Articles and Spotlights

5 Tips for Engaging Students in Multisensory Learning in the Classroom

posted 6 days ago
5 Tips for Engaging Students in Multisensory Learning in the Classroom By Brigid Utz and Megan Reister Have you ever pondered how you can use active learning in your classroom? Do you need multisensory activities to implement in the classroom? After teaching teenFEMM classes (a health and biology curriculum) to middle schoolers, we were excited to engage in not only implementing ...

5 Strategies to Boost ELs’ Joy in Learning

posted 20 days ago
5 Strategies to Boost ELs’ Joy in Learning By Angélica Ribeiro Imagine your school recently received two new English learners (ELs) from Japan: Yochi and Mia (pseudonyms) . They are both in third grade and have intermediate English skills , sharing similar background s. For example, they attended school in Japan until second grade before ...

Using AI in the Classroom: 5 Simple Steps to Enhance Your Teaching

posted 03-18-2025
Using AI in the Classroom: 5 Simple Steps to Enhance Your Teaching By Kristen Smigielski Imagine you're starting your teaching career, eager to bring fresh ideas into the classroom. You're not just teaching; you're preparing to inspire a new generation. But where do you begin with the wealth of educational tools out there? This is where artificial intelligence (AI) ...

Assessing and Evaluating with a Purpose: Three Tips for Using Standards-Based Assessment in the Classroom

posted 03-03-2025
Assessing and Evaluating with a Purpose: Three Tips for Using Standards-Based Assessment in the Classroom By Erin Klash, Tara L. R. Beziat, Shelly H. Bowden, Gilbert Dueñas, and Samantha Junkin Have you ever reflected on your assessment and evaluation practice within your classroom? If not, pause for a moment and consider the range of assessments you use within your classroom setting ...

Mid-Year Makeover: Transforming Your Classroom with Effective Strategies

posted 02-18-2025
Mid-Year Makeover: Transforming Your Classroom with Effective Strategies By Kristina Cerling It’s halfway through the school year. I am startled awake from a nightmare that the principal dropped by my classroom just as I noticed my students escaping through a secret passage . Others were engaged in off-task behaviors, and some were sleeping ...

Member Spotlight: Keanna Valenzuela Cobos

posted 02-10-2025
We’re excited to spotlight Keanna Valenzuela Cobos, a dedicated educator-in-the-making who is driven by a passion for shaping young minds both in the classroom and on the field. Q: How has your KDP community helped you thrive in the classroom? A: My KDP community has helped me thrive in the classroom as I am beyond motivated to finish college strong and with a GPA exceeding 3.5. ...

From Burnout to Balance: Understanding and Preventing Teacher Burnout

posted 02-04-2025
From Burnout to Balance: Understanding and Preventing Teacher Burnout By Alison Jones American teachers are burned out. The 2022 Gallup Panel Workforce Study sought to identify the burnout experienced by working professionals across various industries. K-12 education had the highest rate of job burnout, with 44% of employees reporting burnout. Additionally, 52% of surveyed teachers ...

One Size Does Not Fit All: Differentiating Instruction for Success

posted 01-21-2025
One Size Does Not Fit All: Differentiat i ng Instruction for Success By Tabitha Smith, Grace Kibe, and Felicia McGowan Customizing your teaching to suit each child makes eminent sense (Arnesen et al. , 2019). No single instructional method can meet the diverse needs of all students. Differentiating instruction is essential for fostering ...

Unlocking Literacy with the Power of Names

posted 01-07-2025
Unlocking Literacy with the Power of Names By Denise M. McDonald Literacy instruction is complex and a significant challenge in meeting the diverse needs of learners (Gunning, 2013). Educators are constantly searching for effective strategies and tactics that support learners’ acquisition and proficiency of reading skills. Although not every learner may find this ...

Programming Excitement: Educational Robots in an Elementary STEM Classroom

posted 12-10-2024
Programming Excitement: Educational Robots in an Elementary STEM Classroom By Adam Finkle My fifth - grade mathematics and science classroom is always abuzz with different activities and content-based games designed to make the curriculum come alive . As a result , students are highly engaged and motivated to learn. I'm always looking ...

Pause Before You Pin!

posted 11-26-2024
Pause Before You Pin! By Nicole Hansen Ask nearly any teacher about Pinterest (http://www.pinterest.com) and they'll likely tell you how invaluable it is. The website allows users to collect and post ("pin") images extracted from the Internet to a virtual "board" for later viewing, as well as browse the "pins" of others. Though Pinterest can be used for everything from sharing ...

Supporting Grieving Students During the Holiday Season: A Teacher’s Guide

posted 11-18-2024
As an educator, you know the holiday season brings a special energy to your classrooms. There are classroom parties, arts and crafts, holiday concerts, and festive decorations. But for students who have lost a loved one, this typically joyful time can be especially challenging. With Children’s Grief Awareness Day approaching on November 21, let’s explore how to better support grieving students during ...

Supporting Grieving Students: What Every Teacher Needs to Know

posted 11-04-2024
Picture this: You’re in your classroom when you learn that one of your students has lost a parent. Your heart sinks. You want to help, but you’re not sure how. You’re not alone—many teachers feel this way, yet supporting grieving students is one of the most important things we do as educators. