Patriot Day is a moment to pause and remember the lives affected by September 11, 2001. There are a range of Patriot Day Activities that can help you approach this delicate topic with the respect it deserves. These resources are crafted to encourage thoughtful reflection, foster empathy, and help students connect with the significance of this day in a meaningful way. Please be aware that this blog addresses a sensitive topic, so reader discretion is…
Looking around any classroom at the start of another school year, you will probably see a range of reactions from students. Some are eager to get started, returning from the break with a desire to start the year off in a positive way. Others appear less confident and seem to have approached the end of the summer with a sense of dread. Throughout the school year, you can also expect students to slowly lose motivation…
The calendar is getting ready to flip from August to September, which will soon mean the return of colorful leaves on trees, football season and bonfires. It also means Labor Day is approaching, meaning the unofficial end of summer. During the three-day Labor Day weekend, many Americans will travel, shop for deals online and in-store and maybe sneak in one final visit to the beach or neighborhood pool. However, the federal holiday is much more…
Self-confidence plays a critical role in a student’s academic performance. Confident students are more likely to participate in class, ask questions, and engage in discussions, which enhances their understanding of the subject matter. They are not afraid to tackle challenging assignments or exams, believing in their ability to succeed. This positive mindset can lead to better grades and a more profound grasp of academic content. 1. Set realistic expectations. If the level of an assignment…
It’s no secret that when schools make a concerted effort to foster healthy, strong relationships with families, students benefit in a number of ways. Studies suggest that parental involvement and communication can lead to academic gains for students: higher grades and test scores, improved social skills and time on task, better attendance and participation, and decreased behavioral problems in the classroom. But parent-teacher communication can be challenging, say teachers. In 2006, 50 percent of participants…
From formative and summative assessments to criterion-referenced and benchmark assessments, all types of learning assessments have unique function. But what are the types of learning assessments, and more importantly, when should you use them? If curriculum is the “what” of teaching and learning models are the “how,” then assessment is what challenges our assumptions about the what and the how. Assessment is commonly referred to as formative assessment–that is, assessment designed to inform instruction. Below,…
Counslr is a text-based mental health support application that provides unlimited access to live texting sessions with licensed professionals, 24/7/365. Users can access support on-demand within two minutes of opening the app, or by scheduled appointment. Through real-time texting, users enjoy one-on-one, private communication with a licensed counselor that can be conducted anytime, anywhere. Counslr was designed to help individuals deal with life’s day-to-day issues, empowering individuals to address concerns while they are “small” to…
A 2022 national survey of nearly 34,000 LGBTQ+ youth, ages 13-24, paints a clear, distressing picture of the trauma endured by LGBTQ+ students in America. Nearly three-quarters reported symptoms of anxiety, 58 percent reported symptoms of depression, and 45 percent said they had seriously considered committing suicide within the past year. However, the survey also shows that educators can make a very big difference. High school and college-aged LGBTQ+ youth who found their schools and…
On a Tuesday evening in 2019, about 80 parents and students gathered in Archer High School in Lawrenceville, Georgia. They were there for a night of post-secondary education planning. They reviewed statistics, heard school counselor recommendations, and spoke with college representatives. It’s a common enough scene–many high schools host college and career nights to help students and parents plan for the future, but this one had a twist: it was designed specifically for special education…
Mathematics is created by humans; math teachers are humans, and math students are humans. And yet many contemporary math classrooms erase humans from the equation. “Often mathematics is talked about as if it were apolitical, objective, and cold. A sterile textbook, a teacher writing on a chalkboard and rarely turning around,” said Sam Shah, a high school math teacher in Brooklyn, New York. For many students, that model of math class is unengaging or anxiety-provoking.…
