By Zach Vander Veen I’m fascinated by decision processes, especially as my roles have required making more complex choices with broader consequences. Part of that curiosity is inward—examining why I make the decisions I do—which I’ve been exploring through the excellent book Thinking, Fast and Slow. That book forces you to question the cognitive shortcuts … Read more

By Jerry Kolber The digital revolution is transforming every corner of society, and education is no exception. Educational technology (EdTech) has become an integral part of modern classrooms, reshaping how teachers teach and how students learn. For today’s children—often called digital natives—these tools can deepen engagement, personalize learning, and most importantly, foster creativity across subjects. … Read more

The number of teachers taking online professional development is growing faster than at any previous time. Prospective teachers can now earn full online degrees for certification, from bachelor’s to graduate programs. Practicing educators use online professional development to add certifications, advance on payscales, or learn new approaches for their classrooms. Many of the same principles … Read more

Gifted English Language Learners: Identification, Assessment, and Best Practices Guest Post Written By: Elizabeth Kotis Throughout my work in education—both as an instructor of ESL/Bilingual courses and as a consultant—I’ve repeatedly encountered skepticism when I bring up the concept of Gifted English Language Learners (GELL). For many, the phrase sounds contradictory, largely because English Language … Read more

By Amy Valentine There is always a crisis in education. The Covid-19 pandemic is the latest and most disruptive of these, exposing long-standing weaknesses in K-12 schools across the United States. Yet many of the challenges we’re confronting—limited broadband access, uneven opportunities in rural areas, weather-related closures, overcrowded classrooms, staffing shortages, and high rates of … Read more

By Renae Abboud As school districts prepare for another year that may include remote or hybrid instruction, one of their greatest challenges is building distance-learning plans that clearly define what success looks like—and then measure and demonstrate that success. Virtual learning is now an essential part of public education. Regardless of location or circumstance, districts … Read more

Imagine walking into a classroom or logging in as an online teacher to begin working with a new group of ESL students. Once you start, you quickly notice the range of abilities: some students speak, read, and write English fluently, while others have limited or no English exposure. Cultural backgrounds, prior education, and first languages … Read more

How the CARES Act Allocates $30.75 Billion for Education By Charles Sosnik The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act includes a significant education package: roughly $30.75 billion in emergency funding intended to support K–12 schools, higher education institutions, and other education-related needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because much of this funding is flexible, … Read more

New curriculum now available free to high schools across the U.S. Every generation experiences civic division, but today’s young people—particularly members of Gen Z—often learn about polarization through headlines, clips and social media fragments rather than structured civic education. The result is a pressing need for classroom resources that teach students how to engage thoughtfully … Read more

How to Transition Out of Teaching © Robyn Shulman, M.Ed., Chicago, 2016 This excerpt is taken from my book, You Can Change Your Career. Read on to understand what it looks like to transition from classroom teaching into new, fulfilling work. The original booklet—30 pages in length—represents four years of experiences and reflection. Here I … Read more