7.26.23 Celebrating the Americans with Disabilities Act Every July, I’m reminded of the Tour de France because my husband is somewhat obsessed. He wakes up early to tune in. He finds coffee shops and bars that also invest in the nearly month-long... Read more
7.25.23 Student proficiency: The “by” vs. “at” year’s end debate As I mentioned in “Misconceptions preventing innovation and improvement in state assessments,” there’s more we can do to better meet the needs of students, educators, teachers, and... Read more
7.20.23 How AI can improve digital accessibility in math Every week, maybe even daily, my 14-year-old shows me changes in technology, such as the new cherry blossom grotto mod in Minecraft, new moves an NCP (non-player character, in case you’re... Read more
7.18.23 How not to teach literacy across disciplines Teaching literacy across disciplines is difficult. When I was an eighth-grade ELA teacher, my school required that all content-area teachers participate in a cross-disciplinary unit each... Read more
7.13.23 Educator mindsets affect student performance We don’t talk enough about educator mindsets. Early in my teaching career, I taught an English class where all the students were three or more years below grade level. I thought this meant... Read more
7.11.23 COVID-19 impacts: New data shows older students’ recovery needs attention As our nation’s educators remain hard at work trying to move the needle for students who have not yet rebounded from COVID-19 impacts on schooling, we’re hit with difficult news: older... Read more
7.6.23 Assessment subscores: Why we have them and what they can—and can’t—do Many common misconceptions and barriers are holding states back from innovating and improving summative assessments, including the value of subscores. Assessment subscores, as they’re used... Read more
7.4.23 5 ways instructional coaches can use protocols for more engaging group learning I admit it: in meetings, I’m that person. I often fidget, stand in the back, and check my watch more than necessary. It’s not that I’m not interested in the content or what my colleagues... Read more
6.29.23 3 tips for understanding when—and how—to use formative assessment When I was in the classroom, I felt skilled using data. My students set daily personal goals, we had learning targets based on our data, and students had assessment goals. I often taught... Read more
6.27.23 Misconceptions preventing innovation and improvement in state assessments The purpose of state assessment systems has been hotly debated over the past 20 years. State assessments are designed to ensure every child has access to an equitable and excellent education,... Read more
6.22.23 What is formative assessment? Human-centered formative assessment drives long-term, holistic success for students. Because there is still confusion around this type of assessment, let’s explore what it is and why it should... Read more
6.20.23 10 ways to meet the learning needs of all students Walk into any classroom today and you’ll find great variation in student growth and kids with a variety of strengths, academic experiences, and needs. Superintendents now report an average of... Read more