7 tips and ideas to make the eclipse engaging for students

This article originally appeared on Vernier’s blog and is reposted here with permission.

On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will be visible over the United States, starting in Texas. This upcoming eclipse event is an exciting opportunity to incorporate phenomenon-based learning into your instruction and engage your students through inquiry.

Here are some tips for making the most out of this rare occasion as you study it with your students.…Read More

As states adopt science of reading, one group calls for better teacher training, curriculum

This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters.

Wisconsin is creating a new literacy office and hiring reading coaches. Ohio is dedicating millions to a curriculum overhaul. Indiana is requiring new teacher training.

Dozens of states are moving to align their teaching practices with the science of reading, a body of research on how children learn that emphasizes explicit phonics instruction alongside helping students build vocabulary and knowledge about the world. But a national policy group says many states still have significant work to do to ensure strong reading instruction.…Read More

Winners of the Lexia LETRS Science of Reading Grant Contest Announced

BOSTON     Lexia, a  Cambium Learning Group brand, has selected the 118 winners of its inaugural Lexia LETRS Science of Reading Grant Contest. Winners comprise K-5 educators in 26 states. Each will receive a grant providing them with no-cost access to the award-winning LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) professional learning program.

To enter the grant contest, applicants created short videos (60 seconds or less) explaining how LETRS would help transform their teaching. A panel of judges carefully reviewed each applicant’s entry to select the winners.

“These applications submitted by teachers showed their enthusiasm for science-based reading instruction and a deep desire to learn the ‘why’ and ‘how’ behind the way we all learn to read, spell, and achieve reading comprehension,” said Lexia President, Nick Gaehde. “We have every confidence that they’ll use what they learn in LETRS to transform their teaching.”…Read More

Navigating cultural diversity in American education

Key points:

The tapestry of America’s history is arguably woven with threads of multiculturalism, reflecting a nation that has embraced diversity since its inception. In many ways, the history of multicultural education runs parallel with the history of the United States, because we have been an ostensibly multicultural nation from the very beginning.

Within the educational landscape, the concept of Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) has emerged as a multifaceted approach that aims to promote equitable excellence and validate the diverse experiences of students. CRT refers to a student-centered approach that seeks to validate and affirm students’ diverse experiences and contributions. By creating bridges between students’ knowledge and classroom content, educators who employ CRT practices aim to affirm identities and values. Furthermore, educators who employ CRT extend learning beyond the classroom, thereby fostering community engagement and service learning to enhance students’ critical consciousness regarding social justice and racial inequalities.…Read More

Districts call for guidance in developing classroom AI policies

Key points:

To date, only six states have formulated a comprehensive AI policy absent federal guidance for districts to look to, according to findings from The 2024 Administrator AI Report: Perceptions, Practices, and Potential in Education, a new report from digital curriculum solution provider Imagine Learning. The report aims to identify administrators’ perceptions on the benefits and advantages of generative AI and benchmark its current rate of adoption.

Although several organizations, such as the CoSN, ISTE, and the Council of the Great City Schools have released generative AI guidelines and best-use practices for K-12 educators and districts, according to the report, 47 percent of administrators are planning to implement comprehensive policies on their own and 54 percent have indicated they would also like help from education solutions providers to reduce risks and concerns associated with generative AI.…Read More

Scaling-up high-dosage tutoring is crucial to students’ academic success

This article was originally published by the Center for American Progress.

Key points:

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, students have faced unprecedented levels of learning loss because of school closures and interrupted learning. In fact, recent national testing shows a decline in math scores in 43 states1 and reading scores in 30 states,2 while no states saw an improvement in scores for either subject. Nationwide, 64 percent of fourth graders are below proficient in math3 and 66 percent are below proficient in reading.4 The scores remain grim for older students, with 73 percent of eighth graders below proficient in math5 and 69 percent below proficient in reading.6 Public school leaders estimate that 49 percent of students began the 2022-23 school year behind grade level in at least one subject.7 As students across the country continue to struggle academically and as educators work to catch students up, policymakers must ensure that they are properly scaling academic recovery strategies to reach as many students as possible before it is too late.…Read More

The science of reading, beyond phonics

Key points:

Schools across the country have been shifting their reading strategies to incorporate knowledge and best practices they have learned from the science of reading. More than 30 states have written legislation that requires schools to utilize scientifically researched instructional strategies.

