7.25.24 In the arena: A guide for instructional coaches setting up teams of teachers for success At the end of the school year, I found myself among my team of teachers, all of us with happy tears rolling down our faces. Our students had seen immense personal and academic growth. We were a... Read more
7.23.24 6 tips for supporting problem-based learning in your math classroom More and more, math teachers are being called upon to “make the learning relevant” and provide real-world context and problem-based learning. This raises some questions: Pragmatically, is math... Read more
7.18.24 7 tips for encouraging student discourse about math with number talks If you’re like me, the first time you heard the term “number talks,” you assumed it referred to simply talking about numbers. Anytime my students and I discussed numbers in the classroom, like... Read more
7.16.24 5 keys to effective summer programs Another school year has ended and many students across the country are enrolled in summer programs. At NWEA, we have long been champions for using the summer months effectively. Regardless of the... Read more
7.11.24 Rewriting your data identity and the role of self-reflection I am on a mission to inspire school leaders to push past their own limitations. We are at an exciting time in education, where assessment and other education data can lead to breakthroughs and make... Read more
7.9.24 Why it’s so important to have students write about what they read There are times I look back on my adventures as a classroom teacher and pat myself on the back. And there are other times I look back and wish I had a redo. To be honest, I always felt like I was... Read more
7.4.24 Norm- vs. criterion-referenced in assessment: What you need to know Suppose someone asked you to answer, in one word, what an assessment should ultimately provide. What would you say? Maybe “results?” Or “direction?” Or, better yet, “truth?” Though there... Read more
7.2.24 How to use student discourse as a formative assessment activity in the math classroom—and beyond Have you ever had one of those experiences where you use a word and soon realize your listener had a completely different interpretation of it? One of the most memorable of those communication breaks... Read more
6.27.24 Applying the five grounding tenets to virtual instructional coaching In “5 grounding tenets for successful instructional coaching relationships,” my colleague Lindsay Deacon explored the five grounding tenets that shape effective instructional coaching: prioritize... Read more
6.25.24 8 resources for parents to promote summer learning As summer sets in and routines change, you might be thinking about how to support your kids in holding onto the academic gains they made during the school year. According to the National Summer... Read more
6.20.24 MAP Reading Fluency with Coach provides targeted interventions grounded in the science of reading For years, MAP® Reading Fluency™ has provided teachers with critical insights into their students’ reading skills. Now, MAP Reading Fluency with Coach helps them go the extra mile with targeted... Read more
6.18.24 K–12 data leadership: Be the change for your school community I will never forget the day I was hired as a teacher. There was one position open in a local school, and the principal was excited to offer me the job as I had been a student teacher and then a... Read more