Archive: 2016
Getting Smart Podcast | Dropout Prevention: Community, Support and Guidance
October is dedicated to National Dropout Prevention, and in this podcast Laurel Barrette, director of dropout prevention and high school initiatives at K12 Inc., shares ways we can all help keep students engaged and enrolled.
Restructuring the Classroom to Create an Integrated Learning Environment
By Kelley Tanner. Rather than just incorporate technology, we need to think about the new ways our students learn and build the best environments to support creativity, critical thinking and future learning.
Engaging Students with the Values of Democracy
By Cleary Vaughan-Lee. Educators across the country are eager to integrate the values of democracy into the classroom in connection to the current political landscape.
6 Suggestions for Using Mentor Texts in the Classroom
I've found that using mentor texts in my classroom is an effective way to get students to explore, develop and stretch their own writing. Here are six steps I suggest for implementing mentor texts in the classroom.
Pilots Offer a Promising Path to Competency-Based Education
By: Karla Phillips and Carri Schneider. The experiences of Idaho, Utah and Florida around creating pilot state competency-based education programs confirm that a pilot program is a highly effective way for education leaders to kick-start these efforts.
A Great Early Start in Kansas City: Operation Breakthrough
Operation Breakthrough is a remarkable early learning program in Kansas City, Missouri, that helps at-risk children ages 6 weeks to 14 years learn how to be successful in school and life.
Pennsylvania Charter Emphasizes Liberal Arts for Success
We recently had the opportunity to visit Renaissance Academy, a K-12 public charter school in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, that focuses on liberal arts to prepare students for college.
What Can You Do with an Idea? An Award-Winning PBL Program
I recently sat down with New Life Academy teacher Kathy Lutes, who features Project-Based Learning (PBL) in her classroom, to discuss her award-winning PBL program.
EdTech 10: October Optimism
From the announcement of our nation's graduation rates being at an all-time high to the U.S. Dept. of Ed's release of long-awaited teacher preparation regulations, this week's stories make us even more optimistic about the future of education.
On Balancing Improvement & Innovation
Innovations such as personalized and competency-based learning mean doing things differently, which can be hard work. Here are 10 tips to help EdLeaders balance improvement and innovation.