The largest change most states will see as a result is a dramatic increase in explicit phonics instruction. As a result, an increasing number of students will be able to access grade-level texts.…Read More

2023 Content Marketing Awards Top Winners Announced Live at Content Marketing World

WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES /EINPresswire.com/ — The Content Marketing Institute (CMI) just awarded the top eight winners in the prestigious 2023 Content Marketing Awards program during a special live ceremony at the Content Marketing World Conference and Expo in Washington, D.C. The Content Marketing Awards is the largest and longest-running international content marketing awards program in the world.

Here are the 2023 top Content Marketing Award winners:

-Content Marketing Project of the Year: The Ecopreneurs – Produced by Salesforce and agency, FORTUNE Brand Studio
-Agency of the Year (Less than 100 Employees): Imprint
-Agency of the Year (More than 100 Employees): Pace
-Agency of the Year (Branded Studio or Agency within a Media Company): FORTUNE Brand Studio
-B2B Branded Content Campaign of the Year: The Ecopreneurs – Produced by Salesforce and agency, FORTUNE Brand Studio
-B2C Branded Content Campaign of the Year: Enfamil 2022 Content Strategy – Produced by Reckitt and agency, Hearts & Science
-B2B Content Marketer of the Year: Richard McGill Murphy, Editor in Chief, Director of Brand Thought Leadership, ServiceNow
-B2C Content Marketer of the Year: R. Ethan Braden, Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Purdue University…Read More

Solving school transportation troubles with Title I funds

Key points:

  • Schools often overlook funding sources that can help with bus challenges
  • Solving school transportation issues is another way to ensure all students have equitable access to educational opportunities
  • See related article: 4 best practices to support and retain school leaders

More than half of students in the U.S. attend high-poverty public schools–and in some states, that percentage is much higher. In Mississippi, for example, approximately 92 percent of students attend high-poverty schools.

These students are often subjected to daunting challenges, but getting a ride to school shouldn’t be one of them. Federally funded resources are available that can be used to help schools and districts address student transportation needs. But here’s the thing: too few districts are taking advantage of those resources. And as a result, too many students are struggling to get to their classrooms safely, consistently, and on time.…Read More

4 tips for addressing absenteeism in K-12 schools

Key points:

  • Absenteeism is a top predictor of academic success and can have serious consequences
  • Solutions to chronic absenteeism will require long-term, strategic investment of time and resources

Districts across the country are grappling with elevated levels of chronic absenteeism that have yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. The Associated Press and Stanford University’s Big Local News Project found that there were approximately 230,000 students in 21 states whose absences could not be accounted for when looking at changes in enrollment between the 2019-2020 and 2021-2022 school years.

We also know a lot about the negative consequences of poor attendance: attendance is the number one predictor of academic achievement. Chronic absenteeism can have serious impacts on students, such as the inability to master basic grade-level skills, reduced access to food and counseling resources, and significantly higher rates of dropping out. Students who drop out of school have a far greater chance of entering the criminal justice system.…Read More

Certell’s Poptential™ Addresses 21st-Century Wars With Free Memorial Day Teaching Resources

INDIANAPOLIS (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Poptential™, a family of free social studies course packages from Certell, provides rich content to teach the importance of Memorial Day, including material on the U.S. involvement in 21st-century wars. Click to tweet.

“While today’s high school students weren’t yet born when the United States was attacked on 9/11, the War on Terror resulting from that day has been in the news for most of their lives,” said Julie Smitherman, a former social studies teacher and director of content at Certell, Inc. “More than 7,000 U.S. service men and women lost their lives during this protracted war, so it’s important to understand how it came about.”

The Memorial Day holiday honors American soldiers who have died in combat and has been observed annually since 1971 on the last Monday of May. Poptential’s American History curriculum features bell ringers, mini-lessons, and multimedia content to engage and teach students about the U.S. involvement in 21st-century wars, including the attack on the World Trade Center in New York, the resulting War on Terrorism, the occupation of Afghanistan and the Iraq war. Lessons include:…Read More