As a longtime elementary school teacher, Jolene Rude has seen her share of students struggle with—and sometimes abandon—difficult math problems. After using Everyday Mathematics 4, however, even struggling students are learning challenging math concepts, along with life skills, says Rude, an elementary CORE math teacher at Johnston Community School District, located in a northern suburb […]
When Tiffany Anderson took over as superintendent of Jennings School District near St. Louis in 2012, she faced high poverty and low academic achievement. As part of the turnaround effort, she focused on building supports for students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, particularly those in foster care who struggle with social-emotional trauma and frequent changes in […]
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 […]
What does mindfulness look like as elementary students age? Betsy Hanger, an instructor with the nonprofit Mindful Schools who works as a community mentor in several Los Angeles USD classrooms, describes two scenarios: Kindergarten: Children in a mindfulness circle take three deep breaths. The teacher guides them in imagining they are dolphins riding waves. Students […]
Something as simple and as inexpensive as a few minutes of deep breathing can help children better control their emotions—and their behavior. But this only works if students practice mindfulness daily, and at McKinley-Brighton Elementary School in Syracuse, New York, they do—for 30 minutes at the start of each day of summer school. “When you […]
After raising the grade during his first year at Edith I. Starke Elementary School, Principal Dwayne Copeland maintained the C average for three years by creating a PTA and by adding field trips to school offerings. Principal Dwayne Copeland increased Edith I. Starke Elementary School’s state grade from an F to a C during his first year and has maintained […]
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 […]
Vancouver Public Schools in Washington has increased educational opportunities and kindergarten readiness by offering free evening preschool. Launched three years ago at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School, the program—which uses existing kindergarten classrooms and teachers—now operates at nine elementaries with 170 students. The initiative provides preschool access for families who cannot participate in traditional […]
When it comes to balancing school budgets, the arts—and particularly music—often suffer most from spending cuts. It’s part of a cycle that began in the 1970s, when, in the hope of averting a fiscal crisis, schools laid off thousands of arts teachers. Limited grants and community-based efforts have helped to rebuild programs over the years, […]
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.
