July, 2022

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Transitioning to a Transformational Mindset

A Principal's Reflections

The concept of how one’s mindset plays a crucial role in growth and change is nothing new. However, there are different ways to look beyond just fixed vs. growth. I shared the following in Disruptive Thinking in Our Classrooms : A mindset is an attitude, disposition, or mood with which a person approaches a situation. In short, it’s a belief that determines the decisions we make, actions that are undertaken, and how situations are handled.

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The Root of Haiti's Misery From The New York Times

World History Teachers Blog

Haiti gained independence from the French in 1804, becoming the first independent black republic in the world. But self-rule did not mean economic independence. That's because France forced Haiti to pay reparations to descendants of slave masters or face another invasion. According to a fascinating essay in The New York Times , those reparations helped enrich the French bank, Crédit Industriel et Commercial, and even lured Wall Street, "d elivering big margins for the institution that ultimately

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Principals Are on the Brink of a Breakdown

ED Surge

Principals, in many schools, are seen as the person responsible for the mental health and well-being of their staff, serving as sounding boards and problem solvers for their teachers, who are carrying the emotional burdens of their own personal and professional lives as well as the struggles, stresses and trauma of their students. In effect, principals absorb the experiences and exasperations of both students and staff, and in many cases, hear complaints and worries directly from parents and mem

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PROOF POINTS: Paper books linked to stronger readers in an international study

The Hechinger Report

An international study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development found that students who had more books at home reported that they enjoyed reading more. Teens who read more paper books scored higher on reading assessments. Credit: Jill Barshay/The Hechinger Report. There’s a lot to like about digital books. They’re lighter in the backpack and often cheaper than paper books.

Economics 145
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Educators Need Each Other to Thrive: Why Educator Networks Matter

Digital Promise

“Changes come from the power of many, but only when the many come together to form that which is invincible… the power of one.” – Bryce Courtenay, The Power of One. Educators are a resourceful bunch. Despite the evergreen challenges to the teaching profession—most recently exacerbated by a global pandemic and the trauma and tragedy of another mass school shooting—educators still show up and find ways to engage, meet the needs of their students, and provide powerful learning experiences tha

Education 114
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What are you hiring for?

Dangerously Irrelevant

I completed a reference check for one of my former students today. They were applying for a teaching job. These are the check boxes that I had to complete: Clearly this school district is NOT hiring for innovation…. What are you hiring for? What messages are you sending your applicants? Related Posts. My thoughts on a proposed social media policy for school employees (Part 2).

Teaching 116
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3 Strategies for Impactful Communication

A Principal's Reflections

“T he single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” - George Bernard Shaw It is hard to deny how important communication is for any leader, no matter their profession. In many cases, it will make or break their success. All too often, we have seen headlines where leaders have come under fire for hiccups or missteps in their area, but it doesn’t have to be this way.

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Business Leaders Say Computer Science Needs to Be A Core Subject

ED Surge

Today, a collection of more than 500 prominent business, education and nonprofit leaders called on states to update their K-12 curriculum to make computer science a core subject. In a letter sent to governors from all fifty states, they write, “computer science provides an essential foundation—not only for careers in technology, but for every career in today’s world,” and call upon state leaders to update curriculum to ensure that all students have an opportunity to learn computer science in sch

K-12 136
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PROOF POINTS: The paradox of “good” teaching

The Hechinger Report

What is “good” teaching? Ask 10 people and you’ll get 10 different answers. Hollywood celebrates teachers who believe in their students and help them to achieve their dreams. The influential education economist Eric Hanushek, a senior fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, argues that good teachers raise their students’ achievement. Teachers are expected to impart so many things, from how to study and take notes to how to share and take turns.

Teaching 140
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What to Consider When Rolling Out 1:1 Devices

Digital Promise

A year ago, the American Rescue Plan provided billions of dollars in federal relief for K-12 education. Many districts used these funds to purchase devices for every student. However, these devices can’t just be given to students without a plan; they must be distributed intentionally so that students understand how to use them responsibly. Verizon Innovative Learning Schools have been doing just that since 2014.

K-12 106
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4 Civics Ed Podcasts for Teachers and Students

Future of History

Sarah Cooper has discovered four education-related civics podcasts with particularly helpful dialogue and reporting. Use them to broaden your understanding of democracy and other urgent issues or to share with students. They are already sparking ideas for her fall classes. The post 4 Civics Ed Podcasts for Teachers and Students first appeared on MiddleWeb.

