2.1.22 To my Black principal sisters: How to build a genuine sisterhood I am extremely fortunate to have descended from a long lineage of strong, Black women. My mother—like her mother before her, and her mother’s mother before them—possesses a healthy sense... Read more
1.28.22 Charting a course for school accountability in 2022: Navigating federal requirements In the midst of the holiday season, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) released a draft FAQ addressing the requirements for school accountability in 2022 under ESSA. We won’t call this release... Read more
1.27.22 I’ve got a golden ticket: How to address foundational gaps in reading with Florida Center for Reading Research resources One of my all-time favorite movies is Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. If you’ve never seen it, I suggest you read the book by Roald Dahl, then watch the characters and candy come to life... Read more
1.20.22 A new spin on playing catch: Helping your child understand what they read When it is warm enough where I live in the Midwest, my 11-year-old son and I sometimes play catch with a baseball. He is usually the pitcher, winding up and throwing the ball to me. I am usually the... Read more
1.13.22 10 ways to prepare students for MAP Growth winter testing As any researcher will tell you, good data doesn’t just happen. It’s the result of a lot of care and planning. When administering an interim assessment like MAP® Growth™, we get good data when... Read more
1.11.22 Read the latest in student goal setting guidance For most researchers I know, there is an unrelenting drive to figure stuff out, to find the new piece of data that will describe or explain something in a new way. I get that feeling. Call me odd,... Read more
1.6.22 Reading and vocabulary: Why your kids can never have too much of either My daughter, who is in middle school, has dreams of being a veterinarian. One night, while looking for a program to watch, she found Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet on Disney+. It’s a series about a... Read more
1.4.22 Why administrators need professional learning communities, too In many of our school systems, being the administrator means you are a team of one. You may have trusted colleagues you supervise and can count on to take a leadership role but, in reality, they... Read more
12.30.21 5 ways instructional coaches can support teachers Are you getting the support you need from the instructional coach in your school? Instructional coaches have been an integral part of education systems for a long time now. You may have an... Read more
12.28.21 6 ways to help your child read fluently, cover to cover You know his voice. It’s deep, soothing, trustworthy. Fans have described it as “running your hand across expensive velvet” or “drinking a rich creamy coffee with your ears.” His voice is... Read more
12.21.21 4 ways a Georgia school district makes the most of professional learning Four years ago, Georgia’s Floyd County Schools District took on a new challenge: rolling out MAP® Growth™ for the first time. For this mostly rural district serving 9,000 kids in the northwest... Read more
12.16.21 The best of Teach. Learn. Grow. in 2021 My eldest started kindergarten this year and I have to say: covering his sweet little face with a mask every morning was not what I imagined when I daydreamed about his first day of school. Neither... Read more