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.PRINCIPAL LEADERSHIP
A day in the life of a school principal, two years into this pandemic
EdSurge
What is a day in the life of a school principal like right now?
Well, it starts the night before when staff start texting and emailing to let you know that they'll be out. You hope they're OK and remind them to put the absence in the online management system in the hope that a substitute will pick it up.
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Trust, cultural responsiveness key to strengthen school-parent relationships
K-12 Dive
During the pandemic, some educators and parents reported school-home connections got stronger as schools provided more outreach and services to help students and families with remote learning and created virtual opportunities to gather as a community.
But even as in-person learning and pre-pandemic routines rebound, families and educators are seeking to maintain those established relationships or to repair any relationships that have been fractured.
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From principals, a primer on delivering bad news
Education Week
Principals have always had the unpleasant task of sharing bad news and unwelcome mandates — especially those dealing with policies and rules they had no part in creating but that affect their staff and school communities.
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Promoted By
Boosterthon
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Promoted By
The Daily Mile
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Setting up a disability-inclusive curriculum
Edutopia
While schools make accommodations to the physical environment and instructional approach to help students with disabilities learn and grow, the actual curriculum, the "what students learn," is often silent about disability and the contributions of individuals with disabilities.
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GAO: Schools with vulnerable students face 'heightened challenges' post-natural disaster
K-12 Dive
Natural disasters can have a prolonged impact on schools and students, according to research cited in the report.
District leaders have noted in the past that funding and resources are often short term, making long-term accessibility to resources like mental health services a challenge despite disasters causing "significant trauma" to students, as described in the GAO report.
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Some kids have returned to in-person learning only to be kicked right back out
Hechinger Report
Suspensions and expulsions plummeted during the 2020-21 school year, as most school districts closed their buildings and put instruction online to slow the spread of COVID. But despite widespread recognition of the need to focus on students' mental health during the trauma of the pandemic and growing dismay at the academic consequences of being locked out of classrooms, families and advocates around the country say they have seen a return to exclusionary discipline, which removes students from the classroom as a consequence of their behavior.
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Rigorous curriculum doesn't need to be overwhelming
K-12 Dive
As schools work to reopen for in-person learning while re-acclimating students and addressing pandemic learning loss, designing a curriculum that balances rigor without being daunting or intimidating to students will be critical to help those needing time to adjust back to a more demanding educational environment.
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PROOF POINTS: Fixing online credit recovery remains elusive
Hechinger Report
Educators are worried about a wave of high school students who are failing classes during the pandemic. A December 2021 McKinsey report predicted that an additional 1.7 million to 3.3 million eighth through 12th grade students might drop out of school in the coming years if historical correlations between chronic absenteeism and high school graduation prove true.
One solution that schools are expected to turn to is something called online credit recovery.
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Making the most of your return to school
eSchool News
Even though schools are back to in-person learning, the pandemic taught us something about how automating processes can save time — and if educators need more of anything, it's time.
Students, parents, and staff can work smarter and more effectively with self-service forms, electronic signatures, pre-populated agreements, and automated approval processes.
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Assessment is critical to helping English learners achieve language and content proficiency, especially as educators continue to work to close gaps caused by disruptions in learning. Learn more about the different types of assessments needed to ensure equitable support and academic excellence for ELs. Read the Whitepaper.
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How to make your equity policy a reality
Edutopia
In the past two years, school districts across the country have been moved to write equity policies or pass resolutions to publicly commit to being a more equitable district. Unfortunately, for some districts, the work stopped there. Now, many community members inside and outside of the district are likely to see the approval as nothing more than a symbolic gesture. But this doesn't have to be the case.
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Key steps to keep indoor air clean in classrooms
eSchool News
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented education with challenges and opportunities. On one hand, the massive move to digital learning and one-to-one programs has accelerated districts' plans for edtech adoption. On the other, state and district leaders must ensure safe learning environments as schools strive to remain open — and paying attention to indoor air quality is critical.
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.EDUCATION POLICY
How Congress can help students learning English
EdSource
Students learning English as a second language need more bilingual teachers and bilingual education programs, more access to high-quality preschool and better tracking to understand how they do in school after they become fluent in English, according to a new report from The Century Foundation.
