The Source

Sociologists have studied the household structure of students from impoverished backgrounds and how their families' needs to focus on immediate basic needs such as food and shelter have put them at a tremendous disadvantage as it inhibits their ability to prioritize education given that the benefits are longer term and... Read the full article >

Every day across the country, students encounter wide and troubling variations in their school experiences. Some schools and school systems thrive by applying the latest learning science research and using evolving technologies. Others, frequently located in communities of poverty or concentrated minority demographics, sort students and pass them along using... Read the full article >

“Another type of teacher empathy I saw was one that sought to understand the ‘why’ behind success and failure and then invested in the student accordingly. The teachers who used it were driven to understand each student as an individual so that equitable accommodations could be made. It wasn’t always comfortable... Read the full article >

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 >