6.28.22 Diary of a co-teacher, chapter 2: 5 takeaways It has been several weeks since I cleaned up my classroom and shut the door for summer. With time and space away from my building, I have been able to sit back and truly reflect on what a year it... Read more
6.27.22 The value of assessments: A conversation with NWEA and Illinois’ LUDA At NWEA, we have many in-depth conversations about the role and purpose of assessments with our district partners, state and federal leaders, and other key members of the educational community. I... Read more
6.24.22 Using opportunity to learn data to bring more meaning to state assessment results When I was a middle school English language arts teacher in Washington state, I was an advocate for migrant, bilingual students and Title I supports. I spent a lot of time thinking about factors... Read more
6.23.22 5 SEL strategies that can help with behavior trouble My first job in southern Oregon was in what is colloquially known as a “behavior classroom.” It was a self-contained special education classroom for students with emotional regulation struggles.... Read more
6.21.22 The science of happiness: How to practice gratitude, including for yourself Happiness may seem like a weird word to look up, but I looked it up. Merriam-Webster defines it as “a state of well-being and contentment.” Happy is defined as “enjoying or characterized by... Read more
6.16.22 How to make coaching cycles the center of instructional coaching work Coaching research, evidence-based data, and teacher surveys show that coaching cycles are the key coaching action that improves student learning. However, if you’re an instructional coach, you... Read more
6.14.22 20 LGBTQ+ books for K–12 readers during Pride Month and throughout the year Please believe me when I tell you there are stacks, shelves, rows, and whole stores’ worth of amazing LGBTQ+ books for kids right now. It’s a golden age of sorts, and as a Black, queer woman,... Read more
6.10.22 A view from the classroom: 6 tips for improving assessments so they work better for students and teachers Like many schools around the country, my K–8 public school in Boston is just now wrapping up end-of-year testing. After taking a long, collective breath, I’m seizing this opportunity to reflect... Read more
6.9.22 NWEA research helps us better understand differential growth during school years and summer for students in SPED When I was growing up in Michigan, the summers were hot and sticky. You prayed the evening would bring lightning bugs and a cool breeze. Despite the high temperatures, my Michigan summers were... Read more
6.7.22 Inclusion takes hard work “Ms. Daughtery, I don’t know if I can do it,” he said. “I’m sure you can,” I answered. In kindergarten, this student was identified with a learning disability and put into special... Read more
6.2.22 Proof is powerful: How to show students evidence they’re learning Data rich, information poor. It’s a problem so common, it has its own acronym: DRIP. And it’s a challenge I certainly felt as a classroom teacher and teacher-leader supporting professional... Read more
6.1.22 Pride in our students, pride in ourselves: What you need to know to be an LGBTQ+ ally June 1 marks the beginning of Pride Month, a time in which LGBTQ+ people and the allies who support us celebrate the beauty and resiliency of our community. The history of Pride is rooted in... Read more