Self-Assessing Social and Emotional Instruction and Competencies: A Tool for Teachers

The educational community is increasingly focused on the development of students’ social and emotional learning (SEL) competencies and the link between SEL and improved educational attainment and achievement. SEL is the process through which students develop the skills necessary to recognize and manage emotions, build relationships, solve interpersonal problems, and make effective and ethical decisions. Read more about Self-Assessing Social and Emotional Instruction and Competencies: A Tool for Teachers[…]

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Trends Shaping Education 2022

Reflecting on the future of education does not mean simply pushing problems into the future. Rather, responsible policy-making pulls future developments into the present to learn and prepare. A new book from OECD is meant to challenge, to inspire, and, most of all, to encourage readers to ask themselves: “What do global trends mean for Read more about Trends Shaping Education 2022[…]

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Teacher Professional Development Is in a Rut, but Better Research Can Help

For years, researchers have found teacher professional development programs to be largely ineffective. But a  new and growing body of research suggests that professional learning, done well, can both increase teacher morale and raise student outcomes. This means it is: Grounded in the content and curriculum of the teachers receiving it; Dependent on the expertise Read more about Teacher Professional Development Is in a Rut, but Better Research Can Help[…]

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When Is the Right Time to Make Changes in Education?

Dr. Kim Fleming, President of Core Education, LLC, recently joined Jeff Ikler and Kirsten Richert on their Getting Unstuck: Educators Leading Change podcast to discuss changes that may persist in education beyond the pandemic and new innovations on the horizon.    Kim on why this conversation matters: “There is something really urgent about the moment Read more about When Is the Right Time to Make Changes in Education?[…]

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Study Finds that Habit Formation Could Block Teacher Improvement

For teachers, the development of habits is a necessary concession to the unpredictable nature of their job. Morning assignments, class transitions, even behavior management need to be governed by routines that are as predictable for kids as they are effective for adults. But according to new research, these habits may be responsible for the slowing Read more about Study Finds that Habit Formation Could Block Teacher Improvement[…]

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K-12 Professional Development Trends to Watch in 2021

Writing for K-12 Dive, Katie Navarra recently reviewed new trends emerging for K-12 educator professional learning. Excerpts from the piece appear below: The coronavirus has required teachers, like their students, to shift how they receive training and support. Even when schools can return to “normal,” these forced changes may result in long-term benefits. Following are Read more about K-12 Professional Development Trends to Watch in 2021[…]

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The Elements: Transforming Teaching through Curriculum-Based Professional Learning

A new report by Carnegie Corporation of New York calls for transforming teaching and student learning by anchoring professional learning in high-quality curriculum materials. Teachers’ jobs are changing in real time. Over the past decade, new academic standards have dramatically shifted expectations for student learning. It’s no longer enough to raise a hand and give Read more about The Elements: Transforming Teaching through Curriculum-Based Professional Learning[…]

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Responding to Crisis With A Tiered Support System

Eric Nentrup, writing for Getting Smart, reviews Turnaround Children’s new tiered support toolkit for educators who are supporting children and families in crisis. Excerpts of the piece appear below: Turnaround Children recently released a tiered support system action pack that takes advanced learning science and makes it accessible for educators to respond to the crises Read more about Responding to Crisis With A Tiered Support System[…]

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Teacher Improvement during the First Ten Years

A recent study from Brown University’s Matthew A. Kraft and John P. Papay and Harvard’s Olivia L. Chi uses nine years of administrative data from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in North Carolina to examine teacher improvement through the lens of principal evaluations. Although teachers were evaluated on eight domains (e.g., Management of Instructional Time, Management of Student Read more about Teacher Improvement during the First Ten Years[…]

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More districts should seize the opportunity to improve professional learning for teachers

Writing for the Center on Reinventing Public Education, Bree Dusseault, Georgia Heyward, and Travis Pillow provide an analysis of the professional learning opportunities that districts can utilize to support remote learning. Excerpts from the piece appear below: Districts have an urgent need to find new ways to help teachers learn on the job and hone Read more about More districts should seize the opportunity to improve professional learning for teachers[…]

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Transforming Professional Learning: Actions for States to Help Teachers Continuously Improve Their Instructional Practices

If schools want to significantly improve student outcomes, they need to help millions of hardworking teachers continuously improve their instructional practice. Yet in many districts, the professional development fails to produce positive changes in the classroom, despite substantial investments of money and time. To develop their instructional practices, teachers require a professional learning system with Read more about Transforming Professional Learning: Actions for States to Help Teachers Continuously Improve Their Instructional Practices[…]

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The Role of the School Administrator in Classroom Coaching

Research on instructional coaching shows that when defined, understood, and implemented as a principal-coach-teacher partnership, teacher coaching programs can be more effective. Engaged principals are key to a successful coaching program. Digital Promise has recently conducted research on the Dynamic Learning Project (DLP) coaching program that shows that when principals support the coach-teacher relationship and Read more about The Role of the School Administrator in Classroom Coaching[…]

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Micro-credentials and Education Policy in the United States

Digital Promise has released a new report exploring micro-credentials for educators.  Over the last several years, micro-credentials—a way for teachers and administrators to demonstrate their teaching and leadership skills—have generated growing interest among policymakers and practitioners alike for at least three reasons:  The internet provides increasing accessibility and rapid development of multitudes of online resources Read more about Micro-credentials and Education Policy in the United States[…]

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Debunking the Myth of the Teacher Performance Plateau

Recently, Bryan Goodwin of McREL International and William J. Slotnik of the Community Training and Assistance Center partnered up to write a piece for Phi Delta Kappan exploring the myth that teachers peak as professionals early in their careers and then reach a performance plateau. Excerpts from their piece appear below: There is a belief, Read more about Debunking the Myth of the Teacher Performance Plateau[…]

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Four Ways to Transform the Professional Learning Experience

In the February 2019 issue of Language Magazine, Pam Allyn, Senior Vice President, Innovation & Development, Scholastic Education, and Dr. Carol Chanter, Senior Vice President, Professional Learning Services, Scholastic Education, outlined four ways to cultivate learning experiences for educators that are both effective and enjoyable. 1. Blend it A mix of face-to-face learning with online Read more about Four Ways to Transform the Professional Learning Experience[…]

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4 Cornerstones of Professional Learning

Stephanie Hirsh, who will be retiring from Learning Forward this June, has laid out four critical elements for educators to ensure professional learning improves results for all students. 4 Cornerstones of Professional Learning, centered on a foundation of the Standards for Professional Learning, shares research, evidence from practice, and reflections from Stephanie Hirsh’s career at Read more about 4 Cornerstones of Professional Learning[…]

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