Jade Stevens, LA Promise Fund and Westbrook Academy, Author at Teach Strats

How we designed a space where our students connect, collaborate, and flourish

June 6, 2025 by Jade Stevens, LA Promise Fund and Westbrook Academy

Our charter school, Westbrook Academy, has been serving middle and high school students in the South Los Angeles area for the past six years and stands as a…

K-12 Cybersecurity

Phishing attacks are evolving, but schools can fight back

June 5, 2025 by Adam Ford, Zscaler

When everyone understands the threat of phishing attacks and knows how to respond, institutions can create a culture of cyber resilience.

The education sector has become an increasingly lucrative target for threat actors, not only because of the valuable data schools hold--student records, login credentials, Social Security numbers, and…

Student Well-Being

Beyond ‘feeling good’: A deeper approach to student mental health

June 5, 2025 by Andy Myers, eLuma

Expanding access to student mental health resources is crucial, but many schools struggle to meet the rising demand.

Mental health concerns among K-12 students are reaching unprecedented levels. According to the CDC, 40 percent of high school students report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and…

AI in Education

AI prompt engineering: A critical new skillset for 21st-century teachers

June 4, 2025June 4, 2025 by Timothy Montalvo, Iona University

Prompt engineering is not just about using AI--it’s about using it wisely, ethically, and creatively in teaching and learning.

Prompt engineering--the ability to craft precise, thoughtful inputs for AI tools to produce effective outputs--is quickly becoming an essential skill in modern education. More than a technical trick,…

AI in Education

3 ways to rethink reading intervention with AI

June 4, 2025June 4, 2025 by Nesren El-Baz, ESL Educator

AI can offer a powerful layer of literacy support for students struggling with reading, especially those who feel left behind.

Many teachers are aware of both the problem and the potential solution, yet feel uncertain about taking the next step. AI, when used thoughtfully, can support reading growth--especially…

COVID in Schools

Unpacking COVID’s lasting academic effects on 5th graders

June 3, 2025 by Dr. Jason Richardson, Garden City Elementary School and International University of Caribbean

Educators have been instrumental in helping students regain lost ground and make progress in their academic development after COVID.

As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe, it forced the closure of schools and a rapid shift to online learning. This unforeseen disruption in traditional education left…

Digital Learning Tools

With classroom tech, meet students where they are

June 2, 2025 by Dr. Gregory Stephens, Rust College and Mississippi State University

Technology in the classroom should drive student engagement strategies while guiding students toward deeper understanding.

Technology in the classroom has transformed how students learn and how teachers teach. What once was a space filled with lectures, textbooks, and rigid routines has evolved into…

Literacy

Solving our literacy crisis starts in the lecture hall

May 30, 2025 by Lacey Robinson, UnboundEd & CORE Learning

When it comes to teaching literacy, it’s not enough to just teach teachers about reading theory; they need to know how to teach it, too.

The recent NAEP scores have confirmed a sobering truth: Our schools remain in the grips of a literacy crisis. Across the country, too many children are struggling to…

AI in Education

Why agentic AI matters now more than ever

May 30, 2025 by Rishi Raj Gera, Magic EdTech

When it comes to agentic AI, there’s something timely about rethinking what we mean by intelligence in our learning systems.

For years now, the promise of AI in education has centered around efficiency--grading faster, recommending better content, or predicting where a student might struggle.

AI in Education

How students are really using AI tools: What schools need to know

May 29, 2025 by Teodora Pavkovic, Linewize

It's time for schools and districts to craft AI usage policies to guide their students in the expected and appropriate use of these tools.

AI is fast becoming the tool that we soon won’t be able to do without. And yet, only a quarter of districts in the U.S. have released a formal…

Literacy

Why graphic novels belong in every classroom

May 29, 2025 by Gabe Valentin, Dizzy Doom Kids

Graphic novels are excellent vehicles for ELA learning, character-building, and beyond--don't overlook them as classroom literacy resources.

Walk into any classroom today and you’ll hear a familiar refrain from teachers: “How do we get kids excited about reading again?” Screens, social media, and short attention…

Students with Special Needs

Learning disabilities in the classroom: What’s next?

May 28, 2025 by Bonnie Contreras, Ed.S., NCSP, Presence

Schools have the opportunity to reimagine how they meet the surging demand for evaluations and services for students with special needs.

While the recent months have been a flurry of news around education, we’re becoming distracted from the very real challenges students are facing in the classroom.

Online & Hybrid Learning

The best tools to create blended learning environments

May 28, 2025 by Lori Oldham, Park Elementary School

In a dynamic blended learning environment, the teacher is a facilitator of learning, mentoring and guiding students as they progress.

Thirty unique, energetic learners enter a bright, welcoming 4th grade classroom. The students’ academic levels span an incredible range--from kindergarten-level skills to almost high school-level proficiency.

Literacy

5 ways our students benefit from our online literacy platform

May 27, 2025 by Kasi Hockensmith, Mason Intermediate School & Emily Pate, Mason Middle School

Online platforms have helped significantly transform English Learner students' reading progress--and their confidence.

