Every year on 22nd December, India celebrates National Mathematics Day, commemorating the birth anniversary of the legendary mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. More than just a tribute, this day has become an opportunity for schools across the country to spark curiosity, reduce fear, and make mathematics an enjoyable subject for students. At Azim Premji School, Dhamtari, this […]
Instruction & Curriculum
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Why Early Reading Matters
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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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Understanding Developmental Coordination Disorder: Supporting students who struggle with movement
Poor handwriting? Difficulties with spatial awareness? It could be dysgraphia; it could be Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD); or, it could be a lesser-known, but prevalent disability called Developmental Coordination Disorder. Teachers are not diagnosticians, but in order to help our students with the most effective and targeted interventions, we need to have an idea about what […]
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Introducing Outroduction: A saga of the living glossary
It started like any other English lesson. My fifth graders and I were listing out the features involved in journalling. Date, introduction, point of view were the first few given by students. Suddenly, a hand shot up. “Outro,” one student said confidently. I blinked. Outro? “Wait… is that even a word?” I asked. “Yes!” came […]