George Lucas Educational Foundation
Edutopia

9-12 High School

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

  • 6 Top Tech Tools for World Language Classes

    See how to adapt popular apps to get students speaking, listening, reading, and writing in the target language.
    Elena Spathis

  • Easy Ways to Build Metacognitive Skills

    Learn strategies to increase student engagement and stop students from asking, "Why are we doing this?"
    Jordan Mattox

  • Using the Outdoors to Teach STEM

    An engaging activity encourages students to explore math in everyday spaces like parks and school campuses.
    Koshi Dhingra

  • As Teen Stress Increases, Teachers Look for Answers

    Seventy percent of teens say stress is a major problem. Research backs that up—and teachers are beginning to offer solutions.
    Andrew Simmons

  • 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.

  • Bringing Student Choice to Assessment in Science Classes

    What happens when students can opt to skip tests and instead give oral presentations or create art to show what they know?
    John Dorroh

  • 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

  • The Power of Short Writing Assignments

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

  • 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.

  • How to Increase Participation by Asking Better Questions

    Framing questions the right way—and scaffolding the right kinds of responses—can help teachers avoid blank stares and awkward silences.
    Laura Lee

  • 3 Ways to Use Music in the Classroom

    A high school teacher shares how she uses music to foster a sense of community and make learning more engaging.
    Jori Krulder

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

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

  • 60-Second Strategy: Snowball Toss

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

  • The Bill of Rights Through the Lens of Dystopian Tales

    One teacher offers a guide to help students compare the freedoms lost in dystopian novels with the freedoms secured by the Bill of Rights.
    Benjamin Barbour

  • Students Need to Learn to Manage Their Own Screen Time

    When students understand the benefits of limiting screen time, they are better able to manage their own distractions.
    Laura Lee