Category: Education Strategies

July 19, 2024

Ensuring student achievement is on track is critical, particularly as post-pandemic academic progress still remains slower for some student groups. When districts have the right assessments in place, educators are better able to help measure student progress. This is why […]

July 5, 2024

Summer learning programs aren’t new, but in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and continued learning loss and student achievement gaps, these programs are on the rise. NWEA, a K-12 assessment and research organization, announced today a new report on the effectiveness […]

June 21, 2024

As classrooms close until next fall, talk of the dreaded summer slide increases, particularly as students are still struggling to gain ground lost during the pandemic. Students’ academic achievement and test scores remain flat or tend to drop during summer […]

June 20, 2024

On October 1st, the announcement rings out: “It’s time to master those multiplication facts, everyone!” The goal? Memorize them all by Thanksgiving and never forget. But reality teaches us otherwise. Just as we don’t become fluent in art, language, or […]

June 5, 2024

As a mathematics education researcher, I study how math instruction impacts students’ learning, from following standard math procedures to understanding mathematical concepts. Focusing on the latter, conceptual understanding often involves understanding the “why” of a mathematical concept; it’s the reasoning […]

May 28, 2024

One California family had a tough choice to make. Julie Lynem’s son had taken algebra in eighth grade, but hadn’t comprehended some of the core concepts. That left the family to decide whether to make him repeat the class in […]

May 24, 2024

In the realm of education, balancing instructional strategies like small-group instruction and student-tracking presents both challenges and opportunities for fostering equitable learning environments. While small-group instruction offers personalized learning experiences, student-tracking aims to tailor instruction based on abilities. However, both […]

May 21, 2024

I became a reading specialist in 2015, at which point our school’s previous reading specialist was already using an online literacy platform. This was right about the time a leading literacy vendor was rolling out its new literacy program for […]

May 13, 2024

With interest in the teaching profession waning and enrollment in teacher preparation programs reaching historic lows, all eyes are on the next crop of students — tomorrow’s prospective educators — to make up the deficit. Today’s high school and college […]

May 7, 2024

Spending time outdoors and engaging in active play has all kinds of benefits for young children. It encourages gross motor skill development, helps improve coordination and balance, and can contribute to reducing childhood obesity. Time outside provides an opportunity to […]

May 1, 2024

Throughout this academic year, I facilitated a training session on social-emotional learning (SEL) strategies for educators at a high-needs elementary school. During one of the sessions, a seasoned teacher’s candid remarks struck a chord. He explicitly stated, “I know that […]

April 29, 2024

All too often, female students are underrepresented in STEM classes. As a result, girls and young women have a hard time exploring the subjects and picturing themselves in related roles. Some progress has been made–for example, the number of women […]

April 25, 2024

As a longtime educator, I’ve witnessed firsthand the incredible benefits that play can have in a K–8 classroom. Unstructured play is how students learn to interact with the world around them. It’s what allows them to master social skills and […]

April 23, 2024

As work-based learning models grow in popularity, a new report from the Center for American Progress (CAP) highlights key themes in recently-passed state legislation that will support efforts to expand or improve such models. A proven strategy, worked-based learning connects […]

April 19, 2024

When the school year ends, it can be hard to tell who’s more excited for summer vacation: teachers or students. While it can be easy for both camps to slip out of routine over the summer break, it’s important that […]

April 9, 2024

In school, many kindergarten and first-grade students are asked to memorize lists of common words, which are sometimes called “sight words.” This practice skips important steps. The idea that children learn to read by memorizing whole words is a misconception. […]

April 5, 2024

The tools of teaching in the classroom encompass a wide range of resources and methodologies utilized by educators to facilitate effective instruction and enhance student learning experiences. From traditional tools like textbooks and whiteboards to innovative technologies and instructional strategies, […]

March 19, 2024

On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will be visible over the United States, starting in Texas. This upcoming eclipse event is an exciting opportunity to incorporate phenomenon-based learning into your instruction and engage your students through inquiry. Here […]

March 15, 2024

Over the past year, I’ve received startlingly similar phone calls from families of college students: Their first- and second-year students across the United States are struggling with basic tasks and life-management skills—and they need help. For some, the absence of […]

March 14, 2024

Given the amount of planning time he has each day, along with the assistance of an AI-powered app, Robert can easily turn a hard copy reading passage and questions into an interactive quiz for the students in his elementary classroom. […]