This message was sent to ##Email## To advertise in this publication please click here November 2, 2021 ##\member## .PRINCIPAL LEADERSHIP Schools can change, but only when leaders learn how to listen EdSurge Listening-leadership is not a simple default, and it is not to be confused with silence. It is a genuine, multilayered repertoire that can be applied by leaders looking to serve others, to build communities and to meet uncertainty. Listening-leaders proceed with humility, integrity, and precision — just what we need at a time when schools are back in session but certainly not in the clear in terms of all that we grappled with during the 2020-2021 year. READ MORE How a St. Louis school is winning the battle against math anxiety District Administration Many of us grew up in a school environment where our grasp on a mathematics concept was often judged by who could answer a question first, or how quickly our hands would shoot up when asked for the answer to a set problem. Our peers who were more confident would happily throw their hands in the air ready to give the answer. However, for a lot of us the battle taking place in our minds was, “should I attempt to answer this and risk getting it wrong in front of everyone, or should I simply let the ‘confident children’ answer like they always do?” READ MORE Educating amid COVID: From Kentucky counselors sounding alarm about student mental health to New Mexico investing in 'academic coaches,' 11 ways states are confronting the crisis The 74 In most cases, states are attempting to gain approval from federal education officials to omit some information on school performance from school report cards, citing pandemic disruption and staggered recovery efforts as reasons that typical school ratings would not be accurate. Experts caution that worrisome academic indicators should continue to be expected as the nation’s school steer their way out of the worst of the pandemic, with one report on graduation rates from America’s Promise Alliance estimating that the peak graduation rate achieved in 2019-20 may be hard to reach as schools struggle to return to normalcy. READ MORE This is the problem with ranking schools Washington Post Although U.S. News has long been criticized for distorting perceptions of schools and the choices of school leaders by ranking schools based on a handful of “performance” variables, Americans have always been concerned with the quality of their schools, a concern that has frequently led them to quantify schooling. In fact, the impulse driving the U.S. News rankings, which so many found disturbing, also drives much of contemporary education policy. READ MORE VIDEO SHOWCASE Principals say this is the go-to fundraiser for the upcoming school year. Promoted By Boosterthon Lexia Proves Remote Learning Effective Promoted By Lexia Learning Learning with COVID: How educators and students are finding a 'new normal' WBUR After more than 250 school days, full-time in-person learning in Massachusetts public schools finally resumed in early September. For many, being back in the classroom was reason for celebration, and a highly anticipated return to some sense of normalcy since the COVID-19 pandemic shut school buildings down in March of 2020. But while going to school and sitting inside a physical classroom are routines that most people are familiar with, the start of this school year still feels different. READ MORE Turning data into action during COVID eSchool News Wausau School District has undergone a ‘paradigm shift’ in how educators use data to drive improvement. Response to Intervention (RtI) Specialist Julie A. Oehmichen and her team of dedicated educators worked tirelessly throughout this past year to meet the needs of every learner in every type of learning environment–analyzing student information and turning data into action. READ MORE Multiplying the impact of math catch-up THE Journal Elementary school education is accumulative, building on whatever instruction came during the prior grade. One year you’re learning polynomials, the next how to graph them, while social studies gradually becomes more nuanced and comprehensive. So, what happens when a break occurs in the educational track? Across the nation, despite teachers’ best efforts, students are suffering from the impact of a year of online learning, and it’s crucial to recoup that lost training and engagement before the chance is lost forever. 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 10 reasons why discussing race in class improves outcomes for all students District Administration Not allowing students to discuss race or racism in schools is both unrealistic and harmful, a new report says. First, there are developmental considerations, as children become aware of race and can experience positive and negative emotions about their ethnic groups even before they start school, says “United We Learn,” an Aspen Institute guide to how educators can better recognize America’s racial diversity. READ MORE Longer COVID-related school closures could hurt students' future earnings Education Week U.S. students who experienced the longest school closures during the pandemic will face lower future earnings and are less likely to go to college, a new study shows. READ MORE Leadership for ESL teacher recruitment and retention Language Magazine As the numbers of English learners continue to rise in U.S. schools, the need also rises for schools and districts to increase the number of qualified (content and pedagogically proficient), culturally competent, and credentialed teachers prepared to teach them. Schools often face difficulty in recruiting, hiring, and retaining quality teachers for English learners (ELs). However, with an intentional approach, schools and districts can have the best teachers in place to give them an equitable education. READ MORE  PRODUCT SHOWCASE Whitepaper | Supporting High-Quality SEL Research shows that social-emotional learning increases positive social behavior and academic success. To ensure all students benefit, it’s important to closely evaluate