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Engaging Curriculum: A Foundation for Positive School Culture
Post written by David Hunter As a curriculum designer who advocates for project-based learning, I strongly believe that curriculum plays a major role in the school culture but can often go unconsidered when developing a vision around that culture. At first glance, curriculum and culture may seem to be separate issues, but when you look deeper, curriculum can be a foundation for the culture becau
APR 17
A Legacy of Caring and Learning
"The things he sees are not just remembered; they form part of his soul." —Maria Montessori Being with Guilford County Schools since 1998, my heart and soul has been dedicated to teaching here at Washington Elementary School, now known as Washington Montessori School. I love Washington because of the dedication that we as a school have to children. I have taught at one other school and
APR 16
Imagine Today’s Children at 25
"What do we want our children to be like? Think of that child, that teenager, that young adult and describe them. What words do we use? ... What do our children want to be like when they are 25? How would they describe themselves? Are they content with an education system which at times seems more designed to sort, test, and label students than develop, educate, or prepare them?" —&qu
Imagine Today’s Children at 25
"What do we want our children to be like? Think of that child, that teenager, that young adult and describe them. What words do we use? ... What do our children want to be like when they are 25? How would they describe themselves? Are they content with an education system which at times seems more designed to sort, test, and label students than develop, educate, or prepare them?" —Marti
APR 15
Glowing, Growing, and Getting Back to the Real Basics
Download Podcast Now [Right-Click to Save] In this era of school reform, turn around, and educational change, it is easy to overlook the basics of why we educate and what we want for our children. These aren't the typical basics—reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic. Rather, these are the "real basics" of learning: developing a sense of belonging, instilling a sense of purpose, and expanding
Glowing, Growing, and Getting Back to the Real Basics
Download Podcast Now [Right-Click to Save] In this era of school reform, turn around, and educational change, it is easy to overlook the basics of why we educate and what we want for our children. These aren't the typical basics—reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic. Rather, these are the "real basics" of learning: developing a sense of belonging, instilling a sense of purpose, and expanding
APR 14
Rethinking Classroom Pedagogy in the Standards-Driven Classroom
Post written by Amber Medin The long-term benefits of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) have been touted by the academic community at large, yet it's often difficult to envision the light at the end of the tunnel when dealing with the demands and challenges of actual classroom implementation. Although these standards make it clear what is expecte
APR 04
Insights on Writing: A Core Skill
Writing powerfully is a skill that teachers know every student needs to develop if he or she is to have the best chances in life. Yet, paradoxically, it's one of the skills that students most often resist practicing. The April 2014 issue of Educational Leadership examines the many ways to help students grow as writers. Articles in this issue look at some of the central skills involved in the compl
APR 02
What Do You Think We Need from Education?
As we continue our discussions on "Choosing Your Tomorrow Today" and "The Future of Schooling" as part of ASCD's Whole Child Symposium, let's add another question to ponder: What do you think we need from education? In the United States, historically, the purpose of education has evolved according to the needs of society. Education's primary purpose has ranged from instructin
High-Morale Schools: Readying Students to Take on the World
Post written by Lora M. Hodges for Northeast Foundation for Children/Responsive Classroom, a whole child partner organization. Morale can be hard to define, but you know it when you see it. When you walk into a school and everything immediately feels calm, safe, respectful, rich with learning, you know you're standing in a school with high morale. That's exactly how you'd feel if you were to walk