Today’s teens know that the Internet can be incredibly useful. More and more teens and young adults have personal web pages and use the Internet for a variety of purposes. Unfortunately, the Internet can also be a dangerous place. The hazards you can encounter range from upsetting situations — like being insulted in an instant message, blog, or text message — to physical threats, such as Internet predators.

This doesn’t mean that being online isn’t worth the risks. It just means that you need to know how to protect yourself. Here are a few precautions to take when you’re online:

Understand Cyberbullying

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I’ve spent the last couple of months developing my series on remote learning. I’m sure I will in the future return to remote learning with more key insights, but for now, a new series: Social Justice in the Classroom.

This is in no way an exhaustive list, but it’s a start to share some of the things we did in my classroom to facilitate social justice. Have I missed a stellar idea? Let me know!

Diverse Books by Diverse Authors

I did a Donor’s Choose for my class one year, in order to collect diverse books by diverse authors for diverse readers. …

For children with dyslexia, learning to read will likely become a deeply personal and ongoing journey — they will experience the process, successes, and difficulties of literacy differently than their non-dyslexic peers. But that doesn’t mean that these students are destined to suffer in school — it simply means that the instruction, tools, resources, and learning experience provided to them must be all the more deliberate and powerful. With the right instructional materials and pedagogical approach, we can empower dyslexic children to successfully tackle challenging texts throughout their academic careers.

The unique learning experience of dyslexic children requires a unique…

With the help of her colleagues, Dr. Fiona Vernal created Part 3 of our series, “Voices in Social Studies”, as a resource guide for teachers interested in the intersection of SEL, culture, and community. Special thanks to Isalena Gilzene and Hope Brown. Read part 1 and part 2.

Old Wine, New Bottles? Thirty Years of Social and Emotional Learning

Every few decades, education experts reconsider what pedagogies, principles, materials, and methods will contribute to success in the classroom. Social and emotional learning (SEL), a framework developed almost thirty years ago in 1994, is beginning to coalesce and gain momentum throughout the country. By August 2020, 29 states had developed SEL standards…

Every April we celebrate Financial Literacy Month, an observance founded by The Jump$tart Coalition to improve financial literacy, especially among our nation’s youth, and to promote financial well-being for all consumers.

Studies have found that providing students, as early in their education as possible, with foundational financial education skills and educational programs can build overall financial wellness. Unfortunately, the OECD’s 2018 PISA Survey results reveal that one in five US students fail to demonstrate more than a basic level of financial knowledge and skills, and students are performing below the baseline level of proficiency. [2]

This means that the vast…

Let’s face it: most kids think video games are a lot more fun than learning. But, that doesn’t have to be the case.

In reality, teaching and video games have a lot in common. Many of the video games that kids today love are actually designed based on the science of how children learn.

That means if we tap into the smart strategies that make video games work, we can make instruction more effective, content more engaging, and students more excited to learn and grow.

But how might we do this? One effective learning tactic often seen in video game…

How do we address dyslexia in the classroom, so we can turn struggling readers into confident ones?

Decades of research have clearly shown that the most effective instruction and intervention for reading should be systematically designed and delivered. This instruction should also include high levels of student engagement and feedback, and look different across the grades.

In past installments, Dr. Jan Hasbrouck has discussed the research behind dyslexia, dispelled common misconceptions surrounding the disorder, and described the signs and symptoms. This blog, adapted from Dr. …

Today’s rigorous standards challenge schools to prepare all students for the demands of 21st-century college and careers. But some student populations struggle to reach grade level and perform well on high-stakes tests. Regardless of the reason, Direct Instruction (DI) programs have the power to turn their lives around. The DI method is extensively tested and proven to transform students into confident learners who meet or surpass grade-level expectations in reading, language arts, and math. DI programs give schools a clear path to Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and beyond.

What makes DI Effective?

A high school diploma is a gateway to college and the workforce…