Why students disengage before they fall behind
I once met a student who had attended three different schools before arriving at mine. His parents described him in familiar terms: quiet, disengaged, unmotivated.
learning
We can’t wait for another Mississippi Miracle
Recent findings on the negative impacts of AI on learning might be sparking national debate, but they are unsurprising to learning scientists.
The screen-time debate’s blind spot
Last fall, during a professional development session I was running with a group of teachers in São Paulo, a fifth-grade teacher raised her hand and asked a question…
What schools need to know about accessibility compliance as ADA deadline looms
Recent updates to the Americans with Disabilities Act means digital accessibility for public educational institutions can not be ignored. It will become a legal mandate.
A new need-to-know for the AI classroom
Most project-based learning workshops are built around three domains: design, assessment, and implementation.
It’s time to rewrite math standards for the future–and to stop expecting AI to do it for us
While nearly every industry is racing to integrate artificial intelligence, most schools are still teaching high school math the way it’s been done for decades--rooted in instructional material…
Career readiness starts with a critical, undertaught skill: Decision Education
In other words, while technology can generate information and automate tasks, people still need to evaluate options, weigh tradeoffs, and determine what to do next. These are decision-making…
District leaders must adapt to meet changing student mental health and behavioral needs
District leaders across the country are grappling with a deepening crisis: Student mental and behavioral health needs are growing more complex. In a recent national survey, 58 percent…
College readiness starts in kindergarten: Why rethinking K–12 math is the key
When Senator Bill Cassidy recently questioned whether K–12 systems are adequately preparing students for college-level math, he touched a nerve in the national conversation.
The next wave of K-12 innovation: How educators are shaping the future of edtech
Every school year brings an influx of IT solutions designed to reinvent K-12 education. Schools are primed to jump on the latest technologies to address the issues most…
Building AI for kids: A developer’s guide to age-appropriate safety architecture
When I shipped Gramms AI to the App Store, I ran straight into a question that every developer building for kids will eventually face: What does “age-appropriate” actually…
Taking a deeper look at students’ well-being
The dominant narrative around today’s students is bleak: declining test scores, post-pandemic learning loss, and widespread concerns about student behavior and mental health.
Why digital resilience is critical for U.S. K-12 schools
While prevention remains essential, 2025 has reinforced a hard lesson for district leaders: it’s not a question of if a cyber incident will occur, but how prepared a…
Boosting student engagement on World Math Day
If you’re feeling a bit sluggish (rightly so), most likely your students are. It may not feel like they are the prime audience for learning about multiplication, division,…
The layer every AI roundup is missing: Why methodology matters more than content
Last year, a third-grade teacher in São Paulo told me she had "finally found the perfect AI tool." It generated colorful worksheets in seconds. Vocabulary lists, reading comprehension…
5 keys to turn escape rooms into classroom inspiration
Have you ever been to an escape room? For those unfamiliar with the term, an escape room is a structured, problem-solving experience where participants are locked in a…
As classrooms go digital, are educators ready?
Today, about 80 percent of K–12 students use computers or tablets at school--up from about 50 percent before the pandemic. Even as parents worry about too much “screen…
The biliteracy advantage: How heritage languages boost English proficiency and workforce readiness
In just one academic year, Marietta City Schools in Georgia saw the percentage of elementary English learners (ELs) working in or above grade level rocket from 11 percent…
From high school to career: 6 CTE trends to track in 2026
Without a doubt, career and technical education (CTE) is priceless for high school students wanting to get real-world, hands-on job skills before they graduate and turn their interests…
New partnership expands access to flexible career-connected learning
Microschools are small learning environments that typically serve a limited number of students and emphasize personalization and strong relationships. Often blending elements of traditional schooling, project-based learning, and…
AI didn’t break homework: It exposed what was already broken
Who among us has never copied a homework answer in a hurry? Borrowed a friend’s paragraph? Accepted a parent’s “small correction” that eventually became a full rewrite?
Fueling student passion for STEM with project-based learning
We live in an ever-evolving world, powered by advancements across STEM fields. Today, STEM has become increasingly intertwined with how we live our daily lives--from how we learn,…
Celebrating Teachers: Nominate Outstanding Educators for Crystal Apple Awards
School Specialty, a leading provider of learning environments, instructional solutions, and supplies for preK-12 education, is proud to celebrate outstanding educators with its 12th annual Crystal Apple Awards.
Tips and tools to effectively differentiate learning for student engagement
As a paraprofessional for over 3 years and going on my 5th year as a certified special education resource teacher, I’ve learned that no two learners are ever…
New CoSN report underscores importance of intentional, reliable edtech use
A purposeful commitment to responsible edtech use--and to professional development for teachers--is necessary to ensure edtech is innovative and transformational, according to CoSN's annual 2026 Driving K-12 Innovation…
Mis-identifying “504-only” students
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which prohibits discrimination against students and other individuals with disabilities, is far less visible than the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)…
New research challenges fears about AI in the classroom
Rather than replacing student thinking, when teachers design and guide AI experiences, the technology is most often used to deepen critical thinking and strengthen instruction
School Specialty Expands Learning Beyond the Screen with New Outdoor Furniture Line
Childcraft expands early learning beyond four walls and screens with durable, sustainable furniture designed for outdoor discovery.
The digital divide redux: Why AI is the new broadband
Remember the early 2000s, back when high-speed internet felt like a luxury reserved for the tech elite and the lucky few with deep pockets? We called it the…
Despite platform fatigue, educators use AI to bridge resource gaps
Sixty-five percent of educators use AI to bridge resource gaps, even as platform fatigue and a lack of system integration threaten productivity, according to Jotform's EdTech Trends 2026 report.
The death of the static textbook: Why financial education must be “live”
Imagine trying to teach a student how to navigate the city of New York in 2026 using a map from 1950. The streets have changed names, new bridges…
AI in edtech: The 2026 efficacy imperative
AI has crossed a threshold. In 2026, it is no longer a pilot category or a differentiator you add on. It is part of the operating fabric of…
2026 prediction: AI may unleash the most entrepreneurial generation we’ve ever seen
Picture someone sitting at a kitchen table after the kids are finally in bed, laptop open, half-drunk mug of herbal tea nearby. For years, she has had a…
Sparking civic engagement as we approach America’s 250th
Imagine students who understand how government works and who see themselves as vital contributors to their communities. That’s what happens when students are given opportunities to play a…
Measuring student global competency learning using direct peer connections
Our students are coming of age in a world that demands global competency. From economic interdependence to the accelerating effects of climate change and mass migration, students need…
On your mark, get set, print: The 3 learning advantages of 3D printing
It’s truly incredible how much new technology has made its way into the classroom. Where once teaching consisted primarily of whiteboards and textbooks, you can now find tablets,…
Teaching visual literacy as a core reading strategy in the age of AI
Many years ago, around 2010, I attended a professional development program in Houston called Literacy Through Photography, at a time when I was searching for practical ways to…
Learning the “why” behind the math: How professional learning transformed our teachers
When you walk into a math classroom in Charleston County School District, you can feel the difference. Students aren’t just memorizing steps--they’re reasoning through problems, explaining their thinking,…
AI for empathy: Using generative tools to deepen, not replace, human connection in schools
For the last two years, conversations about AI in education have tended to fall into two camps: excitement about efficiency or fear of replacement. Teachers worry they’ll lose…
AI use is on the rise, but is guidance keeping pace?
The rapid rise of generative AI has turned classrooms into a real-time experiment in technology use. Students are using AI to complete assignments, while teachers are leveraging it…