Podcast Series: Innovations in Education

Explore the full series of eSchool News podcasts hosted by Kevin Hogan—created to keep you on the cutting edge of innovations in education.

Illustrative Mathematics Announces IM® 360 for K-12 Educators and Students

TUCSON, Ariz. /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Illustrative Mathematics (IM), a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a world where all learners know, use, and enjoy mathematics, announced today the upcoming release of IM® 360, its innovative new curriculum for grades K–12.

Guided and inspired by educators doing extraordinary things since its inception in 2011, IM is continually improving curriculum support for its problem-based instructional model based on feedback from school leaders, teachers, and students. IM 360 is the organization’s largest-scale curriculum upgrade to date, designed in response to the expressed needs of educators and learners in the K–12 math community.

“IM greatly values the dynamic relationships we have with school leaders and teachers across the country, which serve as the guiding compass for IM’s trajectory,” said Gail Hartman, IM’s Senior Vice President of Product Strategy and Development. “This ongoing partnership and the feedback it generates about our products enable the IM team to identify areas for improvement, refine accordingly, and foster innovative solutions that are genuinely transformative for K–12 math classrooms.”…Read More

3 ways superintendents can maximize resources this school year

Key points:

As the new school year kicks off, superintendents across the nation are evaluating resources needed for the year ahead to ensure that everyone–school leaders, teachers, students, and parents–has what they need to be successful.

During a time when many kindergarten through 12th grade education leaders are facing many challenges, including teacher shortages, declining math and reading scores, funding issues, student mental health, and more, it’s critical that superintendents maximize their resources. By doing so, they’ll be able to solve immediate challenges that may arise, giving them more time to focus on the long-term goals of their school or district.…Read More

Savvas Announces New Math and Reading Solutions that Engage and Inspire Students While Giving Educators the Resources to Help All Learners Achieve

PARAMUS, NEW JERSEY — Savvas Learning Company is excited to announce new and enhanced math and reading solutions that engage and inspire students to learn, while giving educators the evidence-based instructional resources they need to accelerate learning and help all students achieve.

“At Savvas, we are committed to empowering educators with the highest-quality instructional materials and effective teaching strategies to increase student achievement,” said Bethlam Forsa, CEO of Savvas Learning Company. “Long committed to developing evidence-based, student-centered learning solutions, Savvas this year is delivering new math and reading programs that continue to give educators what they need to help all students succeed.”

Savvas solutions focus on putting the student at the center of learning. The company’s award-winning blended programs — delivered digitally on its innovative Savvas Realize platform and visually through engaging print resources — feature real-world learning experiences designed to increase student engagement along with high-quality instructional materials to accelerate academic outcomes.…Read More

5 ways to help students struggling with algebra due to learning loss

Key points:

Since the pandemic, students have struggled markedly in math, particularly algebra. According to NAEP Mathematics Assessment data, eighth-graders’ algebra scores were eight points lower in 2022 than in 2019. According to the Nation’s Report Card, the average eighth-grade mathematics score was lower than all previous assessment years—going back to 2003.

As a gateway content area, algebra prepares students to tackle advanced study in calculus, physics, and other subjects—yet it often is a sticking point for many middle and high school students. Without a solid understanding of algebra, many students find that they get stuck in their math studies.…Read More

National Math and Science Initiative Receives $100,000 Grant from TC Energy to Train Virginia Teachers

DALLAS AND NORFOLK, VA. — The National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) is pleased to announce the generous support of  TC Energy through a $100,000 grant to bolster the training of Virginia teachers. This funding will be dedicated to implementing the renowned  Laying the Foundation training program for 6th- to 12th-grade teachers in the Newport News and Hampton Roads areas while playing a crucial role in STEM teacher recruitment efforts. The initiative aligns with NMSI’s ongoing work with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and districts statewide, amplifying the collective impact in advancing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.

NMSI’s Laying the Foundation program is widely recognized for its comprehensive and effective approach to equipping teachers with the necessary skills and knowledge to foster student success in math and science. By expanding the program’s reach, the TC Energy grant will directly benefit approximately 250 teachers across Virginia. Newport News and Hampton Roads areas were specifically identified due to their strategic importance in cultivating a new generation of STEM educators as part of TC Energy Foundation’s Build Strong program. Build Strong creates long-lasting relationships in TC Energy’s communities to help us all build a stronger future. The three-day event takes place at Norfolk State University (NSU).