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.SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY
Effective uses of technology in elementary school
Edutopia
Many elementary school activities engage children in hands-on, dynamic activities that do not require the use of technology, limiting how much time students spend in front of a screen. However, there are ways that technology can develop and sustain unique learning opportunities in schools.
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As school communities have struggled to address the mental health needs of their students, the focus has been on treatment. Understandable.
However, we can start proactively helping our students in elementary school. Brain-based mental health literacy & resilience training provide strong Tier 1 support.
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How professional development improves teacher confidence in technology transformation
EdTech Magazine
Prior to the pandemic, FCS occasionally scheduled digital learning days, when students stayed home and participated in virtual instruction using a teacher- or school-assigned platform.
"Before the pandemic, we knew it was a valuable experience for our students to engage in online platforms," she says.
But those digital learning days didn't happen often — and when they did, the mix in platforms didn't always lend itself to collaboration between schools.
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3 ways chatbots can support mental health in schools
eSchool News
The U.S. Surgeon General has issued an advisory warning about a mental health crisis for children. Several national health organizations have also declared a national state of emergency for child and adolescent mental health resulting from prolonged stress, instability, and isolation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is old news for most of our educators, who once again find themselves as the baseline support system we rely on to fulfill the basic needs of our nation’s youth.
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'My tablet isn't charged' and other device woes
Edutopia
The age of learning management systems and one-to-one laptops or tablets has changed the way we educate children. Although these devices can improve students' learning experiences, teachers across the country are spending more time managing the devices than using them to enhance instruction. Teachers must deal with students who do not consistently bring their device to school, do not bring it charged, or become distracted by it.
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Female empowerment in STEM starts with education
Scot Scoop
Society is supposedly closer to gender equality than ever before, but this is not reflected with women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. The number of women pursuing careers STEM has steadily decreased from 27% since 1997.
The problem starts young. Female students are less likely to claim their confidence in their math abilities than males by the third grade despite females’ consistent test scores. Young students also notice the gender gap in the adults around them, which can cause them to lose confidence in their STEM abilities.
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Zoom/video conferencing best practices revealed in new research
Tech & Learning
Researchers at Stanford University and the University of Gothenburg in Sweden have found that participants in Zoom and other video conferences who looked at their cameras were judged more positively than those who did not. Also judged more positively were participants with a higher camera angle. The research, published in the American Psychological Association's Technology, Mind, and Behavior journal, has implications for educators who teach remote classes as well as use video conferences to meet with colleagues or students.
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HP reveals new rugged devices for learning anywhere
TechRadar
HP has announced a new line of student laptops that include many of the same features found in rugged laptops to provide them with the durability needed to withstand everyday wear and tear both inside and outside of the classroom.
While student laptops typically remained in the classroom before the pandemic, these days learning is happening beyond the classroom with students studying on the playground, on the bus and at home.
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| Promoted by
Brainfuse, Inc. |
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- State-Aligned: 24/7, state-aligned online tutoring support
- Accessible Platform: Our easy to use whiteboard is available from any desktop or mobile device
- Experience: Brainfuse has completed over 15 million one-to-one online tutoring sessions since 1999
- High-Quality Tutors: Our tutors undergo a rigorous selection and training process
- Field-Tested: Brainfuse has consistently outperformed other online tutoring companies in head-to-head trials
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.PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
How de-escalation strategies can reduce disruptive classroom behaviors
K-12 Dive
How educators respond to students in the cycle of emotional and behavioral crisis — including when students are calm, when concerning behaviors peak and when those behaviors subside — is critical to minimizing and preventing intense situations in classrooms, according to Reesha Adamson, an associate professor in the Department of Counseling, Leadership and Special Education at Missouri State University.
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Learn tips and strategies to deliver inspired feedback, master MTSS, and create a culture and curriculum that’s inclusive and effective for every learner. Bestselling author Katie Novak (Innovate Inside the Box and UDL Now!) and Mike Woodlock show you how. Order A UDL Playbook for School and District Leaders today!
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I lead classroom conversations about race. But I need more help.