Civics 98
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Get Students into the Learning Pit

A Principal's Reflections

In life, I would wager that the majority of us prefer the path of least resistance. After all, this is human nature. While we avoid challenges for many reasons, our mindset often keeps us from pushing ourselves if we are comfortable where we are at or we see a more straightforward path forward. Through an inherent fear of failure, mental blocks materialize to keep us in a safe place – free from dealing with potential adversity.

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What You Want to Know About AI Coach by Edthena, Made Easy

Edthena

2022 is passing by fast, and much has happened at Edthena. In February, we announced the launch of AI Coach by Edthena ! We’ve written a lot about the innovative platform using artificial intelligence to guide and support teachers’ independent learning and professional development. Just catching up and not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered.

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As Child Care Challenges Threaten the American Workforce, Business Leaders Call for Action

ED Surge

Many business leaders are asserting that a lack of child care solutions for American employees is a key business challenge that’s threatening the workforce and limiting U.S. businesses’ bottom line performance. Many are also taking action to address child care challenges at their organizations and nationally, after the pandemic brought greater attention and awareness to the issue.

Economics 123
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The new labor market: No bachelor’s required?

The Hechinger Report

Troy Groom, of Hyattsville, Maryland, was browsing social media this spring when he read something that made him perk up: Gov. Larry Hogan announced in March that the state government would strip bachelor’s degree requirements from thousands of job listings. This story also appeared in The Washington Post. Groom, who was once enrolled at Bowie State University, left college when his first daughter was born.

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Teachers Partnering with Artificial Intelligence: Augmentation and Automation

Digital Promise

The post Teachers Partnering with Artificial Intelligence: Augmentation and Automation appeared first on Digital Promise.

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Creating & Maintaining Community with Teams During Tough Times

Education Elements

March 2nd is a day that will never be forgotten in Putnam County, TN. Our small community woke up to the sirens of an EF4 tornado that rocked our community and two weeks later our school system closed when the COVID pandemic hit home all across the state of Tennessee.

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Learner Paths are Rarely the Same

A Principal's Reflections

At times I find myself claiming that I am a visual learner. Hence, I try to have an original image to go along with most blog posts I write. While text adds needed details and depth, the accompanying visuals provide more context. They also do a great job capturing the attention of prospective readers. I am not alone in my affinity for pictures. Researchers at MIT found that the brain can process images as quickly as 13 milliseconds.

Research 507
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How to Use My Editable Resources Digitally in 5 Easy Steps

Leah Cleary

A lot of teachers are wanting to–or needing to–use resources from one of my curriculum sets digitally. I do create digital resources, but we all like versatility. So I’ve made my resources versatile. I’m going to show you how to use them digitally in 5 easy steps. You can scroll down to the end of this post to see the video tutorial and download the cheat sheet (I know I like to have printed directions right in front of me when I’m trying something new).

Library 52
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The Pandemic Put Student Poverty in Plain Sight

ED Surge

“He called me a ‘b h’ and then kicked my door in when I tried to shut it.” I’m sitting at my desk listening to Kris, one of my eighth-grade students, during our lunch. I have room-temperature leftovers and day-old coffee. She hasn’t brought anything because she doesn’t have anything. She depends on the food pantry at school. I let her eat some of mine.

Library 121
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OPINION: Students are coming to college less prepared during the pandemic. They need our help

The Hechinger Report

By June, many U.S. colleges and universities have traditionally stopped accepting applications for admission and have a good sense of who will be in their incoming classes in the fall. Not this year. Pandemic stresses created financial problems for many higher education institutions, as they were already bracing for enrollment declines due to the coming demographic cliff.

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How Mississippi Stakeholders Collaborated to Narrow the Digital Divide

Digital Promise

The post How Mississippi Stakeholders Collaborated to Narrow the Digital Divide appeared first on Digital Promise.

Research 120
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Strong Teacher Retention Starts with Onboarding

Education Elements

During the next few weeks, districts and schools will begin the process of welcoming and onboarding their new teachers for the 22-23 school year. When done effectively, new teacher onboarding can allow new staff to gain clarity on their specific roles and feel welcomed into their school community.

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Leading When You Don't Have the Answers

A Principal's Reflections

There is no shortage of advice on how to lead effectively. The simple fact, though, is that the process is rarely easy. Decisions must always be made, and sometimes delegation and consensus—both powerful elements in building a positive culture—are not suitable courses of action. The bottom line is that the buck stops with the one who has the title or is in a position of authority, whether we like it or not.

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Teacher How To: Backward Planning Your ENTIRE School Year

Letters and Ink Blog

Save Yourself Time and Sanity this School Year! There are endless aspects of teaching that cause me stress and anxiety over the course of the school year. Managing each student’s needs, developing positive relationships with parents, clubs, meetings, grading, duties, extra demands from admin… you know, all those things that pop up during the school year that are mostly beyond my control.

