9.1.22 Julie Richardson 5 ways you can help kids develop their executive function skills for writing One parent–teacher conference stands out in my mind more than all the others. It was the beginning of the school year, and my partner and I were sitting in our son’s fourth-grade classroom. The... Read more
8.30.22 Chase Nordengren A fresh look at research on professional learning—and a warning from a marshmallow Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: A famous study on delayed gratification asked a few dozen children to sit in a room alone with a marshmallow. The researcher promised each child that if... Read more
8.26.22 Katie Carroll New research indicates targeted, personalized math instruction can fuel math gains Two-and-a-half years into the pandemic, students are still grappling with unfinished learning. NWEA research released earlier this summer showed student gains in the 2021–2022 school year are... Read more
8.25.22 Nathan Breeden The power of allyship: 3 ways you can advocate for LGBTQ+ students It’s the start of a new school year. I hope you’ve taken the time this summer to rest, recharge, and do some of your favorite things. I was recently doing one of my favorite things—backpacking... Read more
8.23.22 Alex Sharp The ultimate back-to-school reader: 35 posts full of strategies and ideas for educators Back-to-school lists are full of to-dos: Classroom supplies to buy, paperwork to fill out, cool weather clothing to buy (even if most of us are still sweating through these late-summer,... Read more
8.19.22 LaTanya Pattillo How teacher residency programs can improve US schools and disrupt inequity As director of Policy and Advocacy at NWEA, I work with terrific people committed to improving public education. Recently, I connected with Tabitha Grossman, chief external relations officer for the... Read more
8.18.22 Kenny McKee 4 ways teachers can learn from one another “Quite often the greatest PD is the teacher down the hall.” I recently saw this popular tweet from educator and author Brian Aspinall, and I completely agree. I remember visiting colleagues... Read more
8.16.22 Kailey Rhodes What you need to know when establishing success criteria in the classroom If you’re a practitioner of formative assessment, you may have heard of establishing success criteria in the classroom. Before students can take responsibility for their own learning, they need... Read more
8.11.22 Heather Cella Why transcription is important in your child’s writing and reading journey I remember my mother picking me up from school in our orange VW camper one day in late October. I was in first grade and excited to tell her that, just like grown-ups, we had voted for president in... Read more
8.9.22 Kenny McKee 5 things students require to build trusting relationships with their teachers As we embark on another school year in which teachers are focused on supporting students’ rebound from disrupted learning, building trusting relationships with kids will be at the forefront of many... Read more
8.4.22 Susan Berg 3 tips for sneaking science into K–5 language arts lessons Why does my hair stick straight up after going down a slide? What is COVID-19? How did that caterpillar turn into a butterfly? Kids are bombarded daily with issues, mysteries, and observations they... Read more
8.2.22 Erin Beard 5 feedback game changers every teacher should try I think it’s safe to say that no one likes to feel ignored. I used to spend hours commenting on students’ work, only to feel ignored when they didn’t do anything with the feedback. I... Read more
