11.30.23 When learning to read sight words goes wrong In many kindergarten and first-grade classrooms, students are tasked with memorizing a list of words commonly appearing in texts. These lists of high-frequency words tend to go by a variety of... Read more
11.28.23 How to address text complexity and help students understand what they read When was the last time you had to read something you couldn’t understand? Stumped? That’s probably because you’re an excellent reader. I’m an excellent reader, too, so I asked my sister... Read more
11.21.23 Technology in the classroom: 5 things teachers need to know When it comes to technology, some of us are gadget-loving early adopters and some of us are Luddites who think it’s all been downhill since the advent of the printing press. Most of us are... Read more
11.16.23 Building strong foundations for early math skills at home One of my daughter Kat’s favorite activities as a toddler was lining up a set of plastic bears that she would “borrow” from her older sister’s toys. They came in four different colors,... Read more
11.14.23 Everything you ever wanted to know about early numeracy but didn’t know to ask There is a buzz in education right now about literacy and the science of reading. Within these conversations there is a particular focus on early literacy and what research indicates are the... 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
11.2.23 High growth for all kids: 4 guidelines for supplemental instruction We all know the challenges of the last three years. We’ve read the headlines and heard the research about the impact of COVID-19 on education. Given the stress that the pandemic put on... Read more
10.31.23 3 ways quality instructional coaching impacts teacher efficacy Now that the 2023–24 school year is fully underway, our NWEA instructional coaching team recently gathered to reflect on the common barriers teachers are currently facing in their daily work... Read more
10.26.23 How to build confidence in young readers Have you ever read a book and felt like the author wrote it just for you? A book that was so profound that you felt changed by the experience? Now imagine you’d never read that book. Or... Read more
10.24.23 6 things principals can focus on to improve family engagement When I was a school administrator, I thought a lot about family engagement. How could I get more parents and guardians to feel connected to our school and interested in getting involved? How... Read more
10.19.23 MAP Accelerator and professional learning workshops are here to support math teachers As a math teacher, I had some lightbulb moments when I watched the recent NWEA webinar “Supercharge math confidence (for teachers and students) with MAP Accelerator.” And I’ll admit it, as... Read more