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We share evidence-based K-12 learning strategies that empower you to improve education.

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School Transformation Through Arts Integration at Bates Middle School

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Five Keys to Successful Social and Emotional Learning

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How to Thank a Teacher

Blogs on English Language Arts

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Writing Response Takes an (Objective) Village

Todd FinleyOctober 1, 2010

Tags Professional Learning Network (PLN), Teacher Development, High (9-12), English Language Arts

I was wrong a few days ago. I believed that an early version of this blog post had the swagger and crispness of flat front khakis, until my night students responded to it. They noted scores of errors in the piece. Are you talking about you or other writers? Shouldn't the use of 'first' be followed by a 'second' later? Paragraph two confuses me. Their blood was up. Break time? No need. The metaphor doesn't really help me understand the concept. You repeat the word 'right' in that sentence. I scribbled in the margins, trying to keep up with their insights.

Glossing: How to Help Your Composition Students Think and Write About Revising (Guest Blog)

Todd FinleySeptember 21, 2010

Tags Accountability, Comprehensive Assessment, Formative Assessment, Literacy, Performance Assessment, Professional Development, Teacher Development, Technology Integration, High (9-12), English Language Arts

Today's guest blogger is Bob Alexander, a language arts consultant with the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN), in Harrisburg, PA.

A Primer on Interactive Books

Laura FlemingSeptember 8, 2010

Tags Classroom Technology, Mobile Learning, Technology Integration, Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle (6-8), High (9-12), English Language Arts

Editor's Note: Today's guest blogger is Laura Fleming, school librarian at Cherry Hill School in River Edge, NJ. Laura blogs at EdTech Insight.

In my quest to find all interactive children's literature or take "static" literature and make it interactive, I have divided all of my findings into tiers which I will share with you in this post.

News Flash: How Tiny Boosts to Personal Identity Improve Minority Students' Grades

EdutopiaAugust 18, 2010

Tags Comprehensive Assessment, Mental Health, Mentoring, , Student Engagement, Teacher Development, All Grades, English Language Arts

A few years ago I wrote a story about a new piece of research that blew my mind. A group of Yale University researchers led by Geoffrey Cohen gave a bunch of Connecticut seventh-graders a 15-minute writing assignment. Half the children in this racially-diverse, working-class school were prompted to write about their personal values - a task designed to validate their identity and self-worth -- and half were assigned a more neutral subject.

Elementary Educator Asks: Does Merit Pay Turn Kids into Zombies?

Gaetan PappalardoAugust 17, 2010

Tags Comprehensive Assessment, Primary (K-2), Professional Learning Network (PLN), Student Engagement, Teacher Compensation, Upper Elementary (3-5), English Language Arts, History, Physical Education, Visual Arts

Tap, tap, tap---tap, tap--tap. I'm sending a signal from down here in the muck, down here where the boogers are hard and the shoelaces are eternally untied. HELLO up there? In the 80's words of Def Leopard, "Is anybody out there? Is anybody there?" Call me crazy, but how come I don't see or hear serious discussion about what's going to happen to elementary school students and teachers when teacher evaluation is tied to test scores?

Help Students Set Up an Effective Writing Routine

Todd FinleyAugust 16, 2010

Tags Curriculum, Dropout Prevention, Student Engagement, Teacher Development, Technology Integration, Middle (6-8), High (9-12), English Language Arts

For students to write with ease and creativity, it is helpful for them to understand writing processes and writing routines. The paragraphs below take up the latter.

Using Literature the First Weeks of School

Elena AguilarAugust 13, 2010

Tags Teacher Development, Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle (6-8), High (9-12), English Language Arts

As a teacher, on the first day of school, I wanted my students to know that in my class we would read a lot and we'd read great literature, literature that would help us understand our world better, and ourselves.

Integrating Technology with Limited Resources

Mary Beth HertzAugust 11, 2010

Tags Classroom Technology, Comprehensive Assessment, Curriculum, Digital Divide, Funding, Online Learning, Primary (K-2), Professional Development, Professional Learning Network (PLN), Project-Based Learning, Technology Integration, Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle (6-8), High (9-12), English Language Arts, History, World Language Learning

OK, so you know about all of these great tools out there that can transform teaching and learning in your classroom but all you have is an ancient PC in the corner of your room. How can you effectively integrate technology with this dinosaur?

Hopefully this post will help.

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.

Bassline Buff Verbs

Gaetan PappalardoJuly 30, 2010

Tags Arts Education, Integrated Studies, Primary (K-2), Upper Elementary (3-5), English Language Arts, Music, Visual Arts

We found the groove. Make sure your seatbelts are fastened and have a good time.

-- From the song "20th Century," by the band Brad