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More School Time, Well Spent, Boosts Academic Achievement and Engagement at Edwards Middle School

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Get insight from educators on the latest ideas and innovations changing the way students learn.

Advice to New and Student Teachers: Hold Fast to Dreams

Gaetan PappalardoDecember 6, 2010

Tags Education Reform, New Teachers, Pre-Service Teachers, Teacher Development

There were really no wrong answers: just answers. I guess that's why I became an elementary school teacher: to look at the day's offerings with brand new eyes. How about you? Don't you long for those days, too? I hope you remember what it's like to be a kid because I think that's just what we need to "make a difference."

(remember you said that?)

On Education Reform: Equity

Eric BrunsellNovember 23, 2010

Tags Achievement Gap, Digital Divide, Education Reform, All Grades, Rhode Island, Wisconsin

Two months ago, education reform was at the center of discussion. The documentary Waiting for "Superman" was creating a stir. NBC hosted "Education Nation." A spirited debate was on -- perhaps not in the traditional media, but at least in many forums around the web, including here at Edutopia. Many were inspired by the discussions. Others were outraged at the one-sidedness of the discussion.

Using Staff Expertise to Increase Graduation Rates

Anne OBrienOctober 8, 2010

Tags Comprehensive Assessment, Dropout Prevention, Education Reform, Teacher Development, High (9-12), Washington

We've been hearing a lot recently about how the problem with our schools is the people in it -- the principals, the teachers and especially their unions. Or the problem is governance. Clearly kids can't perform well because the system is keeping them down. If only we had more charter schools -- that would solve everything.

Don't Let Big Reform Crush the Small Victories

Gaetan PappalardoSeptember 22, 2010

Tags Charter Schools, Comprehensive Assessment, Education Reform, Standardized Testing, Teacher Development, All Grades, Music

Listen to the MUSTN'TS, child,
Listen to the DON'TS
Listen to the SHOULDN'TS
The IMPOSSIBLES, the WON'TS
Listen to the NEVER HAVES
Then listen close to me--
Anything can happen, child,
ANYTHING can be.

~~Shel Silverstein

The Path to Innovation: Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics and Science (TEAMS) Integration (5 of 5)

Jim Brodie BrazellAugust 23, 2010

Tags Classroom Technology, Education Reform, Integrated Studies, Math, Science

Editor's Note: Today's guest blogger is Jim Brazell, a technology forecaster, author, public speaker, and consultant. It is the fifth in a five-part series on the convergence of STEM education and the Arts (TEAMS).

The mandate of the 21st century and what everyone in the STEM game is pursuing is the capacity for "knowledge innovation." According to Debra Amidon, the mother of the knowledge economy, "Knowledge innovation is the creative process that delivers new knowledge, intellectual property and ultimately adaptation and survival." (Debra Amidon, July 28, 2010, Email Interview)

What LeBron Can Tell Us About Learning

Milton ChenAugust 9, 2010

Tags Education Reform, Performance Assessment, Student Engagement

In my last post, I lamented that LeBron James announced he was going to the Miami Heat the same day that Florida's Teachers of the Year were honored in Orlando, but media attention to these two events was totally misplaced. I also said that "basketball has a few lessons to teach us about learning.

The TEAMS Model: Unifying Arts, Academics, and Career and Technical Education

Jim Brodie BrazellAugust 6, 2010

Tags Dropout Prevention, Integrated Studies, Project-Based Learning, Technology Integration, Middle (6-8), High (9-12), All Grades, Math, Florida, Science, Visual Arts, New York, Texas

Editor's Note: Today's guest blogger is Jim Brazell, a technology forecaster, author, public speaker, and consultant. It is the second in a five-part series on the convergence of STEM education and the Arts (TEAMS).

George Lucas Dedicates Majority of His Wealth to Improving Education

EdutopiaAugust 4, 2010

Tags Technology Integration, All Grades, English Language Arts, Visual Arts

Editor's Note: Our founder and chairman George Lucas has announced his commitment to donate at least half his wealth to improving education. In his pledge, George calls out for the importance of innovation and reform to our schools as the "key to the survival of the human race." Below, we have reprinted the entirety of George's inspiring pledge and his commitment to the values embraced by the Edutopia community.

Marshmallows, Innovation, and Good Talk at ISTE

Suzie BossJuly 16, 2010

Tags Project-Based Learning, Technology Integration, All Grades, Colorado

ISTE, the world's largest educational technology conference, drew record crowds to Denver this year to talk about the latest trends in everything from cloud computing to social media to interactive white boards. On the last morning of this mega-event, as I stood in front of my poster station clutching a bag of marshmallows, I couldn't help but wonder what I'd gotten myself into.

Should We Give Up on Foreign Language Programs?

Claus von ZastrowJuly 5, 2010

Tags Global Education, All Grades, World Language Learning

Foreign language is on the chopping block in school districts around the country. So when Jay Mathews wrote a piece a few weeks ago about the foreign language study basically being a waste of time I was floored. Now is not the time to grease the rails for further cuts to language programs.