Rigor is increasingly a concern in our schools. We continue to see evidence that our students in all grades are not working at a level that is challenging enough to prepare them for college and careers. However, we often misunderstand the definition of rigor. Rigor requires creating an environment in which each student is expected […]
Why is it important that social-emotional issues and unconscious biases are addressed? All of us have biases. It doesn't matter who you are. But self-awareness becomes critical, particularly in schools. Anybody who interacts with students has responsibilities toward their social and emotional wellness, not only their academic instruction. There's a lot of power, not only […]
To give students experience flying larger drones, educators at Duval High School near Washington, D.C., got creative. Federal Aviation Administration security restrictions limit unmanned aeronautic flights over sensitive locations. "We are building an addition to the school that will allow us to fly drones inside" says Christina Howland, coordinator of the four-year Aerospace Engineering and […]
I read recently that experts in any field do not often make the best teachers. It was the opposite of the old "those who can't do, teach" and the writer, Adam Grant in the New York Times, was suggesting that, often, "those who can do, can't teach." That took me back to April 1972, when […]
In most of the developed world, high-stakes tests make or break a student's future, sometimes before the age of 12. Many countries use national benchmarks to assess students, and construct tests to gauge understanding of the core curriculum. This was an original goal of the Common Core, but in the U.S., standardized tests have become […]
Rigor is an increasing concern in our schools. We continue to see evidence that our students at all grade levels are not working at a level that is challenging enough to prepare students for college and careers. However, we often misunderstand the definition of rigor. Rigor is "creating an environment in which each student is […]
A student success program at West Valley School District #208 in Yakima, Washington, provides additional support for learners from pre-K through high school graduation. The initiative includes five steps: Collaborations between childcare and district kindergarten teachers that prepare children to start school Small group exercises with a whole-child focus Reading and math interventions in grades […]
In his new book What School Could Be, innovation expert Ted Dintersmith profiles schools that focus on innovation and "real" learning, rather than endlessly drilling on formulas and definitions that don't matter in today's world. Our archaic model of education trains kids for a world that no longer exists, and accelerating advances in technology are eliminating millions of […]
When Amy Arbogash took the reins of the technology department at Verona Area School District in Wisconsin in 2017, it was in the middle of a multiyear shift to personalized instruction. Students were developing their own learning plans during the rollout of a 1-to-1 iPad program. That is why the district gave Arbogash the title […]
Play is not a luxury; it is a necessity. In many districts across the United States, recess in elementary school is being questioned, reduced and even eliminated to increase instructional time. Students need ample time for recess and brain breaks to help them to develop social competencies and attention to learning.
