Massachusetts city near where I grew up. I found not much had changed when it comes to teachers of color — there still aren’t that many of them.

Economics 28

Economics High School Public School Teaching 28

ED Surge

NOVEMBER 9, 2022

For all that education has changed in recent times—from the disappearance of cursive lessons to the rise of computer science in classrooms to pandemic-forced remote learning—one thing has remained stubbornly unchanged. That’s stress and anxiety over math. Even before worries mounted over “ learning loss ” and the ongoing youth mental health crisis , researchers observed math anxiety in children as young as 6.

Research 144

Research High School Education Teaching 144

A Principal's Reflections

NOVEMBER 20, 2022

The pandemic leveled down an array of lessons that should pave the way for future success. One that sticks out to me as the most critical is how resilience got us through one of the most disruptive events we have ever experienced. Adversity, like never before, compelled us to not only change but also to persevere in the face of countless unknowns. While the path was fraught with obstacles, we learned to overcome them together through innovative means.

Project-Based Learning 525

Project-Based Learning Humanities Cultures Teaching 525

Digital Promise

NOVEMBER 10, 2022

On October 19-21, the League of Innovative Schools convened in Los Angeles, California, for their biannual League meeting, which was hosted alongside Compton Unified School District and El Segundo Unified School District. Over two and a half days, district leaders explored how emerging technologies can support powerful learning, surfaced and shared innovative learnings and leadership practices, and helped us welcome the League of Innovative Schools 2022-2023 cohort.

Project-Based Learning 156

Project-Based Learning Leadership Tradition Cultures 156

Mr and Mrs Social Studies

NOVEMBER 15, 2022

President’s Day Activities President’s Day is coming up soon, but how should you celebrate it with your middle school students? As a teacher, celebrating President’s Day with your students is a great way to help them understand the role of the presidency in our government and past presidents’ impact on our country. This post will highlight several President’s Day activities and teaching ideas that you can do with your students that are no-prep or low-prep!

Middle School 130

Middle School Lesson Plan Government Social Studies 130

The Hechinger Report

NOVEMBER 22, 2022

DALLAS — In Levar Dobbins’ eighth grade classroom, a dozen students were learning about workforce trends. This story also appeared in Mind/Shift. “What do you think the future job market will look like?” Dobbins asked the class, at Piedmont GLOBAL Academy, a majority-Hispanic middle school in southeastern Dallas. “A whole bunch of robots,” one boy suggested.

Middle School 142

Middle School High School Tradition Elementary School 142

ED Surge

NOVEMBER 3, 2022

The past 12 months may be a year that will live in infamy for fans of the metaverse. Meta itself, the artist formerly known as Facebook, spent $10 billion on building its grand vision of a digital world and allocated $150 million to immersive learning projects, including funds for universities to create digital versions of their campuses that students can access—wearing Meta VR headsets, of course.

Economics 143

Economics Government Tradition History 143

A Principal's Reflections

NOVEMBER 6, 2022

We blink, and things change. While disruption is not new in any sense, it is happening at a more frenetic pace for a variety of reasons. I shared the following in Disruptive Thinking : With the exponential rate of change taking place in society, it is exciting to think about what the future may hold, despite many unknowns. However, we know that the future will be vastly different than what we are currently experiencing and that these changes will dramatically impact workforce expectations.

Leadership 460

Leadership Teaching Education 460

Pedagogy to Share

NOVEMBER 1, 2022

Two of my didactics courses opened last week with the beginning of the 2022-2023 academic year. I began both lessons with a quiet activity which allowed the students to get seated, calm down, look around the room and get ready for the class in an easygoing fashion. I presented a message in code and asked the students to translate it into their notebooks.

Teaching 130

Teaching Lesson Plan 130

Digital Promise

NOVEMBER 1, 2022

A. B. C. D. F. How did five letters of the alphabet become a measure of one’s capabilities? In today’s day and age, grades have become everything; people are practically defined by the grades they earn in school, leading to academic competition to be the top of the class. But is the emphasis on a mere letter or number worth it? In many instances, grades become counterintuitive as they lead to more students cheating; in other situations, too much stress on grades can lead to depreciating mental h

Teaching 134

Teaching Critical Thinking High School Education 134

Dangerously Irrelevant

NOVEMBER 4, 2022

It’s always gratifying to see your resources being used by educators. I’ve worked with the Bismarck Public Schools multiple times on leadership, vision, and instructional design for deeper learning (and we featured Legacy High School in Leadership for Deeper Learning ). They’ve got an amazing group of educators there and I always love to see what they’re up to… Thanks for sharing, Tanna !

