Education Week: Spotlights Collection

Teaching & Instruction

July 9, 2010 Assessment is complicated in both practical and policy terms, raising myriad questions of how to best gauge student learning. This Spotlight looks at how schools and experts are approaching assessment.

Classroom Management

September 15, 2009 Classroom management is often one of the most challenging parts of the job for new teachers. This Spotlight explores how educators can create successful learning environments in sometimes difficult situations.

Credit Recovery and Online Learning

April 1, 2013 FREE! Online learning has the ability to motivate underachieving students and engage students beyond traditional brick-and-mortar classrooms. In this Spotlight take a look at online credit recovery programs, see how urban districts are reexamining “seat-time” requirements, and find out how educators are using competency-based education and technology to prepare for common-core assessments. Sponsored by: K 12 Inc.

Deeper Learning

October 1, 2012 FREE! States are exploring the use of creativity indexes to measure innovation in schools; preschoolers are learning in dual-language immersion programs; and districts are using brain science research for students with learning disabilities. This Spotlight takes a close look at some of the promising models and innovative strategies for "deeper learning."

Differentiated Instruction

May 11, 2010 With student diversity growing and schools facing pressure to boost achievement, many teachers must find ways to attend to unique learning needs. This Spotlight focuses on how teachers use differentiated instruction to give individualized support.

Dropout Prevention

October 15, 2012 Students face a number of cultural, economic, and educational barriers to completing high school and going on to pursue college and careers. This Spotlight focuses on chronic absenteeism, early-dropout detection, online credit-recovery courses, and how early-college models can reduce dropout rates.

Homework

December 11, 2009 For many, homework is a school tradition, but that doesn’t mean everyone agrees it should stay that way. This Spotlight explores how much time students spend on homework, research on its usefulness, and challenges surrounding homework practices and policies.

Motivation

February 5, 2010 Sometimes, the difference between success and failure in class boils down to motivation. This Spotlight on Motivation describes innovative ways of reaching and inspiring students to study harder and take learning further.

Parent and Community Involvement

April 15, 2013 FREE! Increasingly, parent engagement is becoming an important focus for district leaders. In this Spotlight see how leaders are involving parent groups in district decision-making, how national organizations are introducing the common-core standards to parents, and see how digital tools and social media are playing a role in parent communications. Sponsored by: Schoolwires, Inc.

Tips for New Teachers

May 1, 2009 The first year of a new teacher's career is always challenging. This Spotlight provides insight and practical suggestions for getting started on the right foot.

Teacher Tips for the New Year

August 26, 2010 Heading back to school offers new challenges for teachers and students. This Spotlight offers tips for educators on easing into the new academic year as smoothly and productively as possible.

Professional Development

June 1, 2012 Professional learning has turned teachers into coaches and redefined certification and training programs for staff. And now many teachers face new curriculum and assessment challenges as they prepare for the common-core standards. This Spotlight asks – what does effective professional development look like for today’s teachers?

Professional Learning Communities

November 1, 2011 Educators have turned to Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) as a way to develop professional skills and improve student learning. This Spotlight offers tips and practical experience from those using PLCs as a way to build teacher-to-teacher collaboration, including how to start teacher learning communities and how to maintain group motivation and avoid burnout.

Common Standards

Common Core Assessment and Curriculum

June 1, 2012 The common-core standards are giving new shape to curriculum and student assessment across the country. This Spotlight explains how the standards will impact curriculum development and the crafting of common assessments.

Common Core for ELLs

April 1, 2013 FREE! The Common Core State Standards are placing new demands on English-language learners. In this Spotlight take a look at how schools are making the standards accessible to ELLs, understand how the common core may help establish uniform definitions for ELLs, and see how teachers are preparing for instruction and assessment challenges. Sponsored by: Rosetta Stone

Digital Literacy in the Common-Core Era

November 1, 2012 As states and districts plan for the Common Core State Standards, educators are left to wonder how digital literacy fits into the standards. This Spotlight focuses on how to incorporate digital literacy, explores public-private efforts to close the digital-skills gap, and looks at competency-based and technology-driven programs attempting to give students a head start on common-core assessments.

