2.29.24 75 digital tools and apps teachers can use to support formative assessment in the classroom There is no shortage of formative assessment strategies, techniques, and tools available to teachers who use formative instructional practice in their classrooms. Here is an extensive... Read more
12.28.23 The best of Teach. Learn. Grow. in 2023 I love this time of year, when the internet is flooded with best-of lists. The best movies. The best books. The best gadgets, even. It’s such a clever way to encapsulate a period of time, to... Read more
11.9.23 How K–12 assessment is a part of learning In my book The Equity Expression: Six Entry Points for Nonnegotiable Academic Success, I address topics that are often missing from the equity conversation, such as teacher efficacy and academic... Read more
11.7.23 The zone of proximal development (ZPD): The power of just right The latest research into how kids are doing following COVID-19 school closures shows that achievement is still lagging, when compared to pre-pandemic data. Having so many students in need of... Read more
10.3.23 Goal setting in the fall: Start with MAP Growth scores With the last vestiges of summer now shaken off, you’re probably starting to form the first real idea of who the students in your classroom are as people: what frustrates them, what makes them... 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
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
6.22.23 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
12.22.22 5 ways to use writing in the disciplines to support learning One day, while working with the interdisciplinary team at my middle school, my colleagues and I were discussing upcoming lesson plans, what had been working well in our classes, and where we were... Read more