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Positively managing student behavior in the classroom
Savanna Flakes EducationDiscipline problems and behavior issues have always been and continue to be a leading frustration for teachers. The good news is that variables can easily be manipulated to have a positive influence on student behavior. By being proactive and purposeful in our planning, we can prevent behavior problems before they arise. By building positive relationships with students and explicitly teaching classroom routines, we can manage behavior and increase student motivation.
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Testing overkill? Students, districts push back against high‑stakes…
Cait Harrison EducationTesting season will soon draw to a close, but a whole new crop of issues is just bubbling up. A few weeks ago, all 280 juniors at Nathan Hale High School in Seattle chose not to take a Common Core-aligned standardized test because they didn't think it accurately measured their skills.
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Remembering Grant Wiggins and his impact on education
Brian Stack EducationOn the morning of May 27, shock took over the educational community with a single tweet from Grant Wiggins, written by his beloved wife Denise: "Grant Wiggins, of brilliant mind and dearest heart, died yesterday. The world has lost a true champion of learning. Carry on the work. -Denise"
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ELL writing skills: The challenges
Douglas Magrath EducationIn light of the challenges presented by the latest methodological shifts, the question of how to teach writing and composition remains. Writing is an aid to total communication, as noted in the ACTFL Standards. The early introduction of composition in ESL instruction should improve proficiency. If writing is left to the more advanced levels of instruction, the learners will miss out on the early development of this useful skill.
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The reading brain: Executive function hard at work
Linda R. Hecker EducationWhen I talk with educators across the country, they often lament that students don't read much anymore, especially in the face of ubiquitous social and multimedia distractions. Even students with intact decoding and fluency complain that reading is just too hard, not worth the effort. Why is reading such a challenge for so many?
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The future of education? Smart and personalized microschools
Bambi Majumdar EducationIt didn't take too long for the intriguing nature of microschools to capture America's attention — especially the attention of parents who are disillusioned by the education system. This new generation of parents passed through massive and far-reaching changes that technology and globalization has caused in the last two decades.
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Bridging the cultural gap for ELLs
Douglas Magrath EducationLanguage and culture are intertwined. Culture is a part of life, and students need to understand the cultural implications of reading material. One can learn a lot of about a specific culture group by reading its fiction, poetry and theatrical works.
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Summers with substance: How summer programs can further learning
Corinne Garcia EducationAs a parent preparing for my child's upcoming summer vacation, I'm always on edge about the summer learning loss, also known as the infamous "summer slide." The National Summer Learning Association reports that most students lose an average of two months of grade-level equivalency in math over the summer.
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Setting summer goals: Linking school years together
Pamela Hill EducationFor many, there are just a few days left in the current school year. Some educators are making final lesson plans for the school year, others are developing summer school lesson plans, and parents are making plans to fill the months of summer with activities.
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How does your school garden grow?
Brian Stack EducationAfter a long winter, spring has finally arrived. For many — especially those who spent a season buried under record-breaking snowfalls — the warm weather means it is time to plant the family garden. Home gardens have been on the rise since 2009 when the White House announce plans to plant their own kitchen garden.
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