Em-pathy, not un-pathy, in school leadership
In one of his many great YouTube clips, Simon Sinek talks about what key and successful teams seek in their leaders. Performance and ability--sure. But even more important…
5 ways kids will learn about careers in 2025
When it comes to figuring out what to do after high school, too many of today's young people are anxious, uninformed, and unprepared.
5 ways to integrate gamification into your classroom
Incorporating game elements into lessons helps students feel more motivated and excited to participate. As a fourth-grade teacher, I’ve seen how gamification can transform a regular lesson into…
Digital testing, AI, and personalized learning in 2025
2024 has been a transformative year within education. From the rise of technology use within education to the adaptation of free tuition programs at schools like MIT, the…
3 key steps when designing inclusive spaces in K-12 schools
As school districts continue to evolve, a growing emphasis is placed on inclusivity in education, with many shifting toward integrating students with special education needs into general classrooms.
The advantages of edtech compliance for schools and vendors
Schools are increasingly adopting technological solutions that enhance learning outcomes and simplify administrative tasks--from eLearning platforms to teacher scheduling apps and parent communication tools.
Connecting learning to career exploration
Straddling the classroom and business sector, edtech companies are uniquely positioned to help students connect their education to potential careers beyond the classroom in new and engaging ways.
Better benefits could help ease educator turnover
When discussing public school employee compensation packages, the conversations often center around salaries. A recent Pew Research Center survey found only 15 percent of teachers are extremely or…
Break out the VR and the 3D printers for real-world relevance
The era of COVID-19 brought about the largest boom in school makerspaces seen to date. Makerspaces have the ability to help students consider career pathways and interests they…
Skibidi anarchy: Post-pandemic classroom technology
Today’s kids are built differently. It’s the number one recurring theme in conversations with educators at every level, from the classroom to the district office. It’s not just…
I offer free online therapy to teens. Here’s what I’m seeing–and why it matters
Before the pandemic, the idea of communicating with a therapist via text seemed unthinkable. Then COVID closures and an unprecedented surge in teen mental health issues changed everything.
Turning classroom boredom into student brilliance
As someone who began teaching in middle school, I’ve had plenty of firsthand experience dealing with boredom in the classroom. Most educators will recognize the signs.
Special education staffing shortages put students’ futures at risk–how to solve that is tricky
Every year, more special education teachers quit than graduate from the nation’s teacher preparation programs, even as the number of students diagnosed with disabilities keeps rising.
5 major education trends of 2024
As we usher in the new year, educators and industry leaders are eagerly anticipating the top education trends for 2024. The education industry has witnessed a rapid evolution…
Does AI think like your students?
Over the last 30 years, I have witnessed the evolving landscape of AI in education. Many early AI efforts were focused on using computers to model human thinking…
Building ethical AI usage in K-12 education
The summer of 2023 brought with it a declaration from our Executive Director of Technology that it would be the Summer of AI. As a digital learning team,…
Science teachers, math teachers, history teachers–we’re all reading teachers now
Literacy is a foundational skill for learning new content and as an upper elementary science teacher, my soon-to-be middle schoolers have ideally made the vital transition from “learning…
Using AI to teach persuasive writing to English learners
Twenty years ago, when I started my career as an ESL teacher in Houston, Texas, I remember the struggles of teaching persuasive writing to English learners. I had…
Information literacy is key in the age of AI
From New York to Texas, the pro-Palestinian protests sweeping U.S. colleges have become a flashpoint for viral disinformation, from falsely attributed "Jewish genocide" chants to debunked claims of…
Helping science-averse teachers integrate STEM and literacy
As a former middle school math teacher, I've witnessed firsthand how STEM education and literacy can work together to create powerful learning experiences.
Female district leaders target back-to-school priorities
As educators and administrators prepare to start the new year off strong, top former and current female district leaders share their go-to sources for advice, inspiration, and continued…
How satellite connectivity can narrow the digital learning gap
We are living through a dramatic transformation in how Americans learn. Though not exactly new, e-learning is being quickly embraced by more and more people as a complement…
5 ways educators can shrink the critical thinking gap
Achievement discrepancies among U.S. students remain persistent and troubling--despite decades of targeted interventions and whole-school improvement programs.
Having E-rate insight can protect school tech
When the Federal Communications Commission’s E-rate program first emerged in 1996, only 14 percent of the nation's K-12 classrooms were connected to the internet.
3 simple ways to use interactive whiteboards in preschool classrooms
To all the new preschool teachers, I hope this article brings you joy, motivation, and encouragement as you work to create warm and inspiring environments for your students…
Teachers: It’s time to make friends with AI
My first-year college students have a very narrow perspective of AI. “In high school,” wrote one student on an anonymous survey I give at the start of the…
Where AI and multimodal learning will go in 2025
From STEM to general education, the lessons we’ve learned through student and instructor feedback have proved universal. Students just don't want to be fed answers, and educators need…
Addressing the teacher shortage: Six strategies for inspiring future educators
As teacher shortages continue to challenge K-12 education, it’s essential for school and district administrators to create pathways for high school students to experience the teaching profession.
3 ways to connect to students and inspire their learning
A recent Gallup survey asked more than 2,000 Gen Z students which factors coalesce to make the best middle/high school teachers. I’m heartened by their clear frontrunner.
3 things you didn’t know your classroom management software could do
It's almost a truism among educators to say that classroom management is all about relationship management. Learning requires a great deal of vulnerability, and there's no doubt that…
5 steps to integrate STEM into student literacy
In the world of education, we can sometimes make the mistake of branding STEM and literacy as opposing disciplines. Reading is seen as a creative subject. It’s colorful,…
AI-enhanced tutoring: Bridging the achievement gap in American education
Closing the achievement gap and helping all students reach their full potential is not only a matter of equity, but also a key driver of economic growth and…
Teacher support is the key to unlocking AI’s classroom potential
Breakthroughs in large language models like ChatGPT hold vast potential to improve K-12 teaching and learning. LLMs can personalize learning, reduce teachers’ administrative burdens, and make more adaptive…
UO professor equips Oregon middle, high school students with virtual career counselor
Oregon middle-schoolers can now get a head start on picking a career path, thanks to a new tool powered by artificial intelligence and developed by a University of…
Students using AI: It’s not that scary and shouldn’t be banned
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of modern technology, influencing industries from healthcare to entertainment. Yet, in the educational space, AI often stirs fear and skepticism…
Remote learning hurt high school grad rates–ditching exit exams helped
Until now, the story of how COVID affected who got their high school diploma went something like this: Graduation rates dipped a little for the class of 2021,…
3 tips to authentically engage students in real-world STEM learning
Earlier this year, I was teaching science to a group of rising 9th grade students involved in a summer learning program. Students had the opportunity to engage in…
How AI is transforming learning for dyslexic students
For dyslexic students, the traditional educational system--often reliant on heavy reading loads and conventional assessments--can be particularly overwhelming.
AI and teacher burnout: Can technology really help?
Teachers are facing ever-growing demands: providing quality lessons, attending to individual student needs, and managing administrative loads that stretch their time and energy to the limit.
Why SEL must be part of the chronic absenteeism solution
Chronic absenteeism remains a nationwide challenge, despite efforts to return to normalcy post-pandemic. And the data suggests we are far from solving it. Right now, one in four classroom…