SEL programs to make sure they fit the unique needs of your school or district. Read this whitepaper for expert advice to guide your program selection and implementation. LEARN MORE Superintendent's view: In Arizona, collaboration with our state's public universities is helping K-12 students succeed The 74 For too long, Arizona students and teachers have lacked appropriate funding and access to high-quality tools in the classroom — particularly in critical areas of mathematics, science and technology. A decades-long, systemic underfunding of our state’s public education system left students and teachers unprepared to meet 21st century demands, even before the devastating impact of the pandemic. READ MORE 11 reasons why it's so important to support teachers past the pandemic District Administration Engaging, effective and easy-to-use tools and instructional resources are just that—tools and resources. If we’ve learned anything in the past 18 months, it’s that student learning starts with the instructor as the most valuable asset. As we reflect on critical lessons learned throughout the pandemic, we have focused on the importance of teacher development opportunities, the need for accurate data analytics, and bridging gaps between remote and in-person learning. READ MORE Teachers' use of standards-aligned curricula slowed during the pandemic Education Week As teachers adapted their lessons to remote learning last school year, many made changes to materials—finding or creating new resources that would work in an online, distanced environment. A new report shows that teachers’ use of standards-aligned instructional materials flatlined during that time, after being on the upswing. READ MORE  SPONSORED CONTENT Promoted by Respectful Ways Respectful Ways assesses school climate then targets PreK-12 SEL modules & P.D. training for staff. The Attachment & Trauma Network vetted all curricula & digital materials as trauma-informed. Respectful Ways is chosen as a la carte' packages based on students' specific behavioral needs. We partner with subject-matter experts to co-host custom P.D. workshops for school staff. Click here to schedule a Demo to see how Respectful Ways can help your students & staff! What are schools doing to prepare for a childhood COVID-19 vaccine rollout? K-12 Dive As the U.S. Food and Drug Administration debates granting emergency use authorization of a COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11, school systems across the country are in various stages of planning for a potential rollout, including hosting vaccine clinics on campus, hiring additional staff, issuing communications to families, and handling parental permissions for students to get a shot. READ MORE Recognizing the signs of trauma Edutopia Many educators ask, "How do I know if a student has experienced trauma, and what does trauma look like in the classroom?" It’s important to remember that trauma looks different for each and every person — from the experiences themselves, to their emotional impacts, to the ways in which they manifest themselves, to what is needed to heal from them. READ MORE Teens know they're addicted to social media. How to help them cut back Education Week (Commentary) Some young people don’t think they have a problem, but even those who do struggle with cutting back. New research shows a promising direction — here's something I wrote recently about the topic for Character Lab as a Tip of the Week: How do you convince a teenager to kick their Instagram habit? 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. Don't let education windfall be a flash in the pan K-12 (Commentary) The American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) Fund dedicates $122 billion to help schools reopen and operate safely and address the pandemic’s impact on students. This financial windfall is an opportunity to transform education. As a new report from the American Enterprise Institute points out, much of the money may not go directly to COVID recovery and school reopenings. READ MORE Digital citizenship skills for kids are a must Goverment Technology (Commentary) It can be a little mind-blowing for older generations to witness the ease with which children navigate the digital world. Their comfort with social media can lead adults to believe kids are well-equipped to thrive online. However, ease of use does not equal maturity to navigate potentially unsafe social media situations. Kids need guidance from trusted adults — at school and at home — to become safe and responsible digital citizens. READ MORE 5 aspects of conscious leadership in action Forbes Today’s highly disruptive socio-economic, technological and cultural changes coupled with the five most independent, sophisticated and demanding generations in the history of the workforce have combined to force unprecedented changes in current leadership mindsets, models and methods. The steadiness and predictability of the good old days of the Industrial Age are forever behind us and the uncertain whirlwind of the Information Age is now upon us. READ MORE .EDUCATION POLICY Michigan Legislature OKs school accounts destined for veto Associated Press Republican lawmakers took final votes on veto-destined bills recently that would let Michigan students attend private schools and pay other educational expenses with scholarship accounts funded by people and corporations that would get tax credits for their donations. