2.17.22 3 ways to use assessment effectively and equitably I recently had a chance to talk with a friend of mine about how this year is shaping up. Adriana is a seventh-grade math teacher at a middle school in Portland, Oregon. As she was describing the... Read more
2.15.22 What the science of reading tells us about how to teach decoding—including phonics Yeah, yeah, we hear you, science of reading fans. You want to talk about phonics! First off, let’s be clear that the science of reading is bigger than phonics. The science of reading is the... Read more
2.11.22 Goal-setting foundations for pre-K–2 teachers Goal setting with students is a fundamental part of learner empowerment. In Step into Student Goal Setting: A Path to Growth, Motivation, and Agency, my colleague Chase Nordengren says, “Goals... Read more
2.10.22 How the education system failed me as a student with dyslexia “At least she’s pretty and sociable,” said the resource specialist to my mom. My mom sat back in shock when she heard this, stunned that someone who was there to support me had just reduced... Read more
2.8.22 How to get to know your students “What do those tests determine about my being?!” My oldest child is currently a junior in high school, which means she has large assessments coming up. Think the year-end state summative and... Read more
2.4.22 Engaging mathematical thinking through formative conversation starters In an earlier blog post, I proposed a framing for what it means to learn mathematics. I claimed that, at a minimum, learning mathematics involves: Ways of thinking that are empowered... Read more
2.3.22 MAP Growth and Reveal Math now work together to streamline instruction When I was a teacher, my weekends tended to have a similar cadence. Friday night was spent unwinding and trying to stay awake during family movie night. Saturday and part of Sunday were about... Read more
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