Implementing Common Standards

January 2, 2013 As the Common Core States Standards take hold in schools, educators are changing approaches to teaching, testing, textbooks, and professional development. This Spotlight reviews some of the new texts aligned to the standards, results from the earliest student assessments, principal training efforts, and ways to reduce costs associated with common-core implementation.

Literacy and the Common Core

April 1, 2013 FREE! Under the new common-core standards, educators are debating which literary texts should be taught in class, preparing for the roll out of new textbooks and readers, pushing literacy development across subject areas, and connecting reading and writing to critical reasoning skills. Download this Spotlight to understand how curriculum and assessment is shifting as a result of the new English/language arts standards. Sponsored by: Great Books Foundation

Math and the Common Core

May 1, 2013 FREE! The transition to the common-core math standards has resulted in shifts in classroom teaching and course materials. In this Spotlight, take a look at how the common core is influencing math instruction, see how teachers are preparing at-risk students for the standards, and examine early assessments aligned to the common core. Sponsored by: Think Through Math

Supporting Instruction in the Common Core

December 1, 2012 Teachers are preparing for a variety of instructional shifts with the introduction of the Common Core State Standards. This Spotlight explores some of the ways educators are getting ready for the standards, including using virtual professional development, forming educator cadres to prepare for common assessments, producing e-textbooks, and building capacity for new instructional approaches.

Reading & Writing

Creating Readers

November 19, 2010 Reading is considered a bedrock skill in the overall process of learning. This Spotlight explores innovative programs aimed at helping students who struggle with reading.

Middle & High School Literacy

June 1, 2010 Many educators are learning that it's not just young children who need help with literacy skills. This Spotlight explores unique strategies and programs for working on literacy with middle and high school students.

Reading Instruction

June 29, 2009 Few topics arouse such strong passion as how best to teach children to read. This Spotlight focuses on research on what works in teaching reading and successful tools and tactics already at work in classrooms.

Math & Science

Algebra

September 15, 2012 To best prepare students for algebra, educators must balance the rigors of the curriculum alongside the needs of students. This Spotlight examines some of the emerging trends and research, including algebra-readiness strategies, online courses, combined literacy and math programs, and the introduction of core-algebra concepts at the elementary level.

Math Instruction

July 15, 2012 The common standards, technology, and new cognitive studies are redefining how math gets taught. This Spotlight focuses on math instruction and how educators are adapting their teaching, integrating new technologies, and preparing for the common core.

Science Instruction

April 29, 2011 Engaging students in effective and meaningful science instruction is a priority for both teachers and researchers. This Spotlight takes a look at innovative science education programs and the challenges of producing the “next generation” of scientists.

STEM

March 1, 2012 Schools and policymakers emphasize STEM as a way to prepare students for 21st century challenges, leaving teachers with their own challenge: How do you successfully engage students in these subjects? This Spotlight offers tips on how to create effective science and math learning opportunities for students.

Technology & Digital Learning

Aligning Curriculum and Technology

April 2, 2012 Technology is dramatically altering K-12 curriculum, but integrating digital tools into instruction can be challenging for educators. This Spotlight explores how districts are using technology to improve student learning, introducing games into classrooms, and using multimedia resources across the subject areas.

Blended Learning and Adaptive Instruction

May 1, 2013 FREE! School districts are experimenting with blended learning and adaptive instruction, mixing face-to-face instruction with online learning. This Spotlight explores blended learning models and their effectiveness, using adaptive testing in common-core assessments, and tailoring word problems to increase student confidence in math. Sponsored by: DreamBox Learning, Inc.

Building the Digital District

September 15, 2012 In order to build the digital district, ed-tech leaders must ensure that back-end services run smoothly and securely. This Spotlight illustrates how districts can maintain reliable technology programs, like multidistrict online collaborations, effective data- security plans, cloud computing, and virtual-learning environments.

