10.5.21 Assessment empowerment principle #4: Responsive learning cycles One of the biggest lessons I learned about assessment empowerment in my classroom is that it doesn’t just require learning new practices. I also needed to recognize and shift the parts of my... Read more
9.30.21 To raise my hand or to nod along: 11 questions about MAP Growth answered We’ve all been there: We’re at an important event, like back-to-school night, and we’re nodding along, self-consciously avoiding asking the questions that are burning inside us. We think,... Read more
9.28.21 7 ways to use MAP Growth–informed learning to challenge and engage students Yesenia was one of those students a teacher always remembers. A bright, shy, inordinately kind third-grader, she was born in Ecuador, moved to Quebec—and learned French—during kindergarten,... Read more
9.24.21 Leaping forward in partnership with districts and states to support student learning When I came to NWEA in 2018, I had a vision of effecting change across the nation—change in how organizations like ours work in partnership with K–12 district and state leaders to advance student... Read more
9.23.21 4 ways to ditch grading behavior for good Groundhog Day, a favorite movie of mine, has really struck a nerve during the pandemic. Did anyone else feel like we were living our own version of it? There was an awful lot of optimism around... Read more
9.21.21 3 ways gen ed teachers can support students with disabilities Every school year is unique, but the 2021–22 school year will bring specific challenges to the art of teaching due to COVID-19. We are just now processing research that shows the effects of... Read more
9.16.21 2 simple ways to build equity in your classroom for emergent bilingual students Welcome back to school! That’s a phrase I look forward to saying every fall, and especially so this year. As I talk with colleagues, I hear excitement that last year’s digital... Read more
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