This message was sent to ##Email## To advertise in this publication please click here October 1, 2021 ##\member## .PRINCIPAL LEADERSHIP SEL for principals: How a professional development program serves their high-stress needs Education Week Joshua Myler was in his first year as principal at Hildreth Elementary School in Harvard, Mass., about 45 miles northwest of Boston, when he was invited to join a new professional development program offered through the state principals’ association focusing on principals’ social-emotional well-being. READ MORE How some schools are using weekly testing to keep kids in class — And COVID out NPR On a recent Monday morning, a group of preschoolers filed into the gymnasium at Hillside School in the west Chicago suburbs. These 4- and 5-year-olds were the first of more than 200 students to get tested for the coronavirus that day — and every Monday — for the foreseeable future. READ MORE The pandemic makes dyslexia a greater challenge. But we know how to solve it. EdSurge As the new school year gets into full swing, educators are likely to shift their focus from worrying about the depth of learning loss for students as a group, and begin zeroing in on where individual students are at. Nevertheless, looking at the differences in learning lost between two different groups of students, one from Sweden and one from England, may shed light on how best to help students with dyslexia in the United States move forward. READ MORE A new kind of curriculum night The 74 So what does it look like when families storm their local school board armed with data showing not just their school system's failures, but evidence of success elsewhere? Officials are finding out in Minneapolis Public Schools, where tensions over flagging literacy rates have built up over a decade. READ MORE VIDEO SHOWCASE Principals say this is the go-to fundraiser for the upcoming school year. Promoted By Boosterthon Positive Environment for All Students Promoted By HONORABLE CHARACTER A framework for conversations about race in schools MindShift Talking about race makes a lot of people feel like squirming away. And even as there has been more widespread acknowledgement that race should be at the center of conversations about inequity, people still get scared or freeze up when it’s mentioned. This can leave a person wondering, “Is there anyone who is good at navigating these types of conversations?” READ MORE A month-to-month guide to interdisciplinary instruction Edutopia Revision and organization are essential parts of schoolwork but can be challenging for both teachers and students. I teach English, and a few years ago, my social studies colleague and I developed a portfolio process that shows students the value of revision and the power of organization by integrating technology. By providing opportunities and specific directions to archive and harvest from their work, we helped students develop lasting habits of organization and revising. READ MORE Stress and short tempers: Schools struggle with behavior as students return MindShift Alyssa Rodriguez expected a rocky readjustment this school year. The Chicago social worker figured she’d see more students who felt anxious, frustrated by their schoolwork, or disoriented by unfamiliar routines. A month into school, she says she underestimated the challenge ahead. Student behavior referrals are up, as middle schoolers hurt each others’ feelings with comments they’d usually only be bold enough to say online. She and other social workers have seen more verbal and physical fights, and worried parents are calling with concerns about their child’s shorter-than-usual temper. READ MORE  SPONSORED CONTENT Promoted by Peaceful Playgrounds Enter the U.S. Map Contest. It’s free to enter Playground Stencils A Recess Program that Works Use Coupon Code naesp2021 for 10% off your order COVID Social Distancing Playground How intuitive tools can make life better for teachers and students EdSurge A teacher's initial assessment of an edtech tool may focus on such practical concerns as ease of use, integration potential, support and security. However, those responsible for designing education technology must, at all times, strive for something a bit more abstract and decidedly more lofty — improving the lives of their users. READ MORE Taking small steps toward equity Edutopia In my equity journey as a White educator, I have often found myself asking (and heard my colleagues ask) “OK, I get it... what do I do?” The amount of resources on equity in education can be overwhelming, and it can be easy to feel stuck and not sure where to go next. Here are some concrete ideas that have helped me get unstuck and move from ideas to action. READ MORE Expanding educational formats for students can lead to better experiences EdTech Magazine (commentary) Theresa Rouse, a contributor for EdTech Magazine, writes: "As I prepared for the 2021-2022 school year, I kept hearing from educators across the nation that we must get our kids back to in-person learning. For some districts, 'back to normal' meant in-person only learning was the best and only option for all students." READ MORE  PRODUCT SHOWCASE Dyslexia Webinar: Ensuring Student Success Screening and early identification of dyslexia are a good first step for helping students become strong readers, but what next? Join this free webinar for expert advice on comprehensive assessment practices, signs to look for in the data, dyslexia as a SLD, and instructional practices to support students. Register.