5.31.22 Strong opinions, loosely held: Demystifying social emotional learning Reflect briefly on what comes to mind when you hear the phrase “social emotional learning” (SEL). You might have strong opinions about it, and that’s OK; a lot of people do these days. Across... Read more
5.27.22 What will it take to improve literacy instruction in U.S. public schools? Two experts weigh in When I taught high school business classes, it was so upsetting to see 16- and 17-year-olds struggling to access the reading material. No one should get to high school, or beyond, and find... Read more
5.26.22 Demystify student thinking about math Two math teachers walk into a break room and proceed to have an accessible, fantastically math-nerdy chat about what it means to understand students more deeply. The result? A snack break–length... Read more
5.24.22 8 questions teachers should ask when giving assessments Every school district wants to make sure it’s administering and using formative, interim, and summative assessments at appropriate times and in appropriate ways. The task of building and... Read more
5.19.22 A world designed for me: Celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day Like many other American kids, I attended a summer camp where I spent some time outdoors, learned new things, and made long-lasting friendships. At my camp, though, I was introduced to a whole new... Read more
5.17.22 Teachers in training need mentorship and instruction in the science of reading The band played “Pomp and Circumstance” while the soon-to-be graduates filed in, all smiling and waving. The education majors were easy to spot, with caps adorned with glittery apples and neatly... Read more
5.13.22 New survey gives insight into teacher views on assessment, unfinished learning, and more As schools around the country administer spring assessments, a new survey gives us insight into how teachers feel about the tests—especially amid more than two years of disrupted... Read more
5.12.22 3 ways to activate your multilingual students’ superpowers The population of multilingual learners is growing in our schools, yet we have not fully tapped into the assets these children bring. Instead, these students are often defined only by the languages... Read more
5.10.22 Teaching your why: Knowing—and sharing—your motivation matters As a young child, I dreamt of being a teacher. I loved school and idolized many of my teachers. I played school at home, teaching my dolls how to add, mimicking the daily chalkboard assignments,... Read more
5.5.22 5 ways to check classroom assessment processes for quality I still remember the times I felt tricked by a quiz or test when I was growing up. The test I took to get my driving permit was particularly memorable, and not in a good way. I thought I did all the... Read more
5.3.22 How joke telling (yup, joke telling) lifted spirits and strengthened my school’s community You’ve read it before, seen the research, heard the podcasts: laughter is good for you! According to some recent research, it’s not only good for you physically but also for your mental and... Read more
4.29.22 #SummerLearningChat surfaces 4 ideas for addressing opportunity gaps exacerbated by the pandemic It was great to see such a strong turnout for our recent NWEA Policy and Advocacy Twitter chat on summer learning. We loved hearing what this group of engaged and informed educators and experts had... Read more