District Administration – Matt Zalaznick
“Computer science must begin in kindergarten because it’s not too many years later when students decide if they are “techies,” Stephen King says. That’s why, in helping develop Kansas’ computer science standards in 2019, he urged the state to go beyond making computer science a high school graduation requirement.” (more)
Edutopia – Emma Chiappetta
“Number sense is not something you teach. You don’t necessarily get it by doing math problems, especially not problems that have a right or wrong numerical answer. The only way to build it is through practice and experience. And yet, we’d be doing our students a disservice if we let them leave our math classes without it.” (more)
Edutopia – Laura DePriest
“As educators, we know what it is like to work with children who catch on quickly. The light bulb moments happen fairly easily for them, and they will likely progress despite what we do. We teach them their letter sounds and review flash cards a few times, and from then on those students know and apply them as they learn how to put those sounds together and read.” (more)
District Administration – Chris Burt
“The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center outside St. Louis provides transformative STEM learning experiences for young students, graduate students, teachers and faculty. Lessons are typically hands-on or face-to-face. But the past year saw far more Zoom greetings than live experiments and training. Dr. Kris Callis-Duehl, Director of Science Education Research and Outreach at the Center, noticed both positive and negative changes in engagement among students during her work and research.” (more)
Moms – Ashley Wehrli
“Part of motherhood is talking to our children and teaching them about the world around them. While they do go to school to learn, a lot of learning happens at home and mom is often their most influential and important teacher. It can be our job to teach them about what they hear in the news, why things are the way they are and mom may even find herself giving a history lesson or two. This can be a lot of pressure on mom, who may need to brush up on her own awareness to provide accurate and sensitive information.” (more)
E-School News – Laura Ascione
“It’s summer break (or close to it) for students across the country, and after more than a year of hybrid or virtual learning for so many, the last thing we all want is to hop back on a device. But screen time is a reality for most kids, so instead of mindless screen viewing, why not give kids some fun videos to watch, to learn from, and to share with others?” (more)
Edutopia – JaShan Wilson
“Prior to Covid-19, science teachers had many opportunities to immerse students in hands-on learning, utilizing facilities and materials provided by their schools. While virtual learning was challenging for science labs, instruction is now hybridized or back in the classroom with restrictions. It is important to find ways for students to be hands-on and visualize their learning.” (more)
E-School News – Kelyn Belsha
“After a school year marked by stops and starts, New York City’s top schools official drew a line in the sand this week: This fall, there will be no virtual learning option. “We know our schools have been safe and we need our children back,” the city’s schools chancellor, Meisha PorterCheers districts fall for learning noopener option questions remove school some states virtual”>, said in an interview.” (more)
The Conversation – Christina Thatcher
“Ernest Hemingway famously said that writers should “write hard and clear about what hurts”. Although Hemingway may not have known it at the time, research has now shown that writing about “what hurts” can help improve our mental health.” (more)
E-School News – Todd Miller
“Most schools across the country sent students home last spring at the onset of the pandemic. More than a year later, many are just now reopening—unaware of the true impact the stresses brought on by COVID-19 have had on children.” (more)