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High School Students Say They Learn The Most Important Skills Outside of School

ED Surge

If you ask middle school and high school students these days the most important skills they’re learning, they’re likely to name something they picked up on their own, outside of normal school hours. That’s according to Julie Evans, CEO of the nonprofit Project Tomorrow, who has been doing focus groups with students for years—both before and after the pandemic—and whose organization conducts an annual survey of middle and high school students about their learning.

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OPINION: We need reading instruction that starts later and continues far, far longer

The Hechinger Report

There’s no shortage of “solutions” to mend the cracks in our broken education system. Pay disinterested kids to learn. Pay exceptional teachers to stay. Incorporate more technology. Incorporateless technology. Change educator prep programs. Change district administration. We’ve tried so hard but still fail too many of our students. As educators, we dig deep and find optimism.

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Using AI to Support Teacher Development (Longmont Leader)

Edthena

How is one of the most innovative school districts in the country supporting teacher development? With artificial intelligence. Recently featured in the Longmont Leader, St. Vrain Valley School District (CO) is one of the first districts in the nation that will use artificial intelligence-driven coaching to support teacher professional development this upcoming school year.

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Preparing Leaders for the Upcoming School Year

Education Elements

Across the country, educators and educational leaders have celebrated their graduations, held their end-of-year promotion ceremonies, and cleaned out their classrooms. After another unpredictable year, many are eager to get some well-deserved time away this summer. As a leader, you likely want for your team to be able to really unwind and enjoy the summer.

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How a Grade 5 'non-writer' taught me a valuable lesson about writing!

Pedagogy and Formation

One of the great challenges we face as a teachers is that if we don't know our students then we are at a great disadvantage in extracting the best from them. I talk in chapter 5 of my book 'Pedagogy and Education for Life' about the depth of community life in our schools and classrooms and has this has a key formative role in the lives of our students.

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10 First Day of School Activities that aren’t Cheesy

Letters and Ink Blog

I’m going to be honest, I hate first day of school activities. I hate icebreakers, I hate choosing a starburst and sharing facts about myself. I hate talking to strangers to figure out what squares we have in common on a bingo board. In my opinion, the classic icebreaker or introduction activities we’ve been subjected to for years are the worst part of meetings, professional development, and back to school.

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How Do You Grade a Creative Assignment?

ED Surge

Dear Bonni, I'll be teaching a course on the history of Ireland later this year. I've been having trouble coming up with a good project for the students to work on. I want it to be something useful, interesting, and (perhaps most importantly) memorable, but I'm not sure what it should be. Seeing as how art has been such a big part of Irish history and culture, I was thinking about something artistic in some way, but how on earth do I grade something creative?

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PROOF POINTS: Computer scientists create tool that can desegregate schools – and shorten bus routes

The Hechinger Report

One out of every six white school children in the United States – nearly four million white students – attend schools that are 90 percent or more white , according to the most recent federal data from 2019. A similar share of Hispanic children, totaling two million students, attend schools that are all or nearly all Hispanic. This degree of racial isolation is slightly less common among Black children.

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On Living Deliberately

Facing Today

In the 200+ pieces I have written during my time at Facing History, I have written only one other essay in the first person. I am writing just one more to announce that I will be leaving my role at the organization at the end of July and that this will be my last essay as a primary author of content on this platform. As I have approached this transition, I have been sitting with the many lessons I have learned during my 3.5 years at the organization, both through my engagement with Facing Histor

History 52
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6 Strategies to Create a Staff Culture of Listening - Starting with Surveys

Education Elements

Addressing the staffing shortage in public schools may seem like running a marathon barefoot, uphill, and in the sweltering sun. When faced with an ever-expanding school and district improvement checklist, it’s human nature to pick the seemingly more manageable task first. Why not run the morning mile on the padded track instead of the impossible race?

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Civics U: Progress

Civics U

“Progress” is commonly taken to mean improvement and forward movement toward a desired goal; it is thus seen as and assumed to be a good thing. THE DRIVE FOR PROGRESS In American history early colonists’ and settlers’ desire and drive for progress was necessitated by the need to organize ways to survive, and fed by the opportunity to use the new territory that they took and occupied.

Civics 52
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Improving Teaching Practice with AI (Getting Smart podcast)

Edthena

? ?. If you’re working on improving teaching practice (your own or of the teachers you coach), artificial intelligence can be the new innovative source for teacher support. On a recent episode of the Getting Smart podcast, Edthena founder and CEO Adam Geller highlighted how AI Coach by Edthena uses artificial intelligence to guide teachers through self-reflective coaching cycles.