Reading is one of the most important skills a child can develop, and starting early can have a profound impact on a child’s academic and personal growth. Early reading doesn’t just teach children to recognize words; it lays the foundation for critical thinking, creativity, and lifelong learning. According to the National Early Literacy Panel, skills […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
The Hidden Threat in Florida’s new “Vision for Education“
Florida recently became the first state in the nation to adopt The Phoenix Declaration: An American Vision for Education, a statement of principles for education in America by the conservative think tank, The Heritage Foundation. At first glance this manifesto seems harmless; after all, who doesn’t want access to a “high-quality, content-rich education?” On closer examination, however, […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Culturally Responsive Curriculum Is More Than Checking Boxes and Scoring Rubrics
Curriculum is ever evolving, as are the approaches educational leaders and teachers take to implement culturally responsive curriculum. Key resources can guide the process, and ideally, there is much more to it than checking boxes and scoring rubrics. Ah, July, time to plan for next school year. Three days should do it, right? No, maybe […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
A simple explanation of four crucial influences for balanced learning
A recent conversation with my wife and other parents made it clear: many parents urgently need a reminder—or even a lesson—on how real learning happens. When my students share stories about their assignments involving parents, it becomes obvious that many adults still believe attending “good” school and classes regularly are the main ingredients for their […]
Posted inEnglish Language Learners
7 Trends in Literacy Over the Last Decade That Everyone Should Know
When I talk with teachers, parents, and young writers, I keep returning to the same idea: literacy today is both more fragile and more generative than it was ten years ago. The last decade has been a time of significant shifts – some hopeful, some concerning – and understanding these trends helps us make more […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
Idea Exchange: What is school and how do we “do” school?
Education is one of the largest systems we interact with. Nearly all of us have a formal education background in some way. In other words, we all have experience going to school growing up. So let me pose a few questions, and specifically regarding K-12: I try to be mindful that schools vary. I am […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
New FAFSA earnings indicator alerts students to colleges with “low earning” potential
Starting on December 7, 2025, first-time undergraduate applicants may see a new feature in the FAFSA that indicates whether the median earnings of its graduates four years after completion fall below the median earnings of high school graduates in the same state. The agency announced this week that a new earnings indicator will be incorporated […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Finding Peace for immigrant communities in the era of ICE
Unidentified black SUVs swarming the parking lot, strange, official-looking men yet no badges, and a distinct, overwhelming fear. I will never forget my first encounter with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in my school community. It marked the start of an era in our predominantly Latinx neighborhood, a close-knit community of mostly Central Americans fleeing […]