Helping students discover they belong in science
Growing up, science was my least favorite subject. That usually surprises people when they learn I’m a middle school science ... Read more
middle school
Back to school in 2026: The trends shaping K-12 education this year
As students and educators settle into the 2026-27 school year, K-12 leaders are navigating a landscape shaped by rapid technological change, persistent academic challenges, and growing pressure to…
When practice becomes data: Helping teachers respond to student misconceptions
A student can complete 20 questions and still leave a teacher with very little useful information. A score may show that something went wrong, but it does not…
A new approach to middle school math data boosted our state test scores
Picture a group of middle school math teachers meeting to mull over a specific problem. Their eighth graders keep missing the same assessment question about graphing a system…
Don’t forget nature’s classroom
Outdoor education has been shown to improve academic outcomes across subjects, including science, reading, and math, while also strengthening motivation, well-being, and school engagement. Studies also link outdoor…
Building math skills by designing backpacks: How PBL shifted the way students see math
Building a strong foundation in math during elementary and middle school is essential for success in the later grades. Because each concept builds on the last, students must…
5 ways to make reading click for teens
Reading is competing for attention in a world built for scrolling. A recent University of Florida study found that the share of Americans who read for pleasure on…
Student use of AI for homework rises as concerns grow about critical thinking skills
Student use of AI for homework increased in 2025, even as more students are worried the technology may be harming their ability to think critically, according to a…
Why every middle school student deserves a second chance to learn to read
Between kindergarten and second grade, much of the school day is dedicated to helping our youngest students master phonics, syllabication, and letter-sound correspondence--the essential building blocks to lifelong…
Solving the staffing crisis is key to the Science of Reading movement
As someone who’s dedicated my career to advancing the Science of Reading movement, I’ve seen firsthand what it takes to help every child become a strong, fluent reader.
100 Learning Spaces Transformed, $5 Million Invested: School Specialty and College Football Playoff Foundation Celebrate Impact Across Schools Nationwide
New media center at North Dade Middle School marks milestone in initiative revitalizing learning environments to benefit the entire learning ... Read more
The end of one-direction career pathways: Why empowering students sets the best course for future success
When middle school students make the leap to high school, they are expected to have a career path in mind so their classes and goals align with their…
From explaining to empowering: How tutors can support student thinking
Consider the work of a personal trainer. They can explain and model a workout perfectly, but if the athlete isn’t the one doing the lifting, their muscles won’t…
3 strategies to boost student reading fluency this school year
With the new school year now rolling, teachers and school leaders are likely being hit with a hard truth: Many students are not proficient in reading.
Strengthening middle school literacy: What educators need to know
Literacy has always been the foundation of learning, but for middle school students, the stakes are especially high. These years mark the critical shift from learning to read…
4 tips to support the literacy needs of middle and high school students
Today's middle schoolers continue to struggle post-pandemic to read and write at the level needed to successfully navigate more complex academic content in the upper grades and beyond.
Project POTUS 2025 Middle School Winners Announced
Indianapolis, IN — Project POTUS, a national middle school history initiative from the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, has named winners ... Read more
Showfloor News: PBLWorks creates PBLWorks TEACH to help scale project based learning
The Buck Institute for Education (dba PBLWorks), a national provider of professional development for high-quality Project Based Learning (PBL), is ... Read more
In Rhode Island, a partnership brings STEM lessons to life
Sixth grade science lessons at Governor Christopher DelSesto Middle School in Providence were more interactive this year thanks to a partnership with the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate…
Many states picked diploma pathways over high school exit exams. Did students benefit?
When 18-year-old Edgar Brito thinks about what he’ll do in the future, mechanical engineering is high on the list. The senior at Washington state’s Toppenish High School first…
The AI Gap: Why Teachers Can’t Afford to Wait on the Sidelines
Tired of talking about AI? That’s too bad. The technology remains the most impactful force in education. The challenge becomes ... Read more
Did the pandemic reopen gender-based math gaps?
STEM gaps in achievement between boys and girls that took more than a decade to close were reopened in just four years, according to a new study from…
Trigg County Public Schools Deploys ZeroEyes’ AI Gun Detection and Intelligent Situational Awareness Technology
ZeroEyes, the creators of the first AI-based gun detection video analytics platform to earn the full U.S. Department of Homeland ... Read more
From curiosity to clarity: Showcasing career paths to young learners
While I used to be deeply involved in CTSOs as an advisor and teacher, stepping into an administrator role has allowed me to continue engaging with students in…
SkillsUSA competitions give students hands-on experience with career skills
The most effective way for students to learn career-ready skills in fields such as advanced manufacturing and robotics is by applying these skills in the context of authentic…
The importance of teacher-student relationships
Middle school marks the transition from late childhood to early adolescence. Developmental psychologist Erik Erikson describes the transition as a shift from the Industry vs. Inferiority stage into…
Fighting chronic absenteeism with data-driven insights–and a little fun, too
Chronic absenteeism remains a widespread challenge in schools across the country, but in Wisconsin, Racine Unified School District’s Julian Thomas Elementary and Jerstad-Agerholm Middle School are demonstrating that…
Students Explore STEM with Engineers
Middletown, PA – Phoenix Contact engineers head back into the classroom this week to teach sixth-grade science class at Middletown ... Read more
Dismantling the U.S. Department of Education
In light of Donald Trump assuming a second presidential term in 2025, conversations concerning dismantling the United States Department of Education have resurfaced.
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 approaches that engage middle school students in STEM learning
Creating engaging STEM learning experiences in middle school is essential to spark curiosity, build foundational skills, and foster a love for STEM topics--and potentially encourage students to pursue…
How to Empower Students to Navigate Politics and Media Bias in the 2024 Election
It’s tough enough for the average American to navigate through the torrents of mis- and disinformation flooding social media platforms. ... Read more
14-year-old Named America’s Top Young Scientist for Inventing an AI Handheld Pesticide Detector
ST. PAUL, Minn. & CHARLOTTE, N.C. – 3M (@3M) and Discovery Education (@DiscoveryEd) named Sirish Subash, a 9th grader at Gwinnett ... Read more
5 ways online coding programs prep students for success
When our middle school started offering a robotics course to its students this year, it was a pretty big deal. I’d used a gamified coding platform in my…
Helping students learn new tech skills–and exceed expectations
How did the Crockett Foundation’s students, most of whom attend Title I schools and live in historically under-resourced communities, achieve this sort of success? The answer can be…
Integrating VR into your classroom is easier than you think
Integrating virtual reality (VR) into your classroom may be easier than you think. With rising demand and innovations in the VR technology space, the present may be the best time…
Michigan Virtual survey highlights K-12 educators’ AI beliefs, needs
A Michigan Virtual survey of more than 1,000 educators from classrooms, districts, and support organizations found higher trust in AI among building and district administrators than within teacher…
BrainPop at 25—New CPO Jay Chakrapani discusses the past, present, and plans for the future.
Tim and Moby are getting up there. But according to Brainpop Chief Product Officer Jay Chakrapani, they aren’t slowing down. ... Read more
3 tips to combat chronic absenteeism in high schools
One surefire way to support student success? Consistent, positive family communication. In elementary school, there’s frequent outreach.
Why support for students and a strong school culture are key to this middle school principal
As a high school wrestler many years ago, Jon Wilcox was expected to help coach much younger students who were learning to wrestle. It was a role he…