Resources to increase community engagement and enhance relationships with the school community.

Strategies for Instructional Delivery and Meeting Students' Learning Needs

7 Essentials for Project-Based Learning (ASCD)
link to article

The article discusses meaningful project-based learning in schools. It contrasts traditional projects like posters with more engaging methods. It outlines seven key elements for effective projects: 1) Start with a compelling introduction, 2) Formulate a central question, 3) Allow student choice, 4) Focus on modern skills, 5) Encourage inquiry and innovation, 6) Emphasize feedback and revision, and 7) Present work to a real audience. These elements aim to make learning relevant and engaging for students.

Key Findings:

• Meaningful projects engage students in real-world issues.
• Students need a clear purpose and choice in their projects.
• Skills like collaboration and critical thinking are crucial.
• Inquiry-based learning fosters deeper understanding.
• Feedback and revision improve learning outcomes.
• Presenting to a real audience increases student motivation.

Action Steps:

• Introduce compelling entry events to spark student interest.
• Formulate driving questions that challenge students.
• Provide choices in project topics and formats.
• Teach and assess 21st-century skills like collaboration and critical thinking.
• Encourage inquiry-based learning with real-world applications.
• Implement structured feedback and revision processes.
• Arrange opportunities for students to present their work publicly.

An Introduction to Project-Based Learning (Edutopia)

Resources to help students develop pro-social skills and engage in the classroom

Literacy and SEL: What you need to know (NWEA)
link to video

For emerging readers, access to a wide variety of books can improve language and literacy skills. Great texts can serve as a window to the world or a mirror to a child’s inner self. See how early literacy and social-emotional learning go hand in hand.

Resources to help provide effective learning opportunities to students with diverse needs

Resources to using technology to enhance the teaching and learning process.

Basics of File Management - Keeping Organized

Resources to help with literacy instruction.

Sample Writing Rubric
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Sample grading rubric for writing from the Eberly Center for Teaching Excellence, Carnegie Mellon University.
(More about writing rubrics.)

Reading Instruction Video: Comprehension

Discussion about effective strategies for teaching reading comprehension—what works and what doesn't!

The first, overall strategy is to do something that we call "Comprehension self monitoring." Comprehension self monitoring is something strong readers do. They are always asking themselves, "Do I understand what it is that I read?"

LETRS At-A-Glance (REC-1)
link to resource

[LETRS] is grounded in research on how children learn to read and write, ensuring that instructional methods are based on proven strategies that promote literacy development

For each reading component, this guide offers

• Quick description of the reading components,
• Instructional guidance,
• Component subskills,
• Effective strategies, and
• Sample collaborative learning activities.

Resources to help with mathematics instruction.

Resources to help with science instruction.

Resources to help with social studies instruction.

Resources to help with music instruction.

5 Ways to Help Your Students Master Rhythm (Top Music Education)
link to post

The article focuses on practical strategies for teaching rhythm to piano students, emphasizing both feeling and understanding rhythmic patterns beyond traditional notation. Here are the key points and action steps tailored for school administrators:

Key Points:

• Importance of Rhythm: Rhythm is challenging for many students, often more so than playing chords.
• Strategies for Mastery: Focus on feeling, hearing, and seeing rhythm through exercises like feeling the heartbeat, clapping along, and using rhythmic dictation.
• Pop Music Challenges: Address difficulties with pop music rhythms, which often blend European and African traditions.

Action Steps:

• Implement Feeling Exercises: Introduce exercises that help students feel rhythm physically, like clapping along with music.
• Use Non-Traditional Verbal Cues: Explore methods such as using syllables instead of numbers to count rhythms.
• Incorporate Creative Approaches: Integrate creative activities like rhythmic dictation and using visual aids such as "tick" marks on scores.
• Address Pop Music Rhythms: Teach students to recognize and play rhythms common in pop music using patterns like the "pop clave".
• Encourage Cross-Hand Coordination: Support techniques for playing different rhythms simultaneously in each hand.