The other gap that schools aren’t talking about—relationships
The NAEP scores released in April set off a flurry of headlines about the sobering state of achievement gaps across ... Read more
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5 tips for getting over your #edtech fears to engage and empower students
I have been lucky. I was on a computer at a young age, playing Math Blaster or Oregon Trail until my eyelids grew heavy and I had to…
Teacher absent? How tech can bridge the gap
The teacher-absence policy at my school was clear: The teacher isn’t coming to school? No technology for the class. The rationale is that it’s just not worth it.…
SEL should be an easy sell for U.S. schools and districts
In light of tragic events that have put a spotlight on school safety issues, it’s more important than ever to understand the value of students’ social and emotional…
6 key principles for a successful SEL program
A social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum adds valuable lessons to a student’s normal school day that will help propel them beyond academic success and onto success in life. No…
The New Librarian: How to set up a Global Citizens program
At Tudor Elementary School in Anchorage, Alaska, “show and tell” has an inspiring twist. Instead of sharing an interesting rock or a favorite toy, they are sharing messages…
8 essential qualities of a digital literacy curriculum
“Jeff. I’ve got a big challenge. Help!” That was a voicemail message I received from a friend, a principal at a local elementary school one sunny summer afternoon.…
4 myths about blended learning debunked
When I first started teaching math a decade ago, I gave notes at the front of the room on an overhead transparency projector. The teacher who taught math…
Want to get struggling readers enthusiastic about reading? Here’s how
With 10 million students in grades K-12 struggling to read, taking those struggling readers from disengaged to enthused may seem like a huge feat. However, doing just one…
3 data-driven tips for successful bonds and levies
At some point during the year, many school districts will fall into one of these three areas: Thinking about planning a bond or levy measure Attempting to pass…
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…
Are virtual schools failing students?
Virtual schools continued to under-perform academically, including in comparison to blended schools. Overall, 36.4 percent of full-time virtual schools and 43.1 percent of blended schools received acceptable performance…
Survey: Boys have waning interest in STEM careers
Boys' interest in STEM careers has dropped over the past year, while girls' interest remains the same, according to an annual survey from Junior Achievement and Ernst &…
4 awesome videos to check out over the summer
Videos can be used in many ways in the classroom and in professional learning, and they can greatly benefit students if they’re engaging and thought-provoking. They’re also valuable…
8 reasons why we should combine art + math
With declining U.S. student math scores, our schools would be wise to adopt a new formula that is sure to paint a prettier picture for the country’s STEM…
Do you make these common classroom-management mistakes?
The dunce cap, a ruler on the knuckles, kneeling on rice: Modern teachers wouldn’t think of using these methods to correct students’ behavior. But for all the progress…
Blending My Practice
In April 2018, eSchool News launched a new column, “Blending My Practice.” Our columnist, Raymond Steinmetz, teaches seventh-grade math at Portsmouth ... Read more
8 apps and tools for classroom SEL
Social and emotional learning (SEL) has quickly become a cornerstone of K-12 education, because it helps students regulate their own emotions and teaches them to respond kindly to…
Fixing the grade passback pain point
Grade passback is a pain point for educators and school systems. Just go online and look up the help desk for popular grading platforms and you’ll notice the…
Makerspace tips and advice from the front lines
Maker culture is thriving in schools and public libraries across the United States and beyond. From challenges to success stories, no two makerspaces are alike, and maker facilitators…
How do I share something difficult with my colleague?
Something happened. Your colleague said something you found a bit harsh or inappropriate. Something inaccurate or uncalled for. She said it to you. Or to a student. Gulp.…
How to integrate emotional intelligence into the classroom
Social-emotional learning. Character education. Bullying prevention. These programs all fall under the larger umbrella of emotional intelligence (EQ)—the ability to manage one’s feelings and interact positively with other…
4 key ways ESSA can support SEL in schools
Although student achievement in core subjects is commonly used to define success, more educators agree that student success also depends on learning about intrapersonal and interpersonal competencies--commonly known…
The New Librarian: How I created a makerspace
As an elementary educator for most of my career, I’ve had the privilege of working with a variety of learners—from inner-city students in North Carolina to university-level students…
6 ways school bus wi-fi could benefit your district
Gaps in internet access are an all-too-familiar struggle for many schools, particularly those in rural or low-income districts where coverage is spotty or too expensive. In 2015, President…
6 questions to ask when selecting your district’s AV equipment
Audiovisual (AV) technology is at the center of many classroom initiatives. Whether students are watching videos in a one-to-one classroom setting or English language learners are working on…
Report reveals surprising data about mobile broadband usage in schools
A recent Mobile Beacon report analyzing mobile broadband usage by non-profit organizations, including schools, finds that schools utilizing Mobile Beacon’s 4G LTE internet service indicate that the ability to…
5 reasons your classroom needs an industry expert
Educators have learned that linking classrooms to the real world helps engage students and teaches them the "why" behind what they learn. But teachers sometimes struggle with the…
Can I give you some feedback? And other ways to not offer ideas
Have you ever heard the question, “Can I give you some feedback?” Did you want to say “No” immediately? Did your fight-or-flight reflex go into hyper mode? If…
This E-rate trick can help schools combat net neutrality repeal
With concerns about school internet access buzzing in the wake of the FCC's vote to repeal net neutrality, anxiety over school internet access might transfer to the federal…
3 smart ways to fix your PD
The benefit of professional development (PD) for teachers is well known: improving teaching practices means greater student achievement. What’s less frequently acknowledged is that PD programs are often…
A student’s perspective on the promise of technology
To be a young adult in 2018 means to have gone through school during a very revolutionary time, technologically speaking. Throughout the 2000s, classrooms in America saw everything…
4 ways technology can improve SEL skills
Today’s classrooms are full of immersive high-tech tools—but at the same time, schools and districts are being pushed to promote social-emotional learning (SEL) and improve school climate. Since…
Why schools need a knowledge base
When I have a problem with my iPad, I look to Google. Google is my worldwide knowledge base for fixing my toilet, unsticking my iPad, and figuring out…
How to bring global learning to your classroom
The sun was high overhead as we stood in the open, slowly baking in the hundred- degree heat, which was abnormally hot for late October, even by southern…
How to ask the questions people want to answer
“How was your winter holiday?” “What are your resolutions for 2018?” “How are you today?” Lots of eager ears are awaiting your responses. Or are they? And are…
3 must-know’s about assessment achievement levels
In education and assessment, we use the word “standards” in a number of ways: curriculum standards, standards-based assessments, performance standards. Performance standards—also known as proficiency levels, achievement levels,…
5 ways to get started with OER
It has been almost three years since the launch of the United States Department of Education’s #GoOpen movement. If you are late to the #GoOpen party, it is…
Study: Here’s what makes parents turn to charter schools
Public school parents who are “very dissatisfied” with their child’s school are 2.5 times more likely to switch to a charter school than parents who are “very satisfied,”…
Weak cell service? How schools can solve this still-pervasive problem
Today’s students are more connected to their devices than ever before, whether they’re using their tablets or cellular devices to take notes in class, conduct research, or write…