5.21.24 27 easy formative assessment strategies for gathering evidence of student learning A few years ago, I came across "10 assessments you can perform in 90 seconds" by TeachThought and really enjoyed the formative assessment strategies they outlined. Using formative assessment... Read more
5.16.24 When are students “ready” for algebra? It will not come as a surprise to any educator that students are diverse in what they know and can do. Take any classroom of 30 students and it will include those who have had dramatically different... Read more
5.14.24 The science of reading for leaders: Your essentials for action Many of our earliest memories of school are about learning to read. Do you remember what your experience was like? Did you have a fairly smooth journey? Or did your “literacy story” include a lot... Read more
5.9.24 4 ways to get students excited about writing It can be difficult to get students excited about writing. Growing up, I liked to write. More specifically, though, I liked to write about things I liked. While I could crank out a decent enough... Read more
5.7.24 What are classroom assessment standards, and how do they impact student learning? The classroom assessment standards published by the Joint Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluation (JCSEE) are designed to support teachers in assessing student mastery. As educators,... Read more
5.2.24 How teaching multiple standards can improve learning and get you through your curriculum When I first started teaching, I both looked forward to and dreaded the week break we got for Presidents’ Day. The break itself was fine, but afterward I knew I was heading into what I thought of... Read more
4.30.24 Summer learning loss: What we know and what we’re learning Concerns about students losing ground academically during summer break go back at least a century, with early evidence suggesting that summer contributed to large disparities in students’... Read more
4.25.24 Lessons from the field: 4 tips for building an instructional coaching program from Columbus City Schools In a conference room in Columbus City, Ohio, a team of three instructional coach leads—Karen Fiedler, Jen Erickson, and Roni Becht—engage in a team-building activity involving a unique deck of... Read more
4.23.24 3 tips for using data to drive instruction Just like doctors checking a patient’s chart, teachers use assessment data as an academic temperature check. Teachers identify students’ needs, charting growth over time and ensuring that... Read more
4.18.24 The science of teaching reading comprehension In many discussions on the science of reading, phonics is featured on the main stage. This is most likely because, unlike language comprehension, word recognition is a constrained skill—one with a... Read more
4.16.24 Anchor your writing instruction in big ideas students can remember Writing, like teaching, is an art form. You often learn what works best from doing the work itself. When I was a new teacher, I made several newbie mistakes when it came to writing instruction. And... Read more
4.11.24 Six commonly used MAP Growth terms worth knowing Every school year, students take assessments designed to help teachers better understand what kids know and how they are growing academically. MAP® Growth™, our assessment for children in... Read more