How “Play Theory” Intertwines with Learning

How “Play Theory” Intertwines with Learning

When we’re young, playing and learning are inseparable, according to The Hechinger Report. Then, somewhere around early elementary school, learning and play become separated for life. Learning becomes a task that only takes place in proper classrooms with the help of textbooks, homework and tests. Play becomes a distraction that we’re only allowed to indulge…

A Go-To National Program for Mental Health Support

A Go-To National Program for Mental Health Support

When thousands of Syrian families fleeing violence resettled in Canada several years ago, Ontario’s school mental health agency wanted to give schools tools to help refugee children process their traumatic journeys and adjust to their new lives, according to Chalkbeat Colorado. Kids were bursting into tears and struggling to explain how they felt. Parents, too,…

Newly Arrived Students Require Greater Attention

Newly Arrived Students Require Greater Attention

A coalition of educators, researchers and advocates has launched the National Newcomer Network Policy Platform to improve supports for newly arrived students to the United States, according to Education Slice. The recommendations call for federal legislation and dedicated state funding to support wraparound services for students, including a proposal to strengthen newcomer case manager roles…

This 5-Minute Teaching Routine Has a Lasting Impact

This 5-Minute Teaching Routine Has a Lasting Impact

What if someone told teachers that engaging in a daily classroom ritual with students that takes less than five minutes and requires little to no training could improve your students’ mood and behavior immediately, make them more likely to engage in learning, according to Education Week. It’s a simple practice that involves greeting each student…

Avoid Chaos in the Age of AI: 8 Tips for Schools

Avoid Chaos in the Age of AI: 8 Tips for Schools

AI is here, and slowing down isn’t an option.” That’s what Washington state’s schools chief Chris Reykdal wrote in his introduction to the state’s artificial intelligence guidance for K-12 schools, according to Education Week. While more teachers are trying out the technology, a majority say they haven’t used AI tools at all, according to the…

Put the Public Back into Education

Put the Public Back into Education

In K-12 schools, parents and grandparents frequently volunteer as chaperones, class parents, or mystery readers. These interactions allow children to see adults support their education and allow adults to stay connected to their learners’ school experience, according to Forbes. More substantive school-community relationships can boost student outcomes, invigorate instruction, and benefit the entire community. CommunityShare…

My Math Teacher Saved my Life by Refusing to Let Me Fall through the Cracks

My Math Teacher Saved my Life by Refusing to Let Me Fall through the Cracks

First Person is where Chalkbeat features personal essays by educators, students, parents, and others thinking and writing about public education. I was 12 when I thought everyone had given up on me, according to a personal essay written by Xandra Harbet a journalist appearing in Chalkbeat Tennessee. Feeling like a burden to my family, my…

Driving Change and Innovation in K-12: 5 Trends

Driving Change and Innovation in K-12: 5 Trends

“The societal changes unfolding before us, fueled by technological innovation and our evolving needs, compel us to reimagine educational paradigm designed for a bygone industrial age,” Garrett Smiley, CEO of Sora Schools, said in the company’s new report which outlines some of the latest trends and driving forces shaping K12 innovation today, according to District…

Embed Conflict Resolution in Classrooms

Embed Conflict Resolution in Classrooms

Building conflict resolution into curriculum can equip students with a skill they can carry beyond school into the working world, according to K-12 Dive. One way to implement conflict resolution strategies is making time to practice them before they’re needed, said Claire Schu, senior manager of implementation support at the Collaborative for Academic, Social and…

Don’t Forget Teachers’ Personal Experiences with Stress, Burnout and Trauma

Don’t Forget Teachers’ Personal Experiences with Stress, Burnout and Trauma

In 2023, a groundbreaking study by Monash University revealed the extent of trauma and burnout are among Australian teachers, with 45% of teachers reporting their own personal history of trauma, according to Education Online. According to the study, which surveyed 302 Australian primary and secondary school teachers, more than 80% of teachers had supported at…