Alternative Assessment for Struggling Readers: Leo’s Science Story
Alternative assessment for struggling readers gives kids a real chance to show what they know, even when reading and writing get in the way. Leo, a 5th grader who struggled…
Instructional Best Practices and Differentiation
Every child deserves instruction that meets them where they are. This category explores research-backed teaching strategies – including the Gradual Release Model, small group instruction, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) – that make differentiation feel doable, not daunting. Whether you’re teaching a room full of diverse learners or supporting one student who needs a different approach, you’ll find practical, classroom-ready guidance here.
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Executive Functioning Strategies for the Classroom
When we invest in high-quality core instruction, we are doing more than delivering content. We are actively building the foundational executive functioning (EF) skills that determine a student’s success across…
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Multiple Paths to Mastery: UDL Assessment Strategies for Every Learner
As educational leaders and teachers, your ultimate measure of success lies in what your students learn and how they apply that knowledge. Student learning outcomes are a required metric, and…
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Allowing Flexible Ways to Demonstrate Learning: How My Eleventh-Grade ‘D’ Still Shapes How I Teach
Long, long ago in high school, I was quite the introvert. Mostly. I was quiet and unassuming, except to the people who knew me best. For the most part, I…
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The Belonging Gap: Student Engagement Strategies for Checked-Out Kids
Walk through a school hallway lately, whether public, private, or charter, and you might notice something missing. Kids are there, but they are not fully engaged or committed. This is…
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Differentiated Instruction Strategies for Every K-12 Learner
Every classroom holds a mix of learners, and each one has a unique path to understanding new material. Some students move quickly through a concept the first time they see…
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Beyond the Diagnosis: A Data-First Approach to Building Individualized IEP Support
If you have a student with a 504 Plan or an IEP in your classroom, their IEP support needs shift depending on the area, not the label on their file….
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From Lecture to Facilitated Learning: Encouraging Kids to be Active Learners
You’re standing at the front of the classroom, delivering what feels like a clear, purposeful lesson. You see nods. A few students are taking notes. A hand or two goes…
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When Reading Gets in the Way of Math: Math Word Problems and Reading Comprehension
I was sitting in a doctor’s waiting room recently and ended up in a conversation with a middle school math teacher. We got talking about the students in our lives…
