Free tool to better communicate with parents
The Smore Template Center is comprised of pre-made newsletters that aim to address the variety of communication needs that you ... Read more
teaching
5 tools to help with project-based learning
Educators know project-based learning isn't simply another teaching strategy--tools for project-based learning are a great way to engage students by solving challenges that link classroom learning to real-life…
5 steps to building a future-ready K-12 network
Any investment you make in your network infrastructure should be driven by the learning objectives you’ve set. Creating a plan ... Read more
5 reasons to integrate STEM into online learning
STEM fields—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—are highly technical, which is one reason that the education system is changing to further incorporate these subjects into the curriculum. As more…
How film and a flipped classroom lead to student success
According to research, in a typical classroom lecture students will generally retain only five percent of the material presented. Today’s teachers are looking to new methods of teaching…
6 free resources for teachers–just in time for back-to-school
Although the school year starts at different times across the country, one thing is guaranteed: free resources for teachers are at the top of the must-have list. Free…
3 ways to combine trauma-informed teaching with SEL
When trauma goes unacknowledged by caring adults, students can feel suffocated by the burden of their experience. Research shows that traumatic experiences can drastically hinder students’ academic development,…
Rigor and joy: SEL and academics go hand-in-hand
Demographics McMinnville School District serves 6,800 students across 9 schools Biggest challenge We are a Title 1 school in rural Oregon with over 60 percent of our students…
3 ways to find time for personalized learning
When schools think about incorporating personalized learning, it may seem intuitive to consider resources like specific technologies or professional development plans. But there’s another critical resource that too…
‘I teach because’: 7 educators on why they teach
Has anyone ever asked you why you teach? What did you say? Maybe you said, "I teach because I love seeing ah-ha moments," or, "I teach because I…
4 tips for incorporating safe, engaging, tech-rich material into early elementary ed
I love incorporating technology into my curriculum and introducing it to my students in meaningful ways. The good news is that teaching them to use technology isn’t difficult.…
6 questions to ask to build a culturally inclusive classroom
It’s almost impossible to ignore that K-12 classrooms in the U.S. are filled with students from increasingly diverse cultural backgrounds: race, nationality, religion, economic, etc.
The 14 most innovative SEL districts, part 2
In this article, we will be highlighting districts that have shown tremendous commitment to the well being of their students and staff. These 14 districts are being recognized…
The 14 Most Innovative SEL Districts, Part 1
In this article, we will be highlighting districts that have shown tremendous commitment to the well being of their students and staff. These 14 districts are being recognized…
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…
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…
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: ... Read more
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…
How I found more satisfaction in teaching
Early in my career, I got upset and disappointed when students made mistakes in class. I couldn’t understand why they weren’t understanding when I was teaching everything so…
How I found more satisfaction in teaching
Early in my career, I got upset and disappointed when students made mistakes in class. I couldn’t understand why they weren’t understanding when I was teaching everything so…
Why DIY videos are easier than you think
“I don’t think it’s appropriate for my students to learn from video.” —Me (until a month ago) I’ve been afraid to have my class learn from video for…
Overcoming my fears
Teaching is a personal endeavor. Each and every classroom we walk into is different and exudes the personality of the teacher within. Because education is so personal and…
How I became an active learner at ASCD “Empower18”
As ASCD Empower 18 kicked off in Boston on Friday, March 23 I knew the four days were going to be “wicked awesome”—I mean, come on!—it’s Boston. But…
Are K-12 data systems ready for AI?
As educators who love technology, we can barely contain our enthusiasm for the potential applications of artificial intelligence (AI). But AI requires massive amounts of data, so before…
How to teach like the Finns
Shorter days, less homework, and better results. How do you get that? Do like the Finns. For those in the know, the Finnish system is often seen as…
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…
Everyone has a role to play in education today
As we enter a new year, education is a topic that continues to resonate well beyond the classroom into the core aspects of daily life, from home and…
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 our school is personalizing learning through co-teaching
Greenwood College School is a not-for-profit, independent, grade 7 to 12 school with about 450 students and about 60 teachers. We focus not only on academic achievement, but…
Trending: This style of learning has teachers and students re-imagining Future-Ready
While most classrooms have realized the benefit of hands-on activities and real-life applications, this idea can be taken even further by giving students genuine control over what they…
App of the Week: Go virtual for NGSS
Ed. note: App of the Week picks are now being curated by the editors of Common Sense Education, which helps educators find ... Read more
Blackboard Hackboard Hackathon
This contest challenges developers and college students in the United States to create a unique, user-friendly and impactful application that ... Read more
Emerging Teacher-Leaders in Elementary School Mathematics Grants
The purpose of this grant is to increase the breadth and depth of the mathematics content knowledge of one elementary ... Read more
Maitland P. Simmons Memorial Award for New Teachers
The Maitland P. Simmons Memorial Award for New Teachers provides selected K–12 teachers (up to 25) in their first five ... Read more
11 online tools & apps for dyslexic students
In the past, dyslexia was rarely recognised, and when it was, very little was put in place for the student. It was assumed that students were being lazy,…
Hoenny Center Project Awards for Teachers
Hoenny Center Project Awards are intended to promote and recognize preK-12 classroom (action) research projects in the area of peer ... Read more
January’s 11 buzzworthy edtech tools
Things move fast in the edtech world, and we hear all the time from teachers how hard it can be to keep up. This is why we've created…
In the marketplace: Funding for active learning, a helping hand for innovative programs, and an interactive book program
Tech-savvy educators know they must stay on top of the myriad changes and trends in education to learn how teaching and learning can best benefit from technology's near-constant…
TC- What student choice and agency actually looks like
Student agency, which we might loosely define as students’ ability to influence their own learning, undoubtedly plays a critical role ... Read more