Chalkbeat
As a Black woman teaching in Chicago Public Schools for more than 25 years, I've spent plenty of time considering how my race impacts my work. But no matter their race, gender, or identity, all educators need to be able to stand in front of our classrooms, gain the trust of our students, and empathize with them.
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Collaborative classroom management
Edutopia
When students have a say on behavior expectations or how to demonstrate their learning, they can help create a positive, engaging classroom culture.
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Using evidence-based math programs to address learning recovery
eSchool News
Selecting instructional strategies and supplemental resources for supporting student learning recovery shouldn't be a guessing game. District and school leaders seeking to address learning loss and accelerate growth must consider the importance of evidence-based practices: instructional skills, techniques, and strategies that a study or experiment has shown to be effective.
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The all-new AstroPure™ portable air purifier from AAF Flanders features an advanced interface that allows fine-tuning of settings and visualization of particulate levels. This interface can be locked to prevent unauthorized changes, and because the unit makes so little noise, distractions are kept to minimum.
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Imagination Playground
is a breakthrough playspace designed to encourage child-directed unstructured free play. Unlike traditional hardscape playgrounds, Imagination Playground is low cost, requires no installation, and can be used both indoors and out. Our Blue Blocks are proudly made in the USA from a closed cell waterproof foam, making them durable and easy to clean.
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Teachers must prioritize inclusivity
EdSource
As districts develop and refine plans for how to spend billions of dollars on professional development through the Educator Effectiveness Funds, I believe they should prioritize professional development around inclusion behaviors.
Simply put, this is about educators learning how to teach and behave in ways that make all students feel that they belong. It is critical that teachers gain support in identifying and meeting the needs of all their students and particularly those who do not share their cultural background.
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.EDUCATION RESEARCH
Federal investments ignore crucial upgrades to school facilities — and students pay the price
Brookings Institute
Throughout the first year of his presidency, Joe Biden has regularly highlighted the need for investing in school infrastructure. From speeches referencing the lack of safe drinking water and ventilation to the pollution produced by school buses, the subject has been consistently present in the administration’s remarks. The American Society of Civil Engineers echoed these concerns in its release of the nation’s infrastructure report card earlier this year, grading public school facilities with a D+.
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Promoted by Stepping Stones Museum For Children
Empower your teachers with exciting new virtual STEAM-powered classes, clubs and workshops at award-winning Stepping Stones Museum for Children. The Stepping Stones Studio makes it easy to inspire and delight young learners with a celebrated lineup of play-filled, brain-building educational offerings now accessible to everyone, everywhere. “This is the most wonderful hands-on experience for children! The Traveling Seeds workshop was extraordinary. The students were engaged and learned a lot. I enjoyed watching the children play and learn at the same time,” a 1st grade teacher, Norwalk Public Schools, Norwalk CT. Click the link here for detailed information: https://www.steppingstonesmuseum.org/app/uploads/2021/12/21-School-and-Groups-Flyer-VIRTUAL-120821.pdf
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.IN THE STATES
Report: Colorado reading law update boosts quality of literacy curriculum
K-12 Dive
Several states have enacted laws designed to boost literacy in recent years. Alabama and Michigan are two states, for example, that now require learners to read at grade level before they can start 4th grade.
Other efforts, including those in Colorado, focus on more rigorous teacher prep or emphasize the adoption of science-based reading instruction. There is a push on this at the district level, too, with New York City's new schools chancellor, David Banks, recently proposing a plan to retrain early childhood teachers in phonics.
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.ASSOCIATION NEWS
Register for Middle-Level Meetup focused on master scheduling
NAESP
Are you an NAESP member leading a middle school looking to connect with peers, discuss challenges, and share resources? Join NAESP Center for Middle-Level Leadership Fellows Dr. Kevin Armstrong and Jessica Cabeen for the Center’s new initiative—Middle-Level Meetups!
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Register for Feb. 8 webinar, "Warmth and Support"
NAESP
Recognizing the incredible strain, stress, and lift that have been placed on educators and their students, this professional learning session on warmth and support focuses on academic and social supports that students receive from their educator and their peers. This session provides you an opportunity to create space for yourself to learn, build your capacity to support your teachers and students, and be intentional and focused with how you support student and educator social-emotional learning.
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