The Source

A critical starting point is to recognize that equity is not synonymous with equality. In fact, equity is often very much at odds with equality because equality may represent unfairness. For example, would it be fair for all school districts to receive equal state or federal funding when some can raise... Read the full article >

Mark* entered preschool at three years old with limited verbal skills, behavior challenges, and a lack of basic social skills. I will never forget the day he climbed into the sand table and contently sat there playing and exploring. It was evident that he had a long way to go... Read the full article >

Many school districts and professional development entities use coaches to “tighten the connection between the training they provide in external institutes and teachers’ application of the strategies in their classrooms” [4]. To that end, training coupled with coaching and mentoring opportunities – which involve modeling positive instructional approaches and allow... Read the full article >

These skills also support positive behaviors in the classroom and in social settings, and in fact, executive functions are now found to be more important for school readiness than a student’s intelligence quotient (IQ) (Diamond & Lee, 2011).     The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University defines executive... Read the full article >

Return on Investment According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), early brain development is strongly affected by the child’s surroundings and experiences. Children who have positive, educational early childhood experiences are more likely to experience school success, have higher graduation rates, demonstrate higher proficiency in math and language skills, have better cognitive... Read the full article >

Earlier this year, the 2015 State Teachers of the Year (STOY) were announced by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and recognized by the President at the White House as part of the National Teacher of the Year Program*. Therefore, who better than these distinguished teachers to kick... Read the full article >

Capturing student attention Inquiry instruction is the process of encouraging students to ask a question and use their own problem-solving skills to find the answer. This practice provides a foundation for a classroom culture of true inquisition and authentic learning. I allow students to develop questions, find ways to answer... Read the full article >

Our society today seems obsessed with fame, fortune and celebrity status. This is evidenced by the many reality television shows that seem to catapult the average “girl or guy next door” into an overnight star. Recently, my questions have been “Who are the real ‘stars’ in our culture? Who are... Read the full article >

When I started my career as a student teacher at Westwood High School in Mesa, Arizona I was put in a fortunate situation of being placed in an environment full of veteran educators. My department chair, Brian Buck, gave me lesson ideas and advice; Judith Harper, an English teacher, was... Read the full article >

Prior to entering education almost 10 years ago, I worked my way up the corporate ladder in Fortune 500 staffing and technology companies. As a mid-level manager, I interviewed hundreds of candidates to work in various jobs, from front-desk receptionists and salespeople to regional directors. It was hard not to... Read the full article >