Ed-Tech Strategies for K-12 Leaders

October 1, 2012 Teachers and students are already driving change, and it’s up to technology leaders to harness it for improved student learning and assessment. In this Spotlight, learn how ed-tech leaders are balancing the benefits and drawbacks of a “flipped” model of instruction, handling school innovation and social media communications, and ensuring districts are tech-ready for the common core’s online assessments.

Implementing Online Learning

May 1, 2012 Online and blended learning models have reshaped how students learn. Remote learning can assist students with a variety of needs, but there are also accountability challenges associated with virtual education. This Spotlight offers tips on how to best use and apply online learning, inside and outside the classroom.

Personalized Learning

August 1, 2012 Students are learning outside the classroom, receiving “digital badges” for academic achievement, and using technology to expand learning opportunities. The move to individual instruction has many policymakers, administrators, and teachers rethinking instruction in the 21st century. This Spotlight focuses on the new approaches and debates taking place around personalized learning.

Social Media in the Classroom

August 1, 2012 Students are using more than just Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube in the classroom. Many new social media and networking sites are designed specifically for schools. This Spotlight examines the wide range of social media platforms and explores how educators are integrating these tools into instruction.

Technology in the Classroom

May 28, 2009 Education technology is evolving at a fast pace and in surprising new ways. This Spotlight takes a closer look at innovative high-tech resources that are transforming classrooms and learning.

Leadership & School Policy

College Readiness and Access

March 15, 2013 FREE! The path to college comes with many unique challenges for students. In this Spotlight examine the digital divide in the college admissions process, see how districts instill higher education ambitions with early outreach and early-college models, and discover how schools are preparing students for the academic and financial demands of college. Sponsored by: The College Board

Bullying

February 1, 2012 State legislatures have recently passed anti-bullying laws to protect students and principals and teachers face the challenge of keeping students safe. This Spotlight offers school leaders practical tools and strategies for bullying prevention.

Creating School and District Leaders

April 1, 2013 FREE! To create school and district leaders, school systems must provide opportunities for training, professional development, and meaningful feedback. In this Spotlight, see how some districts are remaking principal evaluations, find out what it takes to build a positive school culture, and look at schools using on-site training to prepare principals for their jobs. Sponsored by: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Data-Driven Decisionmaking

March 1, 2013 FREE! States and districts use many different strategies when it comes to using data to improve school performance. In this Spotlight, learn about successful district efforts in data-driven reform, how to put data into practice, and discover new tools used to predict student outcomes. Sponsored by: SAS

Getting the Most From Your IT Budget

August 4, 2009 With funding shrinking, schools and districts are looking for ways to do more with less when it comes to technology. This Spotlight explores how information technology professionals and educators can rise to the challenge.

Principals

June 21, 2010 Principals have long been seen as important to the success of schools. This Spotlight takes a closer look at effective school leadership and the challenges principals face.

School and District Leadership

October 1, 2012 FREE! In the face of budget cuts and policy changes, many school districts are rethinking the roles of central offices, shifting superintendents’ work, redefining school leadership and training programs, and preparing students for college and careers. This Spotlight examines how schools and districts are building leadership capacity to meet these new challenges.

School Uniforms and Dress Codes

April 13, 2010 School uniforms and student dress codes can be the source of heated debate. This Spotlight examines the research on school uniforms and the challenges schools face in implementing dress codes.

Education Policy

Achievement Gap

July 31, 2010 Persistent gaps in student achievement are among the most vexing problems facing schools today. This Spotlight explores progress and setbacks on the achievement gap front and what schools are doing to improve learning results for all children.

No Child Left Behind

July 2, 2009 The No Child Left Behind Act is perhaps the most controversial and far-reaching federal education law on the books. This Spotlight looks at where adjustments have been made to NCLB and what lies ahead for the law and schools.

Pay for Performance

May 1, 2009 Should teachers’ pay be based on their students’ academic performance? Some reformers say yes, but others question the effectiveness of performance–or merit–pay. This Spotlight takes a closer look at the issue of pay for performance.

