4.8.22 Let’s talk about summer: Some student groups lose more ground when school is out Spring may have just arrived in many parts of the country, but now is the time to start thinking about summer and how it can be leveraged to support students and close opportunity gaps. Summer has... Read more
4.7.22 These 5 principles can help you empower students with learning paths You don’t know what you don’t know. Isn’t that the truth! When I first began teaching, I knew how to make large, challenging learning goals (such as content standards) and purposes clear... Read more
4.5.22 How data can inform and supercharge your reading instruction strategies There’s a good reason we put books in front of young children so early and often. We’re eager for kids to begin perceiving those mysterious shapes on the page as meaningful letters and words,... Read more
3.31.22 Swapping my teacher hat for my parent hat: What it was like to see my child’s MAP Growth score for the first time I’ve been a lover of MAP® Growth™ ever since my district first started using it about 10 years ago. Here was a test that finally measured my students’ progress over time rather than focusing... Read more
3.29.22 Supporting fluency and comprehension using practices grounded in the science of reading Who says the science of reading is only for reading teachers? Not me, that’s for sure. When it comes to supporting reading fluency and comprehension, there’s a lot that teachers of content like... Read more
3.25.22 New research says English learners show on-par growth but start behind, with summer hitting hard I’m excited to share insights from “Achievement and growth for English learners,” a new study that takes a fresh look at the academic progress of English learners in US public... Read more
3.24.22 Educators share their tips for setting and monitoring effective goals In our webinar Goals mean growth: Using student goal setting to jumpstart student motivation and success, NWEA researcher and author Chase Nordengren shared actionable strategies for making goal... Read more
3.22.22 Parent strategies for improving their child’s reading and writing Family time is learning time. Did you know that kids learn most of their vocabulary outside of school, through conversations with family and friends? Or that drawing pictures during play time lays... Read more
3.17.22 4 ways to practice culturally responsive teaching I keep a copy of Geneva Gay’s Culturally Responsive Teaching: Theory, Research, and Practice near my desk because just seeing the spine from time to time reminds me of how important it is for all... Read more
3.15.22 Proof that student self-assessment moves learning forward I admit it. When I first began teaching, I thought I knew how to effectively engage students in self-assessment. In retrospect, I realize we may have just gone through the motions at times. It took... Read more
3.10.22 4 ways to strengthen the learning culture in your classroom One of my all-time favorite teachers and mentors is Mrs. Strain. She was my art teacher all four years of high school, mostly because she left an indelible impression on me freshman year. There... Read more
3.8.22 How the science of reading can help you teach language comprehension skills Last year, I read a parent’s post in a social media discussion about reading. They were seeking information on which schools in my town are teaching phonics only. This parent wanted nothing to do... Read more