George Lucas Educational Foundation
Edutopia

9-12 High School

Explore and share tips, strategies, and resources for helping students develop in grades 9-12.

  • Setting Up an Ecological Exchange

    Students can learn a lot about ecosystems by gathering objects from their area and swapping with a distant class.
    John Dorroh

  • 5 Free Video Games That Support English Language Learners

    These games simulate real-world problems, guiding middle and high school students to engage deeply with content—and embedded supports benefit English language learners in particular.
    Louise El Yaafouri

  • Promoting Active Reading Skills

    Placing prompts throughout a text challenges students to analyze and interpret what they read—improving reading comprehension.  
    Lauren Gehr

  • The Power of Short Writing Assignments

    Brief writing prompts and responses help students in any discipline.
    Benjamin Barbour

  • The Case for Not Allowing Test Retakes

    As more educators drop penalties for late work and allow students to redo tests, a high school teacher says that traditional policies are better for the majority of students.
    Anthony Palma

  • A Student-Centered Model of Blended Learning

    When educators at a Washington, DC, high school ditched their lectures and devised a self-paced blended learning model, their students thrived.

  • There’s a Cell Phone in Your Student’s Head

    A 2017 study found that cell phones that were turned off and stashed away silently reasserted themselves—distracting working students anyway.

  • 60-Second Strategy: Appreciation, Apology, Aha!

    A quick, low-key way to build community in your classroom on a daily basis.

  • Using Learning Stations to Kick Off the Year

    An engaging way for students to get to know each other, review the syllabus, and decide on classroom agreements.
    Angelina Murphy

  • 60-Second Strategy: Snowball Toss

    A quick, fun classroom activity fosters open dialogue while releasing pent-up energy.

  • The Benefits of Sharing Our Planning With Students

    Explaining the intentions behind a lesson plan can boost engagement and help students get back on track when something isn’t working.
    Mark Gardner

  • The Benefits of a High School Psychology Class

    Students gain not just social and emotional learning skills but academic ones like how to conduct and analyze research.
    Heather Tracy

  • Kicking Off the School Year With Intention

    Setting aside time for relationship building at the start of school can pay big dividends throughout the year.
    Mary Davenport

  • 10 Student-Tested Chrome Extensions

    Many teachers and students use Google Chrome, and it’s easy to customize with these extensions that really benefit students.
    Kathryn Nieves

  • Helping Students With Disabilities Understand Accommodations in College

    High school educators can play an important role in preparing students to request accommodations in college.
    Lori Smith