Building your school brand Tim Goral What sets your school apart from thousands of other schools in the country, or even the others in your district? Former educator and now marketing consultant Trish Rubin says it’s up to school leaders to become the “storyteller-in-chief” by defining their school’s brand. Read more>> The Safety Dog bus tour is on the road again Sponsored by First Student, Inc. First Student's safety mascot, Safety Dog, is traveling coast-to-coast again this back-to-school season. “I love my job! I travel all over the country to meet the teachers, parents and students in our communities. I remind them of safe school bus behaviors. I love meeting new people,” Safety Dog says. Read more>> High school athletics rules need change Ottumwa Courier The playing fields are not level between public schools and private schools. But if state athletic associations move private schools into their own class, the imbalance would be shifted, not resolved. Instead, maybe private schools should have a multiplier of at least 1.5 applied to their student numbers for athletic purposes. Read more>> Personalized learning: the journey to student-centered instruction Sponsored by McGraw-Hill Education The journey from traditional, teacher-directed, whole-class instruction to student-centered, personalized learning is different for every educator. Building a bridge from existing practice to increased personalization, and purposefully taking each step to cross that bridge, can assure classroom transformation. Read more>> Changing school culture is the real cure for bad behavior The Mercury News As students return to school this summer, teachers struggle to handle kids impossible to control in the classroom. Many teachers recognize from experience that a punitive and retributive mindset towards discipline doesn’t work. The moment is ripe for restorative justice, which focuses on reparation rather than punishment and gives students a voice. Read more>> A memoir of race, inequality and the power of literature Sponsored by Penguin Random House In her memoir, Reading with Patrick, Michelle Kuo shares the story of her complicated but rewarding mentorship of one student and his remarkable literary and personal awakening. "Could be the most affecting book you’ll read this year,” states the Christian Science Monitor. Request a review copy. Read more>> Kids and disasters: How to help them recover The Conversation Changes in academic performance, how often they’re seeing friends, or less enjoyment of favorite activities can all be warning signs that children may be struggling after a disaster. Stressors such as parents changing jobs or someone in the family becoming ill tend to increase after disasters. Adults should teach children coping skills like identifying feelings and problem-solving. Read more>> From RTI to MTSS Sponsored by Istation From progress monitoring to implementation, learn how blended learning supports differentiation for all students. This free intervention e-book from Istation shows how formative assessments, data-driven instruction and computer-adaptive lessons transform schools. Read more>> Educators must teach civility, inclusiveness The Register-Guard Our schools must act decisively and urgently to (re)teach, model and encourage behavior that nurtures and maintains our most cherished individual and collective values of civility, diversity, equity, responsibility and freedom of expression that serve as the foundation of our democracy. The tools are available. It can be done. Read more>> |