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat who opposes vouchers, has called the fast-tracked legislation a "nonstarter." The state has what is considered to be the country’s strictest constitutional ban on providing public assistance to nonpublic schools. READ MORE .SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY Defining a digital curriculum Tech & Learning We have heard and used the phrase "digital curriculum" almost daily in education since March 2020. Sometimes because of need, and sometimes just because it makes the work sound future-ready. However, as a district leader, I always want to ensure that when our educators provide a digital curriculum or move to more online resources, it fits the students' needs and is rooted in best practice. Digital curriculum is a lot of things, but what it has yet to deliver is a universal understanding. READ MORE The changing face of instruction: Synchronous vs. asynchronous e-learning EdTech Magazine From February 2020 to March 2021, schools turned to online synchronous and asynchronous forms of education as waves of COVID-19 presented a rocky return to traditional on-campus learning. More recently, a growing number of schools are turning to synchronous hybrid learning (SHL), where students can learn together face-to-face and online at the same time through a blend of synchronous and asynchronous modalities. 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: Using the rule of threes for a technology strategy eSchool News As the new school year starts amid fresh uncertainty, educators are grappling with how to navigate what I’ve come to call the “And Era.” The And Era is not about going only remote or returning to purely in-person experiences, but adopting the best of both. While many schools are bringing kids back into classrooms this year, the spread of the Delta variant and other factors out of their control mean they must again be prepared to support a mix of virtual and in-person learning. READ MORE How should we approach the ethical considerations of AI in K-12 education? EdSurge The field of education is no less affected by these technologies. AI shows up in instructional chatbots, personalized learning systems and administrative tools. Continuing on this trajectory, there is likely to be no field or industry untouched by AI before long. And with this change comes a host of new questions — concerns about the ethical design and implementation of these new tools. READ MORE What teachers and parents should know about ransomware eSchool News In the face of continued uncertainty related to the pandemic, families like mine prepared for a return to school that still looked a little bit more like normal this year. For many parents, teachers and caregivers who struggled through a year of remote learning, with all of its online homework assignments and Zoom classes, this has been a major relief. READ MORE  PRODUCT SHOWCASE See How 3 Educators Improve School Communication With Digital Signage For this webinar, we’re bringing together educational professionals and digital signage experts to share best practices in setting up and managing digital signage in schools. Hear from a middle school A/V Director, a district Network Video System Analyst, and an elementary school Media Specialist on how they improve their school's communication with digital signage. Join Webinar The new normal in edtech: Redefining support for today's leaders K-12 Dive For many years, K-12 education's focus has circled around proficiency. However, the pandemic has forced everyone, from policymakers to EdTech companies, to expand that view. The challenge today must be two-fold: to address both proficiency and well-being, not just for all students, but for all teachers as well. READ MORE How innovation can drive education TechGenyz Education drives innovation, but innovation can also drive education. The fact that you can easily search for the best research paper writing service is a miracle of innovation. Your parents did not benefit from such a service. If they want help with an essay, they would need to pay/ask a classmate. READ MORE 13 ways to improve science and engineering lessons in the early grades District Administration Young children can ask sophisticated questions to make sense of the world if they are introduced to engineering and science ideas. However, from preschool through 5th grade, students do not have sufficient learning experiences in the two subjects, says a new report, “Science and Engineering in Preschool through Elementary Grades,” by The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. READ MORE PRODUCT SHOWCASE New Air Purifier for Schools 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.   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 Can you teach reading on Zoom? EdSource While learning to read may seem like the ultimate in-person activity, conjuring up images of snuggling on a parent’s lap, Sliwerski is not the only educator who has found a high-tech solution to teaching during the pandemic. Stanford University associate professor Rebecca Silverman has also been trying to re-imagine how learning happens during the Covid era. She is also using Zoom to bridge the gap between student and teacher for Ravenswood Reads, a long-running reading tutorial for low-income K-three students in San Mateo County. READ MORE 10 ways to support introverts in the classroom We Are Teachers Every classroom has introverts and extroverts. You might think it's easy to tell the difference: extroverts are eager to participate, while introverts are quiet and shy. That's not necessarily the case, though. Many introverts enjoy time spent with others, but they need time on their own to recover the energy it takes. If you want to support introverts in the classroom, you need to know more about them. READ MORE 8 activities for students (and teachers) to create a mindful classroom Edutopia The value of mindfulness-related activities in schools is not new. Writer and scientist Jon Kabat-Zinn helped legitimize the concept through his research, but its early connection to meditation raised red flags for some and kept its recommended practices from catching on. Now, however, as the adverse impact of stress on learning is quite well understood and the pandemic, along with racial and economic disparities, has escalated stress levels in schools worldwide, mindfulness practices are enjoying a resurgence. 