Leadership 113

Leadership Public School High School Education 113

The Hechinger Report

NOVEMBER 17, 2022

CHANTILLY, Va. – In Fairfax County, Virginia, thousands of middle school students experience what most of their peers leave behind in elementary school — recess. This story also appeared in Mind/Shift. The break is only 15 minutes long. But at Rocky Run Middle School, about 25 miles west of the nation’s capital, the seventh and eighth graders make the most of one of the few stretches of time in school that they can truly call their own.

Middle School 141

Middle School Sociology K-12 Elementary School 141

ED Surge

NOVEMBER 2, 2022

A few days ago, young children were welcomed to explore a virtual world full of blue skies and sunshine right alongside a doe-eyed blond baby boy, who has become one of the most popular characters in children’s programming. They were invited to have a “playdate with JJ.” During these adventures with JJ, the star of the toddler show CoComelon, toddlers can sing songs about vegetables, frolic in a treehouse or build a sticker collection.

Psychology 130

Psychology Research Humanities Teaching 130

A Principal's Reflections

NOVEMBER 13, 2022

All leaders most likely view themselves as jugglers. Who could blame them when there are always multiple areas to address and the fact that the buck stops with them when it comes to making big decisions? Here are just a few: Accountability Morale Meetings Professional learning Stakeholders Achievement Budget Crises The act of juggling requires concentration and focus.

Leadership 452

Leadership 452

Anthropology for Beginners

NOVEMBER 10, 2022

Contents style='mso-spacerun:yes'> TOC o "1-7" h z u Peasant: style='color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none; text-underline:none'> PAGEREF _Toc118993640 h 1 08D0C9EA79F9BACE118C8200AA004BA90B02000000080000000E0000005F0054006F0063003100310038003900390033003600340030000000 display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none'> History of the usage: style='color:windowtext;display:none;mso-hide:screen;text-decoration:none; text-underline:none'

Anthropology 100

Anthropology Sociology Economics Cultures 100

Digital Promise

NOVEMBER 9, 2022

The post How to Engage Students in Science Through Real-World Learning appeared first on Digital Promise.

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Education Elements

NOVEMBER 8, 2022

And just like that, summer has ended, and pumpkin spice lattes are back. It’s that time of year: the Winter Holidays are among us! Like other times during the year, this is a great moment to pause and be intentional about centering educational equity in your school and district. Consider these 5 tips as we head into the holiday season.

Education 99

Education 99

The Hechinger Report

NOVEMBER 14, 2022

In 1966, when psychiatrist Dr. Stuart Brown was assigned to a commission to investigate what led University of Texas student Charles Whitman to kill 12 people in one of the country’s first mass shootings, Brown and his colleagues considered many different aspects of Whitman’s background. The student had access to firearms at home; he had witnessed abuse while growing up; and he had a difficult relationship with his father.

Psychology 138

Psychology Humanities Research Teaching 138

ED Surge

NOVEMBER 23, 2022

In late September, my sophomores were packing up for the day when I noticed a group of boys, heads down, all focusing on what looked to be magazines open on their desks. They lifted each page carefully, with a mix of reverence and deep concentration. ”¿Tengo Andres Guardado?” “Sí… ¿Tengo Mbappe?” The boys burst into rib-busting laughter. I moved closer, trying not to disturb the scene unfolding before me.

Cultures 129

Cultures Pedagogy Elementary School Teaching 129

Edthena

NOVEMBER 7, 2022

If you’re an educator trying to improve teaching, you’ve likely wondered questions like these: “Is my instruction still engaging and fun?” and “Am I really helping my students become independent thinkers?”. Whether you’re a new teacher or have a decade of experience in the classroom, it’s tricky to continually improve teaching.

Teaching 98

Teaching Education EdTech 98

Dangerously Irrelevant

NOVEMBER 28, 2022

I finally had a chance to read Annotation by Remi Kalir and Antero Garcia. Although I’ve never met Antero, Remi is my faculty colleague here at the University of Colorado Denver. Remi tells fascinating stories about annotation (no, really!), so I was excited to read his thoughts in print. The book highlights five key functions of annotation: providing information, sharing commentary, sparking conversation, expressing power, and aiding learning.

Public School 86

Public School 86

Digital Promise

NOVEMBER 29, 2022

The post Learning, Relationships, and Power: Attending to Each Moment of Teaching as Pedagogical Possibility Toward Equity appeared first on Digital Promise.