­ LEARN MORE Charter schools see a 7% boost in enrollment during COVID, supporters say District Administration About 240,000 students switched to public charter schools during the heavily disrupted 2020-21 school year, accounting for a 7% boost in enrollment, according to a new report by a leading charter school advocacy organization. Overall, about 1.4 million students left district public schools while charter schools saw their sharpest enrollment growth in about five years in rural, suburban and urban communities, according to the “Voting With Their Feet” report by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. READ MORE The benefits of reflection in school discipline Edutopia My first job as an educator was in-school suspension monitor. The majority of the students assigned in-school suspension were there because of their behavior, and on my first day, the vice principal explained that the best approach was to walk around the room, never smile, and not be cordial with students. That mean, hard-nosed, punitive approach to school discipline is a practice from the past that really should be reevaluated. While I respect various approaches to student discipline, I found one particular approach back then that was effective — and it was not the vice principal’s. It was giving students a structured opportunity to reflect on their behavior. READ MORE Why should administrators encourage teacher self-reflection? District Administration Magazine As teachers across the country settle into a year like no other, administrators are looking for ways to support them while also dealing with staff shortages and managing COVID-related issues. One way administrators can offer this much-needed support without a heavy lift is by encouraging teacher self-reflection. READ MORE  PRODUCT SHOWCASE Drive Meaningful Data Discussions Not all data is equal. Great data provides leaders with valuable insights into classroom practice. The best data fuels PLCs, professional learning, and school improvement efforts in meaningful ways that result in visible gains. Improve data discussions at your school with our free data discussion checklist. Download now. Informal leadership comes at a cost Harvard Business Review While taking on informal leadership duties can help employees feel more valued and support their growth, recent research suggests it can also significantly reduce their energy levels and job satisfaction, often making them reluctant to take on these additional roles despite the long-term benefits. READ MORE If your employees aren't learning, you're at risk of losing them Inc. One key factor in the recent barrage of resignations? Lack of training and skill development. READ MORE 3 key areas where employers must effectively communicate right now Entrepreneur We are at the beginning of a “new normal” workplace. The early stages of any paradigm-shifting change is the figuring out and experimentation stage. Employers are all trying to define what the new normal should look like for their company. It's also during this beginning phase that employees tend to feel the most uncomfortable, because there are many unknowns involved. Where so much is unknown, rumors tend to spread like wildfire among employees, further exacerbating the uncertainty. READ MORE .EDUCATION POLICY Reps. Matsui, Langevin want K-12 cybersecurity funding in reconciliation bill MeriTalk With President Biden’s legislative agenda currently up in the air, Reps. Doris Matsui, D-Ca., and Jim Langevin, D-R.I., are looking to get $20 million in K-12 cybersecurity funding added into the $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill to help combat the rise of cyberattacks on schools. The pair of legislators — along with Reps. Deborah Ross, D-N.C.; Tony Cárdenas, D-Ca.; Anna Eshoo, D-Ca.; and Dutch Ruppersberger, D-Md. — wrote a letter to the leadership of both chambers recently to make their case. READ MORE North Carolina congressman proposes federal school choice grants in some situations Epoch Times Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.) has introduced legislation to allow students to change schools if mask mandates or critical race theory curriculum are implemented. Bishop introduced the Masks Off Act and the No Corrupt Racist Training (No CRT) Act. The measures would allow parents to demand federal education dollars be redirected to a private school, homeschool, or other education expenses if a school enacts the mask and race theory policies. READ MORE 3 bills that aim to protect disabled students from harm in schools Forbes Students should be safe in school, not just from their fellow students, but from school authorities themselves. And school should be an open door to success and happiness, not a greased slide into permanent crisis and incarceration. This is especially important for students with disabilities. READ MORE  SPONSORED CONTENT Promoted by Xello Social Emotional Learning Activities for Your Elementary Students: Turn Learning Gaps into Learning Opportunities: 3 Strategies to Encourage Student Growth: When Should Students Start Thinking About Their Futures? What Educators Learned from Remote Learning That Can Be Reintroduced in the Classroom: Introduce Career Exploration to Your Elementary Students. Here’s How This District Did It: .SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY Why STEM literacy is critical for our students eSchool News Providing an engaging and equitable STEM education is an important step in helping to develop more scientists and engineers while increasing race and gender diversity in the field--both of which are much needed in today’s world. Education in STEM can also help develop a STEM-literate citizenry. READ MORE The benefits of implementing required computer science curriculum in schools UHCL The Signal In American schools, the school district curriculum requires every course to have a possible career