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   3 things schools need to know about quality remote learning after COVID District Administration In the months ahead, administrators must figure out how to provide robust remote instruction for students who are infected, in quarantine or at higher risk medically. K-12 leaders will also have to expand on what worked best during the pandemic to provide students with virtual options even after the pandemic subsides and classrooms are back in person. READ MORE .EDUCATION RESEARCH Just having standards isn't enough — study finds teachers use high-quality curricula in states that actively promote them The 74 The number of teachers using curriculum aligned to academic standards has ticked up since 2019, rising more quickly in states that have adopted policies incentivizing the use of high-quality materials than in others, according to a new report from the RAND Corp. Teachers are much more likely to use standards-aligned math curriculum than English language arts, and more likely to use it in elementary and middle school grades than high school, researchers found. READ MORE How can drama improve language learning? Language Magazine Drama is a naturally expressive and creative medium that is centered around the communication of thoughts and ideas. It seems obvious that the practical and communicative nature of drama is a natural companion to language learning, yet it is seldom a key component of any language curriculum. Drama has a much greater role to play in language teaching than it currently occupies in classrooms around the world. READ MORE Spending time in nature promotes early childhood development University of British Columbia vis ScienceDaily For the study, researchers at the UBC faculty of forestry and faculty of medicine analyzed the developmental scores of 27,372 children in Metro Vancouver who attended kindergarten between 2005 and 2011. They estimated the amount of greenspace around each child's residence from birth to age five. They also assessed levels of traffic-related air pollution and community noise. The results highlight the fundamental importance of natural green spaces like street trees, parks and community gardens, authors say. READ MORE How time of day affects learning ability, and how to use it to your advantage Digital Trends In an age where all the world’s information is just a couple clicks away, it’s now possible to learn practically anything at any time of day — at least in theory. In practice, things aren’t so clear-cut. Despite the fact that we can access information whenever we want, our ability to absorb and understand that information isn’t quite as flexible. As it turns out, certain times of day are better for learning than others. READ MORE .IN THE STATES TCAP results will change for 28 Tennessee districts after test materials arrive late Chalkbeat The state education department informed school superintendents Wednesday that some testing materials from Tennessee’s spring standardized assessment were not received from 28 districts in time to be included in the state’s report card and accountability systems. The delays affected fewer than 1,000 students, and most of the impacted districts will see a slight bump in proficiency rates as a result of the recalibration, said department spokesman Brian Blackley. READ MORE Louisiana facing worsening shortages of classroom teachers Associated Press Louisiana's classroom teacher shortage is growing worse, with rising retirements and declining ranks of new teachers in districts around the state. The Advocate reports that the ranks of students in the LSU School of Education plunged 57% in the past decade and 39% in the past five years, according to figures provided by the school. Meanwhile, retirements of teachers and other school personnel shot up 25% from 2020 to 2021, according to data compiled by the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana. More than 2,100 K-12 employees retired after the 2019-20 school year, increasing to 2,686 a year later. READ MORE For months, California private schools have been waiting for 'emergency' COVID aid EdSource Recognizing that all schools were struggling with COVID, Congress offered help this year for private along with public schools. The $5.5 billion for non-public schools was small compared with the $230 billion in pandemic relief for public schools since March 2020, but nonetheless an unprecedented amount. Congress titled it "Emergency Assistance for Non-Public Schools" to stress that the money should go out the door quickly, especially to schools serving low-income families. A big beneficiary was to be California's urban parochial schools, surviving financially for years on the margins and on their wits. Still, they wondered if the state's share — $368 million split over two rounds of funding — was too good to be true. READ MORE Atlanta schools offer $3K to lure teachers for online class Associated Press The district announced the hiring bonus recently amid a jump in the number of students seeking online instruction, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Atlanta Public Schools will also provide relocation and housing allowances for successful out-of-state candidates, according to the newspaper. Starting pay in the district for a first-year teacher with a bachelor’s degree is just over $49,000. READ MORE .ASSOCIATION NEWS Middle-level meetups 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! Held every other month via Zoom, Middle-Level Meetups will help you grow your professional learning network and equip you with strategies to implement within your schools. Registration is open to current NAESP members and includes access to a specialized professional learning community within Canvas. Come learn with us! READ MORE A new take on professional development NAESP Isolation is a choice, and it’s limiting your impact as a school leader. The job is already tough enough, and it gets much harder when you go it alone. The constant demand for decisions, answers, and your time leaves you feeling like you live in a pinball machine, as you also work to set the tone and conditions for excellence within your school. 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 Hailey Golden, Director of Publishing, Multiview, 469-420-2630 | 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