How can we make sense of personalized learning?
How can we make sense of personalized learning?
November 23, 2016
Categories:
Assessment,
Math,
Reading
The challenge of a common definition Though conversations about personalization and/or individualization abound, there remains shockingly little agreement on a definition. Many conversations take on a “kitchen sink” dynamic in which other approaches (e.g., mastery learning, universal design) are simultaneously [...]
The endless search for that next great read
The endless search for that next great read
November 17, 2016
Categories:
Reading
If you are like me, after you finish reading one book, you simply cannot get to the next one fast enough. As a mother of young children, I read for a sliver of time each night between when my children [...]
What are Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 interventions in education?
What are Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 interventions in education?
November 3, 2016
Categories:
Education Strategies,
Literacy
As the use of a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) has become widespread in schools, terms such as tiers, benchmarks, universal instruction, and intensive intervention have become familiar to many teachers. These concepts may also be known by other [...]
(Almost) perfect heroes and the science of learning
(Almost) perfect heroes and the science of learning
October 20, 2016
Categories:
Math,
Reading
(Almost) perfect heroes Although Hercules would disagree, Achilles is widely considered the closest thing to a perfect hero in Greek mythology. However, if you’ve ever twisted an ankle, enjoyed a heel spur, or pulled your calf muscle, [...]
Success Story: How to read 352 million words in five years
Success Story: How to read 352 million words in five years
October 13, 2016
Categories:
Reading
Walker Elementary beats the odds with successful reading campaign Ranked in 2011 as Santa Ana’s fourth-lowest elementary school, Walker Elementary struggled to boost the English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency of its largely Hispanic, high-poverty student population. According to the California [...]
The Scooby-Doo approach to close reading
The Scooby-Doo approach to close reading
October 6, 2016
Categories:
Reading
Like many kids, I used to watch Scooby Doo, Where Are You! (Okay, I still do.) In each episode, Scooby-Doo, along with Shaggy, Fred, Velma, and Daphne, would solve clues to figure out mysteries that puzzled others in the town.
The 4 R’s of deliberate practice
The 4 R’s of deliberate practice
September 29, 2016
Categories:
Math,
Reading
For a number of years, I have been fascinated by research on the science of expertise. Many of us were first introduced to this topic in Malcolm Gladwell’s bestseller, Outliers: The Story of Success. In that book, he presented multiple [...]
What an Olympic gold medalist can teach you about math
What an Olympic gold medalist can teach you about math
September 22, 2016
Categories:
Math
Like millions around the world, I could not wait to watch the summer Olympics. During the Women’s 200m backstroke, U.S. swimmer Maya DiRado went after her biggest competitor with all her might. She was charging her way to another gold! [...]
I think I can, I think I can
I think I can, I think I can
September 15, 2016
Categories:
Math,
Reading
“She was a happy little train” Perhaps you are already chanting, “I think I can, I think I can.” Keep chanting, but be forewarned. This blog is a love letter to a beloved children’s book, and you won’t find a [...]
ESSA in 5 minutes: Part I—Assessment
ESSA in 5 minutes: Part I—Assessment
September 8, 2016
Categories:
Assessment
As a civil rights law, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015 includes requirements for state assessment and accountability to ensure every student has access to a good education and is held to high standards. Key to understanding ESSA [...]
