Benefits & advice for transitioning edtech to the cloud
At the beginning of the edtech wave, superintendents saw many benefits from using digital resources in the classroom. But, they also saw a large number of resources being…
Middle school movies that support SEL in the classroom
No matter how we discover them, the best films move us in ways we’ve never imagined. No matter how old we are, they can make us both laugh…
8 ways to reduce device damage in 1:1 programs
As a technology user, I have over the years: Dropped and broken my phone’s screen Spilled liquid on my laptop’s keyboard, frying the motherboard Pulled the cord out…
How to cut your bus disciplinary referrals by 67 percent
Several years ago, my school adopted a Positive Behavior Support Program (PBSIS) program. Solutions to persistent problems pointed school climate in the right direction, reduced disciplinary referrals, and…
How to instill an entrepreneurial mindset district-wide
As the superintendent of a large urban high school district, I have the opportunity to help identify and implement innovative programs that help prepare our students for success.
5 ways to use makerspaces to support personalized learning
At this stage of the edtech revolution, most educators are focused on using tech to enhance lessons rather than on the tech itself. But many times, tech is…
Improving student achievement through choice
Exeter (CA) Unified School District is a small, rural district with approximately 2,800 students, 61 percent of whom are Hispanic and 62 percent of whom are socioeconomically disadvantaged. Approximately…
4 Fresh Approaches to Coding in The Classroom
Coding is one of the most crowded categories in edtech. And while there are a ton of great tools for students of any ability level, many of these…
Age-appropriate tips for addressing gender stereotypes in the classroom
Common Sense’s 2017 research report, Watching Gender: How Stereotypes in Movies and on TV Impact Kids’ Development, showed that kids who are fed gender stereotypes may internalize those…
Student wellbeing & SEL are more important than you think
Through monthly articles on the eSchool News and eCampus News media platforms, The Brzycki Group & The Center for the Self in Schools will cover the latest psychological, educational,…
Tech directors: Here’s how to truly support multi-screen classrooms
Today, education is far more flexible and collaborative than a generation ago, and technology is key in enabling teachers to quickly adapt lesson plans to suit the moment’s…
One small, shy child changed my school’s dress code
So often, when children attempt to advocate for something they believe in at school, adults make the mistake of getting defensive and worse, stand by the mantra that…
6 ways to find the motivation you’ve lost
Feeling unmotivated is a common challenge. Our motivation is what drives us to meet our goals and losing that sense of determination can leave us feeling confused and…
3 ways to help give all students “information privilege”
“Access to an effective school library program is one example of information privilege. The absence of access is one symptom of information poverty.”—Joyce Valenza, On information privilege and…
3 lessons from students about improving school culture
When the administrators at Vestavia Hills High School in Alabama were tasked with creating a leadership program, they knew one thing right away: They did not want to…
7 ways to rethink school/family partnerships
The current toolbox for growing the school/family partnership is broken. It is a system built on old communication methods, inequitable access, and ineffective gatherings. This leaves the support…
Cross training can help district leaders sleep more soundly
Would you panic if a key employee left your school or district? That should never happen from a business situation, as shortsightedness can cause massive problems for an…
Teaching faculty to think like innovators
The rapid pace of technological change has forever transformed the face of the global workplace. In fact, its future is unimagined; 85 percent of jobs that will exist in…
I gamified my classroom and students are soaring
An average child today will have played 10,000 hours of video games before the age of 21. If playing games is part of our culture, even part of…
3 must-haves for a mobile learning environment
Beekmantown (NY) Central School District, a rural district of 2,070 students, was on a mission to be the most progressive educational institution in the area. When funds were…
4 keys to supporting college and career readiness
Preparing students for college and a career is the mission of every public K-12 school system, and this work begins by establishing a strong foundation for success in…
4 tech skills every middle-schooler needs
Saint Patrick’s is a small, pre-K–8 Catholic school in Yorktown Heights, New York. Last year, we received a grant to revamp our computer lab into what we call…
Strategies for changing challenging behaviors of students with autism
“Every individual should be able to access things that they like,” said Monica Fisher, M.Ed., BCBA/COBA, director of the behavior department at Monarch Center for Autism during an…
3 takeaways from my STEM PD
Professional development (PD) is more crucial today than ever for educators to stay relevant in the classroom. The fast pace of innovation makes it an ongoing challenge for…
Are your edtech tools really working?
Elkin City Schools (ECS) is my home. It’s a small district, located near the North Carolina border, with three schools and about 1,200 students. It’s a small, tight-knit…
#1: 10 ways we made our school happier
After the recession hit in 2013, it was evident that something was off at Mashburn Elementary School (part of Forsyth County Schools in Georgia). I watched teachers being…
#3: 10 districts with awesome brands
No one is great at everything, but everyone is great at something. These 10 school districts identified why their district is awesome, then structured everything they do around…
#5: 6 things we did to help our students love to do research
After one year as library media specialist and three years teaching English, I’ve learned some of the ins and outs of teaching research inside and beyond the English…
#6: 5 ways to leverage UDL for student inclusivity
In recent years, general education teachers have joined special education teachers in emphasizing the need for inclusivity in the classroom.
What I learned about leadership development in 2018
At Colonial (DE) School District, we’ve been focused on retaining teachers through various leadership development and empowerment programs for a few years. As the programs have matured, we’ve…
5 reasons why our employees complete safety training online
School districts have many requirements to meet, and for each of these requirements, there’s a company (or multiple companies!) with an app or online program that says it…
The most important lessons we learned this year
One of the biggest challenges we face, as educators, is learning how to put our health and happiness first. My first thought was that I needed to put…
#9: 9 common leadership missteps to avoid
The role of school administrator is evolving from a building manager into an instructional leader. This shift is not easy, and all leaders strive to be the best…
SEL + restorative practices = a safe, supportive school climate
Zero tolerance policies, while trying to keep kids accountable for their actions, often result in suspensions for even minor infractions like dress code violations or being tardy.
The story of a magical musical app
In the midst of the ed-tech revolution, teachers are need to make informed decisions about what brings value to the classroom. As a geography teacher at Monrovia High…
5 questions students should ask about media
Do your students love to take and edit photos to post on Instagram? Are they obsessed with watching (or maybe even becoming!) YouTube celebs? Do you want to…
Teaching digital citizenship to kids with learning and attention issues
It’s hard to overemphasize the importance of teaching our students how to use technology appropriately and responsibly. And what’s just as important is making sure we're helping all…
How our district connects learning to the real world
Efforts to equip students for college and career readiness are beginning earlier and earlier in the classroom. A 2015 Gallup poll of one million students in the U.S. found…
10 things I learned flipping my classroom
In the spring of 2013, after attending several conferences and beginning research for my dissertation, I set out to flip some of the aspects of my classroom. The…
2 crucial lessons to help your district manage change
There are a number of old sayings about learning to understand another by walking in their shoes, moccasins, or sandals. Since those sayings cross quite a few cultures…