3.5.20 TechBoston Academy inspires activism with help from NWEA grant How do you provide a meaningful learning experience to underserved students outside their everyday surroundings? One that inspires personal reflection and political activism? Casey Andrews,... Read more
3.3.20 How to get from data as foe to data as friend Data doesn’t lie, and it made Faith believe in herself. Faith was a student who the state of Michigan said was a failure. But because one of her teachers used assessment data effectively,... Read more
2.27.20 What happens when test takers disengage? The best assessments are only effective and reliable if students are engaged and trying their best. But we know that’s not always the case. Sometimes students zip through a test, selecting... Read more
2.25.20 Unfinished learning, or unfinished teaching? A mindset shift “Our school is changing and it is impossible to teach at grade level anymore.” I was aghast when a member of my instructional team spoke these words. As a school principal in Tucson, I... Read more
2.20.20 The 3 keys to professional development that sticks As a content designer on the NWEA® Professional Learning team, I’ve had the opportunity to observe a variety of learning experiences for teachers. One from this past year stands... Read more
2.18.20 How to reach older struggling readers According to the National Assessment on Educational Progress (NAEP) Reading Assessment—also known as the nation’s report card—average reading scores for both fourth and eighth graders were... Read more
2.13.20 This Valentine’s Day, love your students—and yourself It was a typical end to the day during winter testing as young people rushed to their after-school activities. Elijah walked somberly into the teacher’s lounge, where I was grading papers, and... Read more
2.11.20 Help kids plan for the future with College Explorer College readiness doesn’t just happen when a student receives a diploma. It’s a process that begins with early learners and continues into high school. And according to Achieve, many... Read more
2.4.20 How to quell math fears (it’s easier than you think) I’ve never been good at math. Which is maybe how I wound up studying English after high school and, several years later, joining NWEA as managing editor of Teach. Learn. Grow. My math... Read more
1.30.20 How to make reading assessment fun and easy MAP® Reading Fluency™ has been a game changer for students and teachers. Why? Because it makes learning fun and lets teachers assess oral reading fluency, literal comprehension, and... Read more
1.28.20 How to set a substitute—and your students—up for success When I was 21 and began teaching, I was rarely absent. Then, life happened. I had a baby, became a State Teacher of the Year, and found myself serving on various committees and attending... Read more
1.23.20 How my district is rethinking state assessment Clayton County Public Schools, where I work as a psychometrician, is a member of the Georgia MAP Assessment Partnership (GMAP), a consortium of districts in Georgia dedicated to reducing overall... Read more