We don’t suspend students too often in my school because it’s something I’m convinced doesn’t work. Years of research shows that. In fact, it not only affects the child suspended, suspension affects the climate around him or her, and subsequently, even the students who were not suspended. The problem: I … Read More
The world may describe what we do as teaching employability skills. I call it social-emotional learning (SEL). Having social-emotional skills – skills such as self-management, forming positive relationships, and responsible decision-making – are critical to becoming “career-ready.” When you look at the top 10 skills required in any sector, at … Read More
As I navigate this school year, I am keenly aware of the ever-present power of change. Each day seems to bring a new challenge, a new policy, a new online platform, a new protocol, a new expectation, and at times, new quarantines. As educators, we take a deep breath, strengthen our … Read More
Why did you go into education? I bet it was because you love teaching and inspiring young minds. However, these days teachers are faced with an increased focus on academic benchmarks, state testing–and currently, major changes with the switch to virtual learning. This shift in focus is causing an increase … Read More
Many of today’s 21st-century students are tech-savvy. And it’s no surprise–the relevance of technology in our day-to-day lives has grown exponentially over the past few decades. We can ask a search engine almost anything and receive an answer in less than a second; and with a web of interconnected devices, … Read More
For more than seven years, I worked in a fully online public school that served general education and special education students in kindergarten through high school. During my teaching time, I specialized in special education needs. Since then I have worked as a professor at California State University, Fresno, conducting … Read More
Technology has infused classrooms with useful digital learning tools and has ushered in a new model of connected teaching. Teachers are now linked to professional content, resources, and systems designed to improve instruction and increase personalized learning. But are all these tech tools making a teacher’s job easier. or more … Read More
From educators, IT teams, and school administrators to parents and students, nearly everyone with a stake in the education industry is aware of the promise new digital technologies hold to improve learning outcomes, increase student engagement, and add variety and depth to instruction and assessment. Whether they’re talking about one-to-one … Read More
If circumstances call for social distancing (think COVID-19!), distance learning comes into play. It has its benefits, wearing PJs among them. It also has its challenges: lots of screen and seat time; virtual tools that might not fully engage learners; and programs that may not be a good fit with … Read More
Assessment is a valuable complement to instruction. It tells us who has learned and who hasn’t so educators can determine what’s most likely to help a student grow and succeed in the future. With nearly half a century invested in psychometric research—the study of educational and psychological measurement—I think it’s … Read More
