By Gregg Ritchie, National Curriculum Specialist at McGraw Hill

I recently interviewed ten music teachers around the country to learn a bit about their experiences this school year, and the challenges they’ve faced due to the world health pandemic. Much of what I learned confirmed my predictions: some surprises, but also amazing stories of resilience and creativity.

While there has been no shortage of debate and discussion about whether schools should and can reopen, I believe it’s often best to hear from those directly doing the work. While we all have our own experiences, perceptions, beliefs, and desires, it’s important…

The science classroom is a place to explore, to experiment, and to experience with all the senses. But recreating this type of environment from a distance can be challenging.

Using phenomena, or “events that occur in the universe and that we can use our science knowledge to explain or predict,” in remote lessons not only makes science education a more tangible, hands-on experience for students that they can have even from their desks at home, but also provides them with an opportunity to practice reasoning, problem-solving, and working with evidence. You can integrate phenomena into your remote instructional plans to…

For every teacher, every parent, every administrator who has made learning happen over the last year, technology has certainly been a lifeline.

With technology, a living room can become a classroom. With technology, personalized connections can be made with students, even from miles away. With technology, students can grow and accelerate and challenge themselves at their own pace. With technology, learning and exploration can continue, even if the world stands still.

February 25, 2021 marks the 10th anniversary of Digital Learning Day (#DLDay) — an online celebration hosted by Future Ready Schools, where educators share great ideas, amazing stories, and…

What is a learning community, and how might teachers and students create one when they’re not in a shared space together?

That was the question Dr. Catlin Tucker posed to the audience during her session titled “Creating Clarity for Online Teaching & Learning,” which took place as part of McGraw Hill’s Celebrating Early Literacy series on February 17.

In her session, Dr. Tucker delved into the notion of a learning community, and the aspects that frame them. A learning community is a collaboration between teacher and student — a place where goals are shared, the purpose of learning is articulated…

By Meena Srinivasan, Executive Director of Transformative Educational Leadership

Explore Part 1 of our series, “Voices in Social Studies” where educators and thought leaders share the latest in social studies teaching and learning.

Belonging is often characterized as an emotional need we all have to feel seen and connected. While this is true, as educators it’s important to expand and contextualize our understanding of what belonging truly means, especially as our nation faces a deep sense of polarization. True belonging calls upon us to cultivate an expansive, compassionate quality where we enlarge our circles of concern and interrogate all the…

Published as a part of a collaboration between McGraw Hill and Character Lab, where this piece first appeared. Character Lab advances scientific insights that help kids thrive (you can watch a short video here). By connecting researchers with educators, Character Lab seeks to create greater knowledge about the conditions that lead to social, emotional, academic, and physical well-being for young people throughout the country.

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”

— Dalai Lama

Why does kindness matter?

When you act kindly toward others, the benefits go both ways. Small, thoughtful acts — like helping, sharing, listening, or teaching — can change both…

It has been seven long months since the 2020 Mars Rover, Perseverance, and his pal, Ingenuity, began their journey from Earth to the Jezero Crater on Mars. But this week, they will finally make their long-awaited arrival on the Red Planet.

Learn more about their journey and mission with fun classroom and remote learning resources below!

Who is Perseverance?

Perseverance is a high-tech rover built to explore the surface of Mars, our next-door neighbor in the solar system. Equipped with special tools, like a drone named Igenguinty, Perseverance can survey and test the soil on Mars to determine if there is, or ever…

By Kerrie LaRosa, Licensed Clincial Social Worker and Parent Coach

“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” — Helen Keller.

This week, we celebrate Take Your Family to School Week. This year, as the pandemic rages on and remote or hybrid learning remains the norm across the country, this observance is a time to recognize the importance of family and school collaboration.

Educating children without family involvement is like trying to solve a puzzle when you are missing pieces. Learning is not limited to school. Whether reading, playing, arguing with a sibling, or fixing themselves…