As a teacher and longtime Chicago resident, I’m pleased to share practical advice for Chicago high school students and prospective college applicants. These are important stories from our city that don’t always get the attention they deserve. My goal is to provide clear, usable tips you can act on during summer breaks and throughout your … Read more

By Franklin Schargel “One out of every four children attending school has been exposed to a traumatic event that can affect learning and/or behavior.” National Child Traumatic Stress Network — Trauma Facts for Educators The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted economies, healthcare systems, and education worldwide. Beyond those systems, it has intensified anxiety, stress, and trauma … Read more

By Kiran Kodithala and Lee Lambert On February 4, 2018, the Philadelphia Eagles faced the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII. With 38 seconds left in the second quarter and the ball on the Patriots’ 1-yard line, the Eagles faced a critical decision on fourth down. Instead of settling for a short field goal, … Read more

By Christy S. Martin, Ed.D A recent social media post stopped me in my tracks. A teacher poured out her exhaustion: long days, constant demands, juggling in-person and online learning, enforcing safety protocols, and trying to meet expectations from every direction. She described days that begin before 7:00 a.m. and only end when she finally … Read more

Engaging Students in Virtual and Blended Learning: Building Community and Connection By Colleen Robinson Education is constantly evolving, and educators must adapt to changing conditions—especially as technology reshapes how students learn. Virtual and blended learning environments present new challenges: fewer nonverbal cues, greater environmental distractions, and varied home circumstances. These changes have made sustaining student … Read more

By LeiLani Cauthen When I was young, society operated in an analog world. There was no internet or continuous connectivity. Computers existed, but networks were limited and their capabilities modest. Research happened in libraries. Teachers were the primary gatekeepers of knowledge, choosing what students learned and how. College deepened that agreed-upon body of knowledge—literature, writing, … Read more

By Charles Sosnik In the last week, many of us have had our day-to-day lives reshaped, and for a lot of people this means working from home for the first time. The shift brings both freedoms and new challenges. Below are practical, experience-based suggestions to make your remote work productive, healthy, and sustainable. First, create … Read more

By CHARLES SOSNIK These days we speak in extremes: when online shopping replaces trips to stores, people call it a “Retail Apocalypse.” In truth, consumers are simply choosing different ways to shop. Technology didn’t kill brick-and-mortar retail—it improved it. For purchases that benefit from trying on or inspecting items, like clothing and furniture, physical stores … Read more