George Lucas Educational Foundation
Edutopia

9-12 High School

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

  • Inquiry-Based Projects Feed Student Curiosity

    Giving students free time each week to pursue a passion project can deepen engagement and learning.
    Brooke Markle

  • An Entrepreneurial Mindset Beats Coding Skills

    Computer coding may be valuable in the current marketplace, but for long-term success, students need to develop entrepreneurial mindsets. 
    Laura Lee

  • Build Empathy and Understanding by Pairing Comics With Novels

    Teaching with comics facilitates improved comprehension and social-emotional competencies.
    Ryan Chapman

  • 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.

  • Teaching Students How to Ask Productive Questions

    Improve engagement, comprehension, and critical thinking by teaching students the process of asking insightful questions.
    Laura Lee

  • Using a Makerspace for English and Humanities Instruction

    Turning abstract concepts like symbolism and imagery into 3D representations develops deeper understanding and engagement.
    Lauren Huddleston

  • 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

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

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

  • Teaching the Research Process Through Podcasting

    Sharing their podcasts with peers gives students motivation to conduct research and develop skills they’ll need later to write essays.
    Jori Krulder

  • 60-Second Strategy: Snowball Toss

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

  • Managing Your High School Classroom with Compassion

    High school teacher Grace Dearborn says students don’t all respond to consequences in the same way, so teachers need a full toolbox of options.
    Laura Lee

  • Tips for Allowing Test Retakes

    Allowing students a chance to redo tests and assignments can help them keep striving for mastery, if the process is well managed.
    David Cutler

  • Evidence-Based Scheduling With Daniel Pink

    The best-selling author explains why the order of the school day should look different for elementary and high school students.
    Laura Lee

  • Allowing Test Retakes—Without Getting Gamed

    Hundreds of teachers discussed the best ways to guide students toward mastery—without being taken advantage of.
    Stephen Merrill