path. Having this opportunity allows students to decide what type of career they would like to pursue in the future. However, do schools have all the necessary classes that are needed for students to succeed in their future? For instance, for those determined students interested in becoming a doctor, there are required science classes such as biology and chemistry students must take. READ MORE Tech-centric, but not remote: Teaching in the classroom this year Edutopia You know the story: In 2020, school buildings closed and teachers who were primed for evolutionary success (sort of) smoothly went digital, creating Canvas hubs for their classes, using Jamboard, Flipgrid, Screencastify, and other apps and extensions to attempt to replicate the collaborative energy of a physical classroom over Zoom. You also know that many students couldn’t connect through a screen, and were starved for community, missing human-to-human contact with peers and teachers, and struggling to learn. READ MORE  PRODUCT SHOWCASE 10 FREE Anti-Bullying Posters Promote safety, address behaviors, define rules and expectations, and reward positive behavior with these 10 Free Anti-Bullying posters for your school. Download these free digital images that can be used on social media, signage or on Zoom.  Download now. LEARN MORE Roughly 4 in 10 teachers received training for Zoom, Teams, other tech over past year EdWeek Market Brief Roughly 4 in 10 teachers say they've received training over the past year on how to use communication platforms like Zoom, Teams and Skype, according to a global survey, which also finds that classroom educators received less professional support in math than in other subjects. READ MORE Minority-serving institutions get $3 million for cyberinfrastructure EdScoop The National Science Foundation awarded nearly $3 million dollars this month to a group of researchers and university leaders looking to bolster cyberinfrastructure at minority-serving institutions. The grant is set to begin on Friday funding training, pilot programs and workforce development to develop information systems that advance research capabilities. The work is to be led through the Minority Serving-Cyberinfrastructure Consortium, a group of 27 colleges and universities from across the country. READ MORE Edtech that helps teachers beats edtech that replaces them The Economist Newspaper COVID-19 forced ten years of digital transformation in schools to take place in a month, says John Martin, the former leader of Sanoma Learning, an education technology company. Teachers suddenly became more willing to use technology because the alternative was not to teach. Much of this technology will remain as pupils head back to the classroom this term. But the experience has refined what edtech is really for. READ MORE PRODUCT SHOWCASE Promoting Sanitary Schools With Quad-Sinks James Tressel, President of Youngstown State University said, “We feel blessed that we have this opportunity to really make our employees and our students and or community confident, because all of these..." Quad-Sink is a mobile, high volume hand washing station that can service 120 students in just 10 minutes.   LEARN MORE   Reach Your Prospects Every Week Thousands of industry professionals subscribe to association news briefs, which allows your company to push messaging directly to their inboxes and take advantage of the association's brand affinity. Connect with Highly Defined Buyers and Maximize Your Brand Exposure   LEARN MORE   .PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT How to make remote learning work News York Daily News As hundreds of thousands of children and 75,000 teachers return to New York City schools, families’ resilience is being put to yet another test, particularly as COVID-19 cases emerge in schools with no proper remote learning option available. While criticisms of the de Blasio administration abound, the mayor shows no signs of deviating from his plan to mandate in-person learning for all but a sliver of children with a prescribed list of serious medical conditions. READ MORE Flipped learning: What is it, and when is it effective? The Brookings Institution Instructors are constantly on the lookout for more effective and innovative ways to teach. Over the last 18 months, this quest has become even more salient, as COVID-19 has shaken up the academic landscape and pushed teachers to experiment with new strategies for engaging their students. One innovative teaching method that may be particularly amenable to teaching during the pandemic is flipped learning. But does it work? READ MORE 8 tips for building a digital learning plan that conquers chaos Education Week Craft flexible strategies, encourage experimentation with new instructional models and regularly solicit feedback. READ MORE  FEATURED ARTICLE   Benefits of an Early Childhood Leadership Certificate from Bank Street A child’s first few years of educational experiences set the stage for how they will learn for the rest of their lives. The Bank Street Early Childhood Leadership Advanced Certificate Program is designed for mission-driven educators seeking to advance their professional opportunities and fill the need for exceptional leadership in early childhood education. Areas of study within the program include curriculum and development, social justice, systems thinking, progressive education and law. LEARN MORE   In print or onscreen? Making the most of reading with young children MindShift Do you believe that young kids (say, from birth to age five or six) should be firmly rooted in the world of print? Or are you worried you're depriving children of a valuable opportunity if you deny them access to digital reading? Parents