When we began noticing significant gaps for both our English Learner students and native English speakers between intentional phonemic awareness and work with word parts, we knew we…

Students with Special Needs

Crafting environments where students with autism thrive

May 29, 2025May 27, 2025 by Joie Laykoff, Fusion Education Group

Prioritizing clarity, consistency, and connection helps students with autism meet challenges and celebrate progress.

Recent public commentary about autism has brought new urgency to the conversation. Awareness alone isn’t enough--students on the spectrum benefit from environments where their needs are understood, respected,…

Education Policy & Funding

Federal judge blocks Trump’s Education Dept. shutdown, orders reinstatement of laid off staff

May 26, 2025 by Amy Zimmer, Chalkbeat

AFT President Randi Weingarten heralded the judge’s ruling to block the dismantling of the Department of Education.

A federal judge on May 22 issued a preliminary injunction blocking President Donald Trump’s executive order to shut down the U.S. Department of Education and said the agency…

Literacy

Supporting delayed readers: Strategies for success

May 26, 2025 by Dr. Gregory Stephens, Rust College and Mississippi State University

Supporting delayed readers requires individualized strategies, early literacy support, and application of evidence-based reading instruction.

Supporting delayed readers requires a thoughtful and research-informed approach. These students can make meaningful gains when provided with targeted reading intervention strategies tailored to their needs.

Students with Special Needs

Empowering neurodiverse learners with AI-driven solutions

May 23, 2025 by Aditya Prakash, SKIDOS

Advances in AI give us the opportunity to reshape learning environments into inclusive spaces where neurodiverse learners can thrive.

A traditional classroom is like a symphony, where every student is handed the same sheet music and expected to play in perfect unison. But neurodiverse learners are not…

AI in Education

Students learn the basics of AI as they weigh its use in their future careers

May 23, 2025 by Jessie Gómez, Chalkbeat

On a recent Thursday morning, Michael Taubman asked his class of seniors at North Star Academy’s Washington Park High School: “What do you think AI’s role should be…

Teacher Well-Being

The unseen connection between student absenteeism and teacher burnout

May 22, 2025 by Dr. Michelle Fry, SchoolStatus

Despite clear links between absenteeism and teacher burnout, most educators lack real-time access to data for timely interventions.

The current education crisis isn't just about the need to support student academic recovery--it's also about teacher retention. As districts nationwide struggle to keep classrooms staffed, many fail…

District Management

The cure for the school attendance crisis? Family support and a sense of belonging

May 21, 2025 by Dr. Shanna Downs, West Georgia RESA

The chronic absenteeism rate has increased post-pandemic--a clear indicator that the problem isn’t letting up any time soon.

Empty seats have become a common sight in our nation’s classrooms. Students are missing school at record-high rates--not because they don’t want to be there, but because significant…

K-12 Cybersecurity

What to know about the newest cyberattack strategy putting K-12 schools at risk

May 21, 2025 by Ven Auvaa, ArmorPoint

A third-party security operations center can provide threat detection, incident response, and cybersecurity monitoring for K-12 districts.

A staggering 82 percent of K-12 schools experienced a cyber incident between July of 2023 and December 2024, according to a recent report by Center for Internet Security.

Curriculum & Assessment

The clock is ticking: Why standardized schedules don’t work for learning

May 20, 2025 by George Philhower, Ed.D., Eastern Hancock Schools

Moving away from standardized learning schedules helps schools focus on learning and foster an immersive learning experience for students.

In education, we talk a lot about equity, personalization, and meeting students where they are. But we often ignore one fundamental truth: Learning takes time, and the time…

Literacy

One-Two-Three-Read!: A motivational reading program that works

May 20, 2025 by Dr. Gregory Stephens, Rust College and Mississippi State University

An educator-created reading program inspired genuine excitement, reinforced reading habits, and brought classrooms together.

How can educators transform reading into something students want to do rather than have to do? That’s the question we set out to answer when we created One-Two-Three-Read!.

District Management

Disrupting U.S. schools wasn’t possible before–that may be changing

May 19, 2025 by Michael B. Horn, Clayton Christensen Institute

When disrupting schools, education savings accounts offer an incentive to consider the relative value of different educational services.

As Robert Pondiscio observed recently, K–12 schools have largely been spared Disruptive Innovation of the sort that has transformed everything from retail to consumer package goods, telecommunications, computing, steel,…

Digital Learning Tools

How instructional audio amps up physical education classes

May 19, 2025 by Amber Reynolds, Summit View Elementary School

Portable instructional audio technology helps physical education teachers overcome critical barriers to listening.

