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Optimizing student success with differentiated instruction
Sheilamary Koch EducationMany teachers recognize that students are motivated when working on assignments they find sufficiently challenging — ones that are neither too far beyond their grasp nor overly simple. Now, neuroscience backs what these teachers witness daily in their classrooms, as recent findings show that the brain has an internal rewards system and one of the things it praises itself for is the act of understanding something new. This means there’s an intrinsic motivation for students when they comprehend previously unknown subject matter.
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How will you celebrate Inclusive Schools Week?
Savanna Flakes EducationEach year, during the first full week of December, schools across the nation take a moment to celebrate their progress in inclusive practices. Schools focus on their growth in promoting welcoming K-12 communities, embracing all students, and ensuring every student has an opportunity to learn, participate and contribute. As we embark on this week, commemorate your successes in effectively including students and look ahead for ways to challenge yourself to meet the ever-increasing needs in your classroom.
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Girls’ education — not just a third world problem
Bambi Majumdar EducationIn celebrating the International Day of the Girl on Oct. 11, Dell announced plans to expand investment in STEM education for girls in underserved communities. In partnership with Girls Who Code, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the gender gap in technology, Dell will support a massive national after-school computer science educational program. This will lead to increase in materials and supplies for the STEM curriculum and offer students a wide exposure to technical organizations and the industry as a whole.
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Dual enrollment: Good for secondary schools and colleges
Brian Stack EducationLike many schools in our country, my public high school in southern New Hampshire seeks to offer a wide-range of college credit-earning opportunities for our students. These schools recognize that providing high school students with an opportunity to experience early college success can positively impact the overall achievement rate of students when they finally get to the college level.
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Failure, retention and graduation denied
Howard Margolis EducationSeveral years ago, The New York Times published an essay by Chicago high school teacher Will Okun. He was worried about Etta, a conscientious, enthusiastic, hard-working struggling reader whom he might have to fail. His blog was touching, perceptive and troubling. It continues to resonate strongly with me. It dealt with an all-too-common dilemma that affects struggling readers and their teachers.
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From bilingual to multilingual: A look at California’s education…
Bambi Majumdar EducationCalifornia is once again setting new standards for language education reforms. On Nov. 8, 73 percent of the state's voters supported Proposition 58, a move that will allow public schools to develop their own bilingual and multilingual programs. Revisiting the restrictions on bilingual education that were placed nearly two decades ago, English-only instruction across the state will now be repealed.
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The relationship between physical activity and brain function
Dorothy L. Tengler Mental HealthcareWe have all heard and read the advice about feeling, thinking and performing better overall — drink more water, exercise, eat more fruits and vegetables, meditate, and get enough sleep. While we all have good intentions, how many of us really follow this advice on a regular basis?
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What I learned about the IEP transition from elementary to middle school
Alyssa Skolnick EducationTransitioning from elementary to middle school can be difficult for even the most successful student and seasoned parent. For a student with an IEP, the transition can be daunting. For me as a parent, it was downright traumatic.
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7 tips for engaging ESL students in music education
Lonny Alfred EducationAs the demands for English as a second language (ESL) courses continues to soar across the U.S., music educators must find new ways to engage these students in music performance at school.
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Incorporating tech in the music classroom
Lonny Alfred EducationThere's a lot of talk among educators about ways to incorporate technology in the classroom, and for good reason: It can increase student engagement. That was the case with Melissa Clark, a grade school New Jersey music teacher, and her students.
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