5 Things Educators Can Do Virtually to Support Students Experiencing Trauma

For many students, the COVID-19 pandemic is compounding traumatic experiences for diverse reasons, such as potential increased incidents of neglect, abuse, and isolation. At the same time, educators are limited in how they can support their students while schools are closed. REL Appalachia (REL AP) has been working with key stakeholders from the region in Read more about 5 Things Educators Can Do Virtually to Support Students Experiencing Trauma[…]

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How Did The World’s Highest Performing Education Systems Approach Distance Learning?

Almost all top-performing education systems transitioned to distance learning this past spring so students could continue learning during coronavirus-related school closures. In a new paper, NCEE summarizes initial takeaways from their experiences. They found that top-performing jurisdictions:  -Were initially better positioned than the U.S. to quickly implement distance learning;  -Increased capacity in this area since Read more about How Did The World’s Highest Performing Education Systems Approach Distance Learning?[…]

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What Worked This Spring? Well-Designed and Delivered Courses

Writing for Inside Higher Ed, Doug Lederman reported on the best practices that were incorporated in virtual classes that students rated most highly. Excerpts from the piece appear below: Professors and students alike viewed their remote learning experience most favorably this spring when their courses incorporated more “best practices.” That’s the path to making the Read more about What Worked This Spring? Well-Designed and Delivered Courses[…]

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More than Ever, Meeting Students’ Needs Starts with Meeting our Own

Writing for the Fordham Institute, Matthew Taylor explores the importance of self-care for educators and the impact our modeling has on students. Excerpts of the piece appear below: Over the last several weeks, educators accomplished the mammoth task of setting up remote learning for the remainder of the COVID-19 pandemic. As time passes, school on Read more about More than Ever, Meeting Students’ Needs Starts with Meeting our Own[…]

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Learning to Teach Through Avatars

Writing for The Hechinger Report, Jill Barshay explores a Virginia study that shows that prospective teachers improve their handling of student misbehavior when training simulations with avatars are combined with coaching. Excerpts of the piece appear below: University of Virginia researchers are rigorously testing computerized simulations of misbehaving students to see if they help student Read more about Learning to Teach Through Avatars[…]

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Appraising Teachers Across the Globe: Where the U.S. Stands

Writing for FutureEd, Andreas Schleicher reviews the findings of the second volume of the  Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Excerpts of the piece appear below. TALIS, which surveyed 260,000 secondary school teachers and administrators worldwide, found that only 7 percent of teachers work in schools Read more about Appraising Teachers Across the Globe: Where the U.S. Stands[…]

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Prepare Now for a a Precipitous ‘COVID Slide’ Next Year

NWEA has announced projections that suggest current school closures due to the COVID-19 global pandemic could result in dramatic learning loss for students. The research, conducted by NWEA’s Collaborative for Student Growth Research Center, leverages previous NWEA research on summer learning loss and uses a national sample of over five million students in grades 3-8 Read more about Prepare Now for a a Precipitous ‘COVID Slide’ Next Year[…]

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Transforming Virtual Systems for Students with Disabilities

Two searchable databases include valuable information on meeting the varied needs of students through distance learning. WestEd’s National Center for Systemic Improvement (NCSI) is a helpful compilation of relevant guidance and resources related to distance learning, policy, and support for children and youth with disabilities. Among many resources, you will find: Distance Learning for Students Read more about Transforming Virtual Systems for Students with Disabilities[…]

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Shifting the Clinical Experience Using Virtual Formats

PK-12 districts and universities across the nation are currently challenged with social distancing measures that are limiting and, in most cases, preventing deep, authentic, and job-embedded clinical experiences that we know to be one of the cornerstones of a candidates’ effective preparation as a teacher.  In light of this reality, US PREP has assembled resources Read more about Shifting the Clinical Experience Using Virtual Formats[…]

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March Issue Brief: Whole Child Approaches

Educators have long known that focusing on academics alone is not enough. Children need support to develop academically, physically, cognitively, socially, and emotionally. Whole child approaches attempt to integrate these needs into a coherent whole. In Core Education’s March issue brief, we explore whole child approaches, look at alternatives for defining student success, and review Read more about March Issue Brief: Whole Child Approaches[…]

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2Revolutions: Message to Community with Resources

With over a decade of experience working to support educator and leader learning through blended learning, 2Revolutions has assembled helpful resources to support the transition to virtual/blended learning. These resources are intended for district leaders and teachers navigating this unprecedented time.  LearnNext: 2Rev co-developed LearnNext with a range of phenomenal national partners. This platform includes Read more about 2Revolutions: Message to Community with Resources[…]

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Imparting Wisdom: HBCU Lessons for K-12 Education

UNCF has released a new report, Imparting Wisdom: HBCU Lessons for K-12 Education, which details historically black colleges and universities’ (HBCUs) longstanding efforts to provide quality educational experiences for their students and how their success may be translated in K-12 schools.  For decades, public education has implemented reforms specifically targeting students of color, but the Read more about Imparting Wisdom: HBCU Lessons for K-12 Education[…]

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Boosting Soft Skills is Better than Raising Test Scores

Writing for the Hechinger Report, Jill Barshay reviews a Chicago analysis that finds that schools that foster social-emotional development get better results for students. Excerpts of the piece appear below: We hear the phrase “failing schools” a lot but what really defines a failing school? Generally, we look at test scores. Schools that aren’t getting Read more about Boosting Soft Skills is Better than Raising Test Scores[…]

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The Science of Talking in Class

Writing for The Hechinger Report, Jill Barshay recently reviewed research on how to guide students in productive discussions and group work. Excerpts from the piece appear below:  A team of U.K. researchers collected all the studies they could find on peer interaction, in which children are either discussing or collaborating on an assignment together in Read more about The Science of Talking in Class[…]

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D.C. Continues to Improve its Teacher Evaluation System

Amber Northern, writing for the Fordham Institute, recently explored research on the latest iteration of the District of Columbia’s teacher evaluation system and found that continuous, thoughtful changes to the system have resulted in sustained improvements in teacher effectiveness in the city. Excerpts of the piece appear below: In their recent report, researchers Tom Dee, Read more about D.C. Continues to Improve its Teacher Evaluation System[…]

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The Power of The Science of Learning in Action

What happens when teachers start using science of learning principles? A new, rigorous study suggests some very powerful outcomes for students. A group of researchers have been exploring the question of what happens when teachers get professional development based on the science of learning. Their latest research article explores the effectiveness of two approaches to Read more about The Power of The Science of Learning in Action[…]

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