“We are incredibly grateful to TC Energy for their generous grant, which will significantly enhance the quality of STEM education in Virginia,” said Michelle Stie, Vice President of Teaching and Learning at NMSI. “This partnership will allow us to extend our proven Laying the Foundation training program across the Commonwealth, thereby increasing our capacity to prepare Virginia’s educators for the critical task of equipping students with the skills necessary for success in STEM fields.”…Read More

Progress toward academic recovery stalled in 2022-23

Key points:

While students grew academically in the 2022-23 school year, achievement gains fell short of pre-pandemic trends in most grades, with the exception of the youngest students who bucked this trend and made above average achievement gains, according to a new report from nonprofit K-12 assessment and research organization NWEA. 

The report is the latest in NWEA’s efforts to track the impact of pandemic disruptions on academic gains and achievement levels for U.S. students using data from the 2022-23 academic year. This analysis provides the most current evidence to help guide recovery efforts and resource allocations in support of schools. While the pandemic is now deemed over, the impacts on students based on two markers, achievement in reading and mathematics, are still apparent.…Read More

IXL and Fayette County Public Schools Partner to Boost Academic Achievement and Personalize Learning for All Students

LEXINGTON, Kentucky  — IXL, the personalized learning platform used by more than 14 million students, has announced a new partnership with Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS) in Kentucky. As part of the collaboration, the state’s second-largest K-12 school system will now use IXL’s award-winning platform district-wide to boost academic achievement in math, English language arts, science, social studies and Spanish. IXL is used by nearly 40 percent of all K-12 students in Kentucky, accounting for more than 283,000 learners. 

Fayette County Public Schools strives to provide a world-class education and positive learning environment to more than 40,000 students from the Lexington area. FCPS began using IXL to support its special education and English language learner communities, and recently expanded its implementation district-wide after successfully piloting the platform. 

The district highly values IXL Analytics because it provides educators with data that allows them to track student achievement across schools and identify any gaps in knowledge. This information can then be used to quickly intervene and provide students with the support they need to succeed.…Read More

3 simple ways educators and families can accelerate math learning

Key points:

  • The latest assessments have made it clear that math achievement has plummeted
  • A combination of home-school communication and play-based activities can help students struggling with math
  • See related article: We can teach math better–here’s how

As the most recent nation’s report card made painfully clear, American students are struggling in math. At the same time, administrators, teachers, and parents are finding new ways to help these students address learning loss.

During my 20+ years in K–12 education, I’ve seen technology play a growing role in making learning more accessible and effective. As schools explore edtech solutions to improve learning outcomes, I want to bring to light three evidence-based learning methods that have withstood the test of time. Regardless of the resources at their disposal,  educators and families alike can benefit from these simple and effective strategies.…Read More

TouchMath Sets New Standard for Early Detection of Dyscalculia with Comprehensive Screener

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. (PRWEB) — TouchMath announces the release of  DySc, the comprehensive dyscalculia screener and individualized intervention guide aligned to American Pschiatric Associations The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) and available at no cost. TouchMath, a multisensory math program that makes learning foundational math concepts accessible and clear for students who struggle to understand grade-level content, designed the DySc to identify students as young as three who may be at risk for dyscalculia, a specific learning disability in mathematics.

Widely underdiagnosed,  dyscalculia is a neurodevelopmental learning disorder estimated to affect  3-7% of the worldwide population. Early screening for dyscalculia and evidence-based interventions are critical to addressing the learning disorder’s short- and long-term educational, personal, and social impacts. The DySc offers educators and parents a valid assessment to detect early math difficulties and provide targeted interventions.

“We’ve developed the DySc, a free screener, as a powerful tool to recognize the critical role of early identification and intervention in addressing learning difficulties, paving the way for academic success and beyond,” stated Dr. Sandra Elliott, Chief Academic Officer at TouchMath. “Similar to the effectiveness of routine screenings for hearing, vision, and dyslexia, we firmly believe that schools should prioritize early math screening to unleash the potential of every child. With the DySc, we’re equipping educators and parents with a comprehensive screening solution that not only identifies dyscalculia but also provides evidence-based interventions to foster students’ mathematical development.”…Read More

5 to thrive: SEL resources to help students grow

Key points:

  • SEL teaches students to think and behave like healthy, mature adults
  • SEL helps students become better learners and take ownership of that learning

Every educator hopes to equip their students with the knowledge they need to thrive as a healthy adult. It’s a daunting task, especially considering there is so much to teach in such a small amount of time.

We want students to fall in love with reading while building up skills in language and grammar. We try to show them that math and science can be outlets of wonder and imagination, while also grounding them in foundations of history and social studies. And yet, out of all the knowledge at our disposal, fostering healthy social-emotional learning (SEL) may be the most important lesson that we impart to our students.   …Read More