Teacher coaching boosts early childhood education Melissa Nicefaro Coaching has surfaced as a key quality improvement strategy for early childhood instruction, according to a recent report by Bellwether Education Partners. District administrators have hired full-time, in-house coaches, some of whom had previously been in a PD or education leadership role. Read more>> Meeting the promise of continuous improvement Sponsored by AdvancED While there is no one-size-fits-all solution for continuous improvement, a recent report from AdvancED offers insights into what successful schools do well and where all schools, even the highest-performing ones, need to improve. Download the full report or executive summary to learn more. Read more>> What 'A Nation At Risk' got wrong, and right, about U.S. schools NPR Very few government reports have had the staying power of "A Nation At Risk," which appeared 35 years ago and stoked widespread concerns about the quality of American schools. The report's narrative of failing schools persists, including students being out-competed internationally and declining educational standards. Read more>> Free on-demand webinar for school and district leaders Sponsored by SAT School Day Hear from your colleagues about their experience leading an SAT School Day program, how and why they brought it to their communities, and the impact it’s had on their students’ college and career readiness goals. Find these PD assets under the “Lead the charge!” section on our site. Read more>> The perks of a play-in-the-mud educational philosophy The Atlantic Why is it odd for 4-year-olds to spend the bulk of their time outside? When did America decide that preschool should be boring routines performed within classroom walls? In a nation moving toward greater standardization of its public education system, programs centered around getting kids outside to explore aren’t normal. Read more>> Real-world, hands-on and project-based: An educator’s guide to authentic learning Sponsored by Hapara Authentic learning projects encourage students to see beyond the classroom and apply knowledge in new, creative ways that have a lasting impact on the world around them. In this e-book, learn how educators around the world leverage digital tools to build learners’ global skills through projects big and small. Read more>> Exploring link between curiosity and school achievement Science Daily Researchers know that certain factors give children a leg up when it comes to school performance. Family income, access to early childhood programs and home environment rank high on the list. Now, researchers are looking at another potentially advantageous element: curiosity. Read more>> Engage your English language learners in literacy Sponsored by myON, by Renaissance English language learners (ELL) often require different support, encouragement and strategies to meet district literacy goals. A literacy strategy that engages ELL students will help propel their growth in both reading and English-language skills. Download this guide for strategies to help engage the ELL population in literacy in your district. Read more>> How we hold teachers accountable to obsolete metrics The Hechinger Report Businesses want employees who ask great questions, not provide formulaic answers; they want people who challenge conventional thinking instead of jumping through hoops. Our schools need this perspective as they shape students’ learning experiences. Read more>> | 