Teaching 117

Teaching 117

Education Elements

NOVEMBER 1, 2022

The most successful school leaders we work with understand that high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) improve student engagement and are a key resource in addressing schooling loss. They also know that materials, while a critical lever, are only one piece of the necessary elements for shifting teacher practice and improving student outcomes. In this blog post, we provide a brief list of things principals should know about high-quality instructional materials as they get started with adopti

Leadership 99

Leadership 99

The Hechinger Report

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

Re OPINION: “ A call for rejecting the newest reading war ” (Nov. 18, 2022). For decades, parents like us have witnessed how our children were not successfully taught to read or write within education systems using curriculums written and supported by signers of the Nov. 18 letter to the editor. Our cries for content-rich curriculum firmly seated in how the brain learns to read and write, as evidenced by decades of scientific research, fell on deaf ears.

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Education Tutoring Pedagogy Private School 133

ED Surge

NOVEMBER 21, 2022

Oregon Trail has an extraordinary origin story , illuminating many of the crucial elements that make games engaging and powerful for learning. Given its exceptional start within a favorable early ecosystem, one might expect hundreds—even thousands—of compelling games for learning on the market today. But, as with Oregon Trail, the path has not been straightforward or simple.

EdTech 126

EdTech Pedagogy Professional Development Tradition 126

Pedagogy and Formation

NOVEMBER 24, 2022

Storytelling is a central part of what it means to be human. Holidays often create the perfect context for storytelling. They create 'space' to spend time with family and friends in varied contexts, and each offer opportunities to share stories and yarns. In Australia, schools have their longest break of about 6 weeks in Dec-Jan as we approach Christmas.

Controversial Topics 52

Controversial Topics Tradition History Humanities 52

Students of History

NOVEMBER 21, 2022

One of the most time and energy-saving strategies I started using in my social studies classroom was to employ unit guide packets for students. These thorough 9-page packets were a huge help in a few ways: Printing the majority of student work at once each unit instead of each day. Students know exactly what they need to know for the test and have it in one place.

Civics 52

Civics History Primary Sources Geography 52

Digital Promise

NOVEMBER 10, 2022

The post Leveraging the Village for Community Science Learning appeared first on Digital Promise.

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Education Elements

NOVEMBER 21, 2022

The stories, run in newspapers across the country each week, paint a desperate picture: a Pre-K teacher in Texas juggling two classrooms alone; classes across the country led by a recurring series of long-term substitutes with no formal training ; a school district in Pennsylvania forced to shorten school days due to lack of staff; districts in North Carolina reporting hundreds of vacant teaching positions even as the school year begins.

Teaching 89

Teaching Education Leadership 89

The Hechinger Report

NOVEMBER 15, 2022

SEATTLE — On a bright October morning, two dozen 4- and 5-year-olds were scattered around a classroom at Impact Salish Sea Elementary in south Seattle, enthralled by plastic food, dolls, blocks and clay. In the center of the room, four children buzzed around a wooden play kitchen, mixing various pretend food items in pots and pans. This story also appeared in Mind/Shift.

Charter School 131

Charter School Psychology Project-Based Learning Public School 131

ED Surge

NOVEMBER 2, 2022

When a school or district decides to cut a check for an edtech product, the end goal isn’t about owning a shiny new piece of hardware or app. The administrators who sign off are thinking about how students will benefit long-term from more support in the classroom. But where in the conversation are the people implementing those tools: the teachers? And how much say do they—or should they—have in edtech decisions?

EdTech 122

EdTech Educational Technology Middle School Lesson Plan 122

The Effortful Educator

NOVEMBER 18, 2022

I am a big fan of the multiple choice question. I’ve written multiple articles discussing how to more efficiently and effectively utilize these questions in class. Probably one of my most seen tweets centers around the use of multiple choice questions: Enhancing Multiple Choice Qs Some blogs, some research, & a poster Ranking MC Answers [link] … Maximizing MC Effectiveness [link] … Confidence Weighted MCQs [link] … MCQs as a Learning Experience [link] … pic.twitter.com/TcUEQRcKwS — Bla

Middle School 52

Middle School Tradition High School Research 52

ACRE

NOVEMBER 18, 2022

As you approach those few days of class before Thanksgiving Break, where students’ minds are starting to drift towards turkey and time-off, what topics do you focus on in the classroom? If you’re interested in discussing the holiday season with students, you can use one or all of the articles below to create some fun classroom conversations. As students explore the articles, they will learn how this year compares to holidays past, how prices are determined, and what decisions consumers make duri

Social Studies 52

Social Studies 52