By Jamie Bricker   Young children arrive at school curious and eager to learn, but too often that natural curiosity is dampened over time. Many classrooms unintentionally prioritize covering content and completing worksheets over encouraging inquiry and innovation. To prepare learners for a future defined by change, we must protect and cultivate their creative … Read more

Teaching for the Future: Redefining the Teacher’s Role By Thom Markham The popular notion that teachers today are simply “guides on the side” has become a default refrain in discussions about the future of education. The idea suggests teachers no longer deliver content but merely facilitate, sitting shoulder to shoulder with students as co-learners. While … Read more

By Erin Twamley and Joshua Sneideman Stories shape how we see the world. Long before written language, people passed knowledge and values through storytelling. For generations, however, the stories about scientists, mathematicians, engineers and technologists were largely focused on men. That omission has left many children—girls in particular—without visible role models in STEM (science, technology, … Read more

By Jamie Bricker and Jack Barclay At this point in the school year, principals are balancing two crucial and very different responsibilities: finishing the current year well and beginning thoughtful planning for the next one. Both demands require careful attention to logistics and, equally important, to the human side of staffing decisions. Districts provide the … Read more

Online learning has become a mainstream alternative to traditional classroom education. What once required a daily commute to a campus can now be completed from home, offering learners flexibility, lower costs, and the convenience of studying from anywhere. If you’re considering an online degree, here are practical points to weigh so you can choose the … Read more

By Kiran Kodithala I grew up in a lower-middle-class family in India. I arrived in the United States on a one-way ticket with just enough money to cover tuition and my first month’s rent. My father took a large loan against the only house he owned to pay for my education. Leaving home without a … Read more

One of the most significant trends affecting schools nationwide is the shift of bullying into digital spaces—commonly called cyberbullying. About 7 percent of students in grades 6–12 experience cyberbullying each year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Unlike traditional bullying, cyberbullying is harder for educators to spot and address because perpetrators can remain … Read more

By Christy Martin Ed.D. As we move past the disruptive year of 2020, many of us breathe a collective sigh of relief and look toward 2021 with cautious hope. Families, students, and educators alike want stability, consistency, and a renewed sense of purpose. The pandemic exposed fault lines in our education system and community supports, … Read more

Discovery Education has released a free ESSER Funding Guide for school systems nationwide. The guide is designed to help districts and education leaders maximize the federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds—part of the largest single investment in K–12 education in U.S. history. School leaders can access the guide here: https://www.discoveryeducation.com/info/esser-guide/. With a … Read more

By Bob Riefstahl As a district leader, adapting how you communicate during the COVID-19 pandemic can significantly increase your impact. Like teachers, students, and parents, district leaders have had to discover new ways to communicate effectively. Public meetings are limited and one-on-one conversations have become rare. Day-to-day communication is often reduced to email and video … Read more