9.14.21 More on assessment empowerment: The power of knowing your purpose Have you ever stopped to note how many decisions you make in a day? It can be as many as 1,500! No wonder you’re tired. Educators’ decisions about assessment processes, tools, and data... Read more
9.9.21 7 ways to support reading instruction this fall Recent NWEA research shows that reading gains were lower for kids in grades 3–8 during COVID-19. It also shows that children from underrepresented groups, including Black and Latino students,... Read more
9.7.21 3 steps to cultivate hope and optimism for high school students this fall Some of my most vivid memories of high school are not only of friends and favorite classes and getting my driver’s license. They are also of that nagging voice in my ear at every turn: “What... Read more
8.31.21 6 ways to use data with more focus and purpose We’ve all seen some of those marketing-worthy gems posted on a school website or back-to-school banner after a survey is sent to families: “90% of our parents strongly agree/agree that their... Read more
8.26.21 How to use BUILD stations to boost learning in your elementary math classroom Teaching math can be very challenging. In teacher preparation programs, many of us were taught about the importance of engagement, formative assessment, and adjusting our teaching to ensure all... Read more
8.19.21 How policymakers can support schools and achievement during COVID-19 NWEA recently released research on student achievement during the 2020–2021 school year, the first full year of teaching and learning during COVID-19. The results were what... Read more
8.17.21 How to engage the emergent bilingual students in your math classroom Take a peek inside an engaged math classroom with me. Imagine students doing math, instead of passively listening to how to do it. Notice them interacting with a high-quality curriculum packed... Read more
8.12.21 10 ways to create community in your kindergarten classroom As a kindergarten teacher, you get the amazing opportunity to create that first love of learning. Your impact can last a lifetime. I was a kindergarten teacher before joining NWEA, and I’ve... Read more
8.10.21 Finding the right focus in math: A recipe for success My youngest daughter’s adventures in the kitchen are a source of ongoing humor in our family. Her decision to bake something is often spontaneous and, as a result, she rarely has all the... Read more
8.5.21 Continue your assessment empowerment work with principle #2: Learning environments and relationships School environments and relationships are key to students’ success, well-being, and self-efficacy. COVID-19 reminded us of this. It also reminded us of how critical responsive teaching and... Read more
8.3.21 Guided reading reimagined: How to close reading gaps with differentiation and scaffolding My earliest reading memory is of my three-year-old self seated on my grandma’s lap in her living room while she read and reread Old Hat New Hat by Stan and Jan Berenstain. I don’t recall why... Read more
7.29.21 Learning during COVID-19: Why it’s not as simple as calculating months of learning There may never be a way to comprehensively understand how student learning was altered by COVID-19. Everyone’s routines were deeply disrupted, and most of us were just doing the absolute best... Read more