are torn. Studies from multiple English-speaking countries show the majority of parents continue to prefer print for their toddlers and preschoolers. Yet by nixing digital offerings, mothers and fathers worry their kids will be left behind — in enjoyment, learning, or preparation for primary school, where children might be handed a tablet their first day. READ MORE What school looks like when learning moves outside Education Week For students in Angela Ninde's fifth grade class at Centreville Elementary School, taking their math lesson outside is a daily occurrence. On one day in early September, they moved in groups — from a lesson at picnic tables where they used dice to learn the difference between odd and even numbers, to a section of planters where they dug holes for fresh seeds and trimmed kale from their existing crops, to an area with markers and large sheets of paper where they could spread out on the ground and illustrate different ways of using multiplication to represent the same number. READ MORE .EDUCATION RESEARCH Why lockdown and distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to increase the social class achievement gap Nature The COVID-19 pandemic has forced teachers and parents to quickly adapt to a new educational context: distance learning. Teachers developed online academic material while parents taught the exercises and lessons provided by teachers to their children at home. Considering that the use of digital tools in education has dramatically increased during this crisis, and it is set to continue, there is a pressing need to understand the impact of distance learning. READ MORE Report: Geography, socioeconomics created significant variation in pandemic learning plans K-12 Dive After a year and half of remote learning and a significant amount of capital invested to make it all possible, new digital tools and parts of the remote learning experience are likely to remain and influence approaches to learning as the education system shifts back to full-time, in-person learning. “The findings in this report can be useful as states consider how they might make remote and blended learning a more permanent part of K-12 education after the pandemic,” Trudy Cherasaro, director at Marzano Research, which operates REL Central, said in a press release. READ MORE .IN THE STATES Thousands of Louisiana students out of school after Ida Associated Press About 70,000 students across southeast Louisiana remain out of school because of Hurricane Ida’s destruction to classroom buildings a month ago, state Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley told lawmakers recently. That’s nearly 1 in 10 of Louisiana’s K-12 students — largely in Terrebonne, Lafourche, Jefferson, St. John the Baptist and St. Charles parishes — who remain idled by the Category 4 storm, which wrecked several parishes when it struck Aug. 29. READ MORE State superintendent sets goal to get all California third graders reading by 2026 KQED After years in which reading scores throughout the state fell short, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced a new initiative Tuesday that would get all California third grade students reading by 2026. Though the specifics of the initiative have not been worked out, Thurmond said he plans to put together a task force of educators, parents and education experts within the next few weeks that will eventually make policy recommendations READ MORE .ASSOCIATION NEWS Celebrate National Principals Month NAESP Each October, NAESP joins forces with the American Federation of School Administrators (AFSA) and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) to celebrate our nation’s principals for their tireless dedication to their students and the schools they serve. National Principals Month represents an opportunity to acknowledge and support the important work of principals. These school leaders fight every day to give their students the best education and we owe it to them to advocate on their behalf. READ MORE NAESP Twitter Chat: Easy Tips to Be a Principal Advocate NAESP The next #NAESPchat is on Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 8 p.m. ET. As part of our National Principals Month celebration, we’re joining together to discuss best practices to advocate for your school communities. Advocacy is more than just contacting your legislators; it’s little things you can do every day on the local level to support your students, school community, and profession. During this #NAESPchat, you’ll learn easy tips from your peers to become a principal advocate. READ MORE SUGGESTED COMPANIES Landscape Structures @Landscape Structures © Give kids the opportunity to explore a forest canopy with the new Tree Tops playstructure. Read more   Spark Imaginative Play   Promoted by Landscape Structures Novartis @Novartis © We want to discover, develop and successfully market innovative products to prevent and cure diseases. Read more   Providing Healthcare Solutions   Promoted by Novartis GE Healthcare @GEHealthcare © We provide medical technologies and services that are shaping a new age of patient care. Read more   Healthcare Collaboration   Promoted by GE Healthcare   Principal Insights Connect with NAESP Jason Zimmerman, Director of Publishing, Multiview, 469-420-2686 | Download media kit Anastasia Logan, Content Editor, MultiView, 469-420-2655 | Contribute News National Association of Elementary School Principals 1615 Duke Street  |  Alexandria, VA 22314  800-386-2377  |  Contact Us  |  www.naesp.org Click here to unsubscribe.  Learn how to add us to your safe sender list so our emails get to your inbox. ADVERTISE SUBSCRIBE PAST ISSUES   7701 Las Colinas Ridge, Ste. 800, Irving, TX 75063