The Blog

Classrooms are the heartbeat of schools — where instruction, engagement, and relationships all come together. But building strong classrooms requires more than just great lessons; it also requires effective systems for behavior management , aligned curriculum, and meaningful assessment practices. When behavior management and curriculum support work in harmony , teachers can focus less on disruptions and more on student growth. This integration not only improves student achiev

Restorative practices only work when adults lead by example first. If we want schools to be spaces where students feel safe, connected, and accountable, we must first build that same culture among the adults. 

The recent changes to Indiana’s 3rd grade retention law are prompting important conversations between schools and families.

Summer break is the perfect time for special education educators to recharge, but it's also a fantastic opportunity to explore new tools and strategies for the upcoming school year. One area that's rapidly evolving and offering immense potential for special education is Artificial Intelligence (AI). It can all feel very overwhelming especially with the constant evolution of new and improved technology. Below are some tips to guide you as you begin, or continue on your AI jour

To prepare students for this modern world, we must shift away from passive, "sit-and-get" instruction and focus on cultivating active learne

Are you adopting new High Quality Curricular Materials? Are you struggling to determine how to revamp your curriculum maps to align to these

Teachers everywhere know that the only way to increase the reading volume among students is to hook students into reading on a regular and routine basis. It has to become an unbreakable habit, almost ingrained into your daily existence. Harper Lee said this best, “Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.” 

Language is a complex system of intricate connections between words and meanings. It is complex code used to communicate. Morphology is the foundation and framework of English spelling (Hegland, 2021) and contributes to the overall sense of a word. Morphology is the study of morphemes. Morphemes are the smallest meaningful unit of language (Hegland, 2021).   Morphemes can be standalone words, like “book”, called free morphemes, or they can be parts of words like prefixes, suf

It is extremely important for Administrators, Teachers, Parents and especially Students to understand exactly what the SAT Assessment is and how it is written. Knowing how the test is written as well as strategies on how students can perform at their very best is essential to overall success for this assessment.   The SAT Assessment is a multiple-choice and student-produced (grid-in), pencil-and-paper and online test created and administered by the College Board .  The purpos

By William Reed Many people think the two most important subjects on the SAT Assessment are English and Mathematics. That is NOT a true...

The ability to read, write, understand, and use language properly to edit and correct passages are the important aspects of the Writing and Language Test in the Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing section of the SAT Assessment. The Writing and Language Test is one of two parts of the SAT Assessment’s Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing section. The other part is the Reading Test.     When students take the Writing and Language Test, they will read passages and become editors

The ability to read for understanding, information, comprehension, and context are the important aspects of the Reading Test in the Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing section of the SAT Assessment. The SAT Assessment’s Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing section is divided into two tests. The Reading Test and the Writing and Language Test .   When students take the Reading Test, they will read passages and interpret informational graphics. Prior knowledge will NEVER be teste

It is extremely important for Administrators, Teachers, Parents and especially Students to understand exactly what the SAT Assessment is and how it is written. Knowing how the test is written as well as strategies on how students can perform at their very best is essential to overall success for this assessment.   The SAT Assessment is a multiple-choice and student-produced (grid-in), pencil-and-paper and online test created and administered by the College Board .  The purpos

Once in a great while, I hear someone say, “I Love Math!” or “I enjoyed my math classes,” and it gives me a warm, comforting feeling inside. Sadly, what I often hear people say is, “I hate Math!” or “I could never do Math!” or “I was never any good at Math.” I attribute much of the disdain for mathematics to the way that math is being taught.   More times than not, I see math taught very procedurally and using an algorithmic approach.  Of course, mathematics needs to be taugh

Back in 2011, Indiana Public Law 73-2011 altered state and local textbook adoption procedures. Under this law, Indiana no longer follows a strict six-year cycle for math materials adoption. Textbook adoptions are now under the control of the local superintendent and school board. Adoption of new math materials is optional, and districts have the discretion to continue to use current materials beyond the six-year cycle without needing a waiver from the state. Likewise, the Sta

My guess is if I ask teachers who have taught for more than one year, they can name a student they know who will come to class without any materials like a pen, pencil, paper, or book. Teachers can name a student they know who will ask to go to their locker or use the restroom during class. I’m also willing to bet teachers can name a student who will stay silent when they are asked to answer any questions in class. Knowing teachers can name students who do these actions, I as

Differentiation is a term that all teachers know. We read about it in books, hear about it in training, and see it on our evaluation rubrics. Teachers know they have to differentiate to meet the needs of their students. They try to do so with the knowledge and tools that they have. Many teachers do this with high levels of success.

Improving student achievement is one of the main goals of all teachers. Student achievement measures the academic content a student...

Rigor has been advancing in educational circuits, but many educators are still not familiar with the concept and how to support it within the classroom. Understanding rigor is vital in finding out how to approach and measure learning. Professional development for teachers can help them in this regard. What is rigor? In education, rigor refers to instruction, schoolwork, and learning experiences that are academically and intellectually stimulating. It applies to lessons that e

A lesson plan is a teacher’s guide for running a specific lesson. It includes the goal (what students are supposed to learn), the method how the goal will be reached, and measuring how well the goal was achieved (exit ticket, test, homework, etc.).   Lesson planning is a vital component of the teaching process. It keeps teachers organized and on track, allowing them to teach more effectively. As a result, students reach objectives more easily. Lesson planning: Provides a fram