In the Classroom

There has been much discussion in recent years about the need to find and hold on to high-quality teachers using a combination of recruitment efforts and the development of what are often called “teacher talent pipelines.” The talent pipeline model typically focuses on how to best train new teacher candidates,...

In a pointed, highly personal open letter addressed to unnamed “school administrators, school board attorneys and the educators who cannot see past my daughter’s disability,” Jennifer Ryan brought to light a question with which many parents wrestle: how to help their children with special education needs get an appropriately challenging...

The term "executive function" is popular in education and psychology, but you may be thinking, “Why does my child need to learn executive skills in kindergarten?” Executive function skills are actually essential for self-regulating behavior that governs a child’s emotional, cognitive, and behavioral functioning, such as brushing your teeth, remembering...

Many modern-day teachers and education researchers are focused on an important topic: how to improve adolescent literacy rates. One framework that might make sense involves thinking in terms of adolescent literacies, not literacy. Much like many adults, today's adolescents are dealing with multiple ways to be literate, from academic or...

Stress is something that every individual experiences at one time or another, but the amount of stress that students are facing—even those in elementary school—has researchers concerned for the state of our youth. According to a joint study by NPR, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Harvard School of Public Health,...

There is plenty of concern these days about how literate America’s K-12 students are, and statistics indicate that this concern is well-placed. According to the most recent results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (a norm-referenced test given to students in grades four, eight, and 12, also known as...

In October 2016, an unusual mural went up on an outside wall at P.S. 11 in Brooklyn, New York. When artist Steve Powers put paint to brick at this neighborhood elementary school, the result was a vivid scene full of letters, color, and pictures, with the word “WRITE” spelled out...

/solutions/personalized-learningSince 2000, schools across the nation have been seeing results from dedicated efforts to increase the nation’s graduation rate and to reduce the number of students who drop out. Indeed, the national graduation rate rose to almost 75 percent in 2010—the highest point since 1973, according to Education...

A quick look at the mission statements for school districts across the United States reveals a common goal: to help all types of students succeed. In Los Angeles, for example, the city’s school district promises that all teachers and staff “believe in the equal worth and dignity of all students...

How long can you stay focused? According to researchers, nobody is immune to the occasional daydream. In fact, many of us know all too well how difficult it can be to rein in our imaginations and pay attention to the task at hand. It may come as a surprise that...