Commentary
Why “first, do no harm” applies well to Deaf students in public schools
A former teacher who is Deaf says mainstream-school staff can take cues from people in the Deaf community on what's best for Deaf students.
Education
Educational Leadership
How entrepreneurship education builds strong community ties
My district’s relationship with the business community, which uses entrepreneurship education as a cornerstone, is about to get even stronger.
Events
Exploring teacher professional learning opportunities at the Smithsonian
The Smithsonian Institution offers many free professional learning opportunities for teachers, often held during the summer.
Insights
3 questions to ask when adopting AI tools in schools or districts
School leaders considering a new AI-driven technology must be sure the use is safe and effective, explains Adam Geller, founder of Edthena.
Commentary
Leveraging edtech certifications for product decision-making
How a collaborative effort provides reliable and transparent information to help edtech district leaders select the best products.
Insights
Playful learning: Taking STEM outdoors
Taking STEM outdoors can help students make real-world connections, broaden their social skills and show them how to become problem-solvers.
Analysis
AI is making networking and social skills more critical. Are your students prepared?
Social skills are a must for landing a job, but today's students lack the confidence to talk easily with adults. Here are ways to help.
Educational Leadership
Sizing up the summer
Learning to embrace the good during the bad is one of life's lessons that gives a more peaceful point of view.
Education
Track the instructional coaching impact across district coaches
Data on instructional coaching impact for a districtwide report showcases its efficacy and encourages continuing educational improvement.
Sponsored
Modernizing student transportation regulations: A Q&A with Morgan Judge
This post is sponsored by EverDriven According to the Urban Institute, educational inequity extends beyond classroom walls: it starts with inadequate transportation options for...
Education
How teaching in an online school inspired (and saved) our teaching careers
What's it like to teach at an online school compared with a traditional school? Two teachers from Ohio and Oregon offer insight.
Education
The power of pictorial representations in math learning
Moving from concrete experiences to abstract symbols with manipulatives and pictorial representations creates learning, not just memorization.
Education
5 tips for creating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ students
How educators can create safety for LGBTQ+ students, even as handling queer issues in schools becomes increasingly politicized.
Educational Leadership
Build relationships among educators to aid MTSS implementation
Build relationships among teachers and staff by connecting with them personally and finding ways for them to connect with each other.
Edtech
How a Title I school drove significant reading growth with high-impact virtual tutoring
High-dosage, 1-to-1 virtual tutoring with the same tutors, strong assessments and willingness to adapt helped our students' scores soar.
Education
Encourage high-school students to read more by giving them choices
Allowing choice of book levels, genres and topics can make reading in high school more likely -- both for assigned work and for pleasure.
Educational Leadership
3 levers to pull for systemic change for increased student outcomes
School schedules, high-quality materials and effective professional development are three areas of systemic change that improve outcomes.
Education
Helping students cope with exam stress
The year of 2022 saw the greatest number of searches for “exam stress” in the last 20 years, according to a Google analysis by KIS Academics.
Events
The remarkable impact of teachers who recommit to the teaching profession each school year
How the Smithsonian educators embrace the role of teachers, celebrate the impact of teachers, and help with educational ideas and resources.
Insights
3 ways to rethink support for virtual learning
How schools are handling virtual learning through flexibility and interventions and attending to student wellness.
Education
Transforming sustainability lessons through tech
Why tapping into classroom tech like augmented and virtual reality helps teach sustainability topics year-round.
Education
6 keys to effective video coaching in a Title I district
A director of teaching and learning shares insights on effective video coaching that have helped teachers learn from their lessons.
Educational Leadership
Start early — and continue all year — to get to know preschoolers
Our youngest learners develop rapidly, so teachers get to know preschoolers before school starts and year-round to meet their needs.
Events
Educators: Get expert lessons at SmartBrief’s AI Impact Summit
SmartBrief’s virtual AI Impact Summit will include various education-related sessions during a two-day deep dive on Sept. 27 and 28.
Commentary
Self-paced learning: The evolution of education
How self-paced learning is building a new on-ramp to success for today’s students, whether they're behind, on pace or ahead of the curriculum
Educational Leadership
Kick-start the year by offloading administrivia to a chatbot
Here's how one leader frees up his time by letting a chatbot do the lion's share of his more mundane tasks.
Insights
Meaningful professional development: A tool for conquering teacher burnout
High-quality professional development programs and supportive administrators can ease teachers' burnout and enhance their skills.
Educational Leadership
Approaching drastic changes
Acknowledging and welcoming change, then accepting that what is different may be the new normal, are important parts of leadership.
Edtech
5 ways instructional coaches can leverage AI
AI seems scary at first, but teachers and instructional coaches who leverage AI responsibly will find it an enormous time-saver
Edtech
Adapt to succeed: Why teachers must embrace change to prepare students for the future
Growing through intimidation and fear leads to new experiences -- for teachers and students.
Sponsored
Purdue offers flexible advancement opportunities in biomedical engineering
This post is sponsored by Purdue University Biomedical engineers have strong prospects over the next decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which...
Education
12 free themed resources from Smithsonian’s Teaching Toolkit
12 back-to-school resources from the Smithsonian and 12 conversations to bring into your classroom
Educational Leadership
Simulation Day: End-of-year way to trace next year’s first-day footsteps
One of the most common anxieties for children is heading back to school after the summer break. But what if the first day actually...
Insights
Making math more equitable by building up students’ math identity
The most powerful way to build true equity is to help students see themselves as math people.
Edtech
It’s not easy being a STEM competition judge
Middle- and high-school students focus on local problems with global ripples as they compete in STEM competition.
Commentary
We need more music and the arts, especially now
The sense of connection to others provided by the arts is a vital part of school for many students.
Educational Leadership
AI’s remarkably imperfect productivity for educators
AI chat tools have their limitations, but recognizing them allows educators to work around them for efficiency and efficacy.
Education
How to create a schoolwide culture of math achievement
A researched-based program and quick, positive results make teacher buy-in easier for a new math curriculum
Career-Technical Education
How understanding different learning styles can prepare students for the workforce
Offering four different styles of learning creates the best chance of success for all students
Insights
Data scientist lends insight to education in the era of AI writing
The rise of AI writing means truthfulness, accuracy and integrity are even greater than before
Educational Leadership
Juggling learning and fun with center-based play
Play-based programs are wonderful, but they must be balanced with activities that reinforce the concepts students are learning.
Educational Leadership
Lessons learned: A reflection on the 2022-23 school year
Fred Ende shares 4 leadership lessons, including the larger picture of who is affected by your own transitions.