Effective communication is essential for physical education teachers to engage and teach K-12 students. P.E. teachers work with diverse groups, often with varying language backgrounds and ability levels,…

District Management

At a grim time for math test scores, these districts buck the trend

May 15, 2025 by Steven Yoder, The Hechinger Report, Chalkbeat

$Higher achievement in 8th grade math is associated with higher income and more education, and in Tennessee, math test scores are encouraging.$

In early February, seventh grade math teacher Jamie Gallimore tried something new: She watched herself teach class. The idea had come from Ed Baker, district math coach at…

District Management

The business (and busy-ness) of education

May 15, 2025 by Sean Slade, BTS Spark, America & Ken Simon, Institute for Educational Leadership

Every employee in a people-first culture--schools or business--should feel respected and feel that the company cares for them individually.

We often hear we should run our schools more like a business. It is intended to mean that we become more efficient and that we streamline our efforts…

Game-Based Learning

Video game design boosts students’ literacy skills

May 14, 2025 by Ava Wiseley and Dennis Pierce

A video game design pilot project in the Bronx results in 51-percent growth in literacy skills in just three months.

Teachers generally frown upon students who play video games in class, but a public school in the Bronx has found a way to use video game design as…

Classroom Management

Beyond grades: Helping families support students academically

May 14, 2025 by Jacob Bruno, NWEA

Families can help students recover academically if they understand how their child is doing and how they can support academic success.

Five years ago, the COVID-19 virus was declared a pandemic, and we quickly retreated into our homes, shuttered schools, and socially isolated. The lasting effects of this isolation…

DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access)

The pros and cons of DEI in education

May 13, 2025 by Dr. Yuvraj Verma, Bessemer City Middle School and William Howard Taft University

Positive DEI efforts in education include thoughtful and inclusive implementation strategies that promote equity and inclusion for all.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives have become integral to educational institutions across the United States. DEI aims to foster environments where all students can thrive regardless of…

Literacy

Lights, camera, literacy: Student-created book reviews inspire a global reading culture

May 12, 2025 by Nesren El-Baz, ESL Educator

Video book reviews give students the opportunity to express themselves in meaningful ways--and increase engagement in reading.

When students become literacy influencers, reading transforms from a classroom task into a global conversation. Recent studies show that reading for pleasure among teens is at an all-time…

Curriculum & Assessment

How to integrate environmental concepts into every subject

May 14, 2025May 12, 2025 by Rachel Arbor, Gaia Scholastic

Weaving environmental literacy into learning starts by connecting students to nature and finding an entry point for each subject.

Key points: As a teacher and advocate for environmental education, I’ve seen students around the country feeling “eco-anxiety.” When I ... Read more

District Management

The dangers of attempting to ‘Instant Pot’ educational progress

May 8, 2025 by Christy Hovanetz, ExcelinEd

Right now, K-12 needs a little more tough love--stronger expectations, accountability and leadership for students and their progress.

States aren’t happy with how their students are doing--not well, by all objective measures--but instead of focusing in on long-term solutions, they’re lowering expectations and sweeping those academic…

Students with Special Needs

Meeting the rising demand for school-based speech and behavioral support

May 8, 2025 by Cheryl Haibach, Kelly Education

Adapting to the growing need for therapy services in schools requires innovation and flexibility--here's how to meet the demand.

As districts and schools nationwide struggle to find qualified therapists, particularly speech-language pathologists and board-certified behavior analysts (BCBAs), there’s a growing demand for these specialized professionals.

Digital Learning Tools

4 edtech tools that can transform student teamwork

May 7, 2025 by Jon Oosterman, Van Andel Institute for Education

As a longtime STEM educator, I’ve come to understand the value of teamwork, both within the classroom and beyond. Teamwork is essential for building students’ social-emotional intelligence.

K-12 Cybersecurity

Edtech gone rogue? Tackling “Dirty Stream” attacks amidst uncontrolled app overloads

May 7, 2025 by Apu Pavithran, Hexnode

Safeguarding student data and securing the digital future of education is a joint venture to keep Android apps safe for schools.

In May 2024, Microsoft identified a critical vulnerability pattern targeting Android applications, ominously called “Dirty Stream.” This vulnerability allows malicious apps to overwrite files, potentially leading to arbitrary…

Featured on Teach Strats

One word, meaningful impact: Creating classroom culture through collective dialogue

May 5, 2025 by Jacob Shiffrin, Relay Graduate School of Education

Small but powerful language adjustments represent a fundamental mindset shift in how educators approach engagement and classroom culture.

Having conducted well over a thousand observations of K-12 teachers over the last 10 years, I have noticed there is one piece of feedback I have given more…

Teacher Professional Development

The math anxiety equation: How to solve for confidence in math class

May 5, 2025 by Brian Dean, UnboundEd

$To conquer math anxiety, we must first help students believe they are capable learners of mathematics--and that starts with the right PD.$

One of my first vivid memories of math is of timed tests. I still remember how visceral my panic felt--sweaty palms, heart pounding--as I scrambled to recall facts…

College and Career Readiness

Career-connected learning builds a more employable, future-ready generation

May 2, 2025 by Edson Barton, YouScience

If we pair students’ strengths with in-demand careers through career-connected learning, we are ensuring the success of our students.

Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a fundamental psychological theory that explains human motivation. At its base are physiological and safety needs, followed by love and belonging, esteem,…

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