5 trends for seeding CBE growth
As more and more school systems across the country explore competency-based education (CBE), we need to be attentive to the processes that will actually allow such innovations to…
Designing classrooms from a young child’s perspective
When adults visit a preK classroom, they see all of the wonderful learning opportunities for the children: the reading nook in the far back corner, the rug for…
Using video effectively in the classroom
When we show videos in class, we want our students to watch actively rather than passively: to comprehend, not just consume. We want our students to be active…
Immersive technology: Asset to the classroom or another tech fad?
Augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), mixed reality—can immersive technology really benefit students and their learning, or are these just tech fads? In their recent edWebinar, Jaime Donally,…
We used technology to increase attendance at PTA meetings
When I became principal of a middle school in New Jersey, I heard how supportive our parents were. Behind the veil, there’s always something to work on and…
5 ways technology can help students develop a strong moral compass
This past July, educators from the Solomon Schechter Day School of Bergen County arrived in the impoverished Mbekweni community in Paarl, South Africa to help open a first-ever library…
5 steps to a successful technology overhaul
On a mission to develop more critical thinkers who can collaborate with one another, openly share ideas, and function successfully in tomorrow’s work environment, our district recently kicked…
How to retain great teachers: Start with leadership opportunities
Finding and retaining effective teachers is one of the surest ways to improve student outcomes, according to research published in the Elementary School Journal and the Journal of Personnel…
Tips & resources to prevent cyberbullying
Each act of cyberbullying hurts students, disrupts classrooms, and affects your school’s culture and community. So how should you handle it? What should you do or say? And…
A classroom teacher’s guide to reducing test anxiety (and testing!)
As educators, sometimes it seems like all we ever do is jump from preparing our students for one assessment to another. Reams have been written about the corrosive…
3 ways technology & innovation are transforming classrooms
As we continue to embark through the Information Age, it’s crucial for educators to implement new strategies that will meet the needs of both students and industries. Thanks…
4 important lessons our school learned about competency-based learning
The rigors of an interconnected, global society have changed the way in which schools need to approach student success. In previous generations, the “organize and sort” method, typified…
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…
Community service and professional development a winning combination
Picture a group of students storming a council meeting, except they aren’t there to protest—they’re there to run the meeting. One student, witnessing the needs of the elderly…
6 ways we improved literacy in our school
There are unique challenges that come with being a large urban school district. High mobility rates, socioeconomic conditions, and sheer population size can all impact student success. But,…
4 keys to building an equitable STEM program
This year in schools across the nation, approximately 136,000 students took advanced placement (AP) computer science, a 31 percent increase from last year. This group included a record…
Watch out for these red flags to help identify dyslexia
Children cannot grow out of dyslexia. Rather, the dyslexia will only have more severe consequences over time with lack of intervention. It is critical to keep an eye…
Empowering superintendents to connect technology and learning
“If it’s edtech, it must be good,” used to be the mantra in schools. In fact, many district technology plans fluctuated depending upon the latest fads and what…
Here’s my secret for better classroom management
At Flagstaff Academy in Colorado, I am lucky to head up the SmartLab facility and offer guided lessons to all K-5 classrooms. Couple this with 15 years of…
10 ways administrators should be collaborating with their librarians
Whether a principal, superintendent, head of technology, or head of curriculum, there is likely a gem of a resource among your staff who could push your Future Ready…
Video: How edtech connects
At SXSW EDU 2018, The Christensen Institute’s Director of Education Research, Julia Freeland Fisher, reveals innovative schools that are creating learning models that strengthen teacher-student relationships, and emerging…
Introducing the EdLeader Personality Test
Personality tests are fun. Some people derive valuable insights from them. Others simply use them to validate what they already know about themselves. Most just like to see…
5 ways to optimize learning spaces for student success
As we address the challenges of a highly competitive world, we must enable students to learn and generate new ideas by moving away from the “old school” classroom.…
Here’s a great way to get to know your students
I am always looking for new ways to get to know my students. Over the past two decades, I have attempted dozens of different types of icebreakers in…
How controversial topics inspire deeper learning
As a former social studies educator and current learning specialist, my idea of nirvana is to help grow students who can examine issues from multiple perspectives. Getting them…
The New Librarian: Implementing a district-wide Library Learning Commons initiative
A few years ago, while working as a teacher librarian at Templeton Elementary School in Oregon, I had the opportunity to redesign the school’s library website to include…
Defining high-quality project-based learning
A growing number of educators around the world believe that project-based learning (PBL) is an important instructional approach that allows students to master academic skills and content knowledge,…
Disrupting opportunity gaps will hinge on networks
Recently, Stanford researcher Raj Chetty came out with yet another new study on the jagged landscape of opportunity facing America. Analyzing the relationship between young people’s exposure to…
Resources for creating a school culture of empathy, inclusion, and kindness
Since the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, we've heard from many educators who are looking for resources to support students’ social and…
3 ways to improve special education outcomes
When you combine a steady growth in the number of students receiving special education services with rising expectations for the educators who serve these students, all of whom…
5 reasons we switched to financing edtech instead of buying
Like many school districts around the country, D.C. Everest (WI) Area School District purchased a hodgepodge of edtech devices over time to meet the needs of our growing…
My class is out of control: What’s my first move?
Bad behavior is a snowball effect—it grows and grows until it can’t be stopped. If teachers don’t have a system in place for addressing that behavior from the…
6 steps to help your district systematically personalize education
For the past decade, personalization has been a hot topic in education. You may have wondered if it’s a real and attainable goal for your school system or…
Get organized and take your lessons digital
I’m a fourth-grade teacher in North Carolina. If you’re a teacher, you know I didn’t just spend my summer lounging by a pool. I spent much of my…
How to start the school year on a happy note
I have a hot pink sign that’s right beside my computer that says, “If you want people to embrace your vision, you must continue your pursuit of them.”…
Mapping the Universe of Edtech That Connects
I’m excited to share a tool that my colleagues and I have been working on for the past few years: a market map of what we’re calling Edtech…
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…
5 tips to engage students in courageous conversations
For the past six years, I’ve taught high school students in Washington D.C. about race, class, and gender in an elective course I created on social justice and…
How to find, curate, and assess OER
As schools and districts try to reduce textbook costs and digitize instructional resources, one of the struggles many teachers have is finding good repositories of open education resources…
8 ways I practiced mindfulness this year
Mindfulness has become a buzzword in schools over the past few years. Many schools have hired mindfulness professionals to work with their students and faculty. According to scientist…