OTHER STORIES

Three Strategies for Asking Better Questions

Edutopia

Researchers Created a Phonics Program With 'Dramatic' Results. How It Works

EdWeek

Iowa's Plan to Combine Federal Ed. Funds: Experts Are Skeptical

The74

'Pandemic, Politics, Parents': She Loved Teaching, Until COVID

Chalkbeat

Trump Officials Ask Supreme Court to Allow Canceling Teacher Grants

WPost

Maryland’s New Math Classes

A unanimous vote from the Maryland state board of education effectively shifted years of math education practice. Typically, students have been taught algebra I, geometry, and algebra II in separate courses over a span of three years. But under the change, algebra, geometry, and statistics will be blended into two courses over two years starting in the 2027-2028 school year. The Maryland Department of Education aimed to ensure the new policy teaches students concepts they need after graduating high school. The current geometry standards “were not aligned” to preparing students for any college major because it taught some concepts that didn’t need to be mastered. Washington Post

After Pandemic Aid

Had there been no relief funds, pandemic-era K 12 enrollment drops would have forced districts to downsize (and lay off staff) in the middle of trying to reopen. And often, students received essential emergency supports, like food or supplies, thanks to schools’ efforts. While many systems struggled with learning recovery efforts, some students did benefit from tutoring and summer school, and many will continue to get value from updated reading instruction. At the same time, in systems where test scores continue to decline, some may regret not investing differently. And districts are now struggling with budget cuts and staffing challenges as the relief funding ends. Brookings

Science of Student Motivation

A common view is that young people can’t be motivated —or if they can, it’s by short-sighted, selfish, hedonistic things like sex or getting likes on Instagram. But the scientific view is that adolescents can be motivated, it’s just a different set of priorities. Those priorities revolve around status and respect, the feeling that they are viewed as a person of worth and significance by others whose opinions they care about. Therefore, the trick is to frame desired behaviors through that lens. What does seem to work well is finding a way to communicate that teens can make a real contribution, that their opinions actually matter, and that you, as the adult, are going to walk that journey with them. Edutopia