Race to the Top

February 17, 2010 The $4 billion Race to the Top initiative is the Obama administration's signature education program. This Spotlight examines insider perspectives on Race to the Top policy, the role of standards in the competitive grant program, and states' preparations to secure their piece of the funding pie.

Religion in Schools

June 23, 2011 The role that religion plays in schools is a contentious and often hard fought battle. This Spotlight examines growing debates, from the classroom to the courtroom, on topics like evolution, religion in textbooks, and school choice.

School Improvement

February 1, 2012 An influx of federal funds targeting the nation’s lowest performing schools has state and districts sorting through how to implement the four intervention models. This Spotlight explores the logistical and practical impact of U.S. Department of Education’s School Improvement Grant (SIG) program on improving underperforming schools across the country.

Teacher Evaluation

April 15, 2013 FREE! Teacher evaluation is being hotly debated in education policy circles. In this Spotlight, explore the subtleties between teachers deemed highly effective and ineffective, understand how combined measures can provide a more balanced picture of teacher performance, and see why researchers urge caution in using ‘value added’ evaluations. Sponsored by: Netchemia

Title I

October 1, 2012 Programs serving the nation’s economically disadvantaged students and those with disabilities receive federal funding through No Child Left Behind’s Title I. This Spotlight examines continuing oversight on NCLB waivers, growing academic achievement by Title I students, gains by turnaround schools, and suggestions for repairing Title I funding.

English-Language Learners

ELL Assessment and Teaching

May 28, 2009 Teaching English-language learners is a complex endeavor that requires skill and patience. It is also a reality that more and more schools are facing. This Spotlight examines assessment and instruction in the everyday world of ELLs and their schools.

ELLs in the Classroom

September 1, 2012 One out of every five children now enrolled in American public schools speaks a language other than English at home. This Spotlight focuses on ways to meet English-Language Learners’ needs, including teacher professional development, early detection of dropouts, and what the new common-core standards mean for ELL students.

Special Education

Autism

November 30, 2009 With autism more frequently diagnosed than ever among American schoolchildren, educators are confronting their students' numerous and diverse needs. This Spotlight examines technology, research, and parent and advocate perspectives about the complex disorder and how schools can rise to the challenge of teaching children on the autism spectrum.

Gifted Education

August 18, 2010 Providing gifted students with meaningful challenging work that keeps them engaged in learning is not always an easy task. This Spotlight explores different ways schools are approaching gifted learning and the numerous issues facing gifted students and those who teach them.

Inclusion and Assistive Technology

May 28, 2009 American schools use many strategies to make classrooms more inclusive of students with disabilities. This Spotlight looks at inclusion and school technology’s growing role in supporting it.

Special Education

March 1, 2012 Educators and schools require resources and training to address students' special learning needs. This Spotlight examines major trends in special education including how schools can work to improve their instructional cultures, using brain research for students with disabilities, and the role of response to intervention.

Response to Intervention

September 1, 2012 A recent survey of administrators found that a majority of school districts now use response to intervention frameworks. RTI can be applied at almost any grade level and is expanding beyond its uses in early-childhood literacy and special education to reach all students. This Spotlight examines the role RTI plays in boosting student achievement, guiding implementation of the common-core standards, and the related challenges of allocating funding to support district-wide implementation.

Charter Schools & Choice

Charter School Leadership

May 28, 2009 Successful charter schools come in many flavors, but many are especially concerned with developing effective leadership. This Spotlight examines the ways schools cultivate new leaders and the many strengths and skills those leaders must draw upon.

Charter School Research

March 8, 2011 Charter schools have gained increased prominence in the national education landscape in recent years. This Spotlight examines research on student achievement, student enrollment patterns, and scalability issues in charter schools.

Spotlights Collection

Teaching & Instruction

Professional Development

Common Standards

Reading & Writing

Math & Science

Technology & Digital Learning

Leadership & School Policy

Education Policy

English-Language Learners

Special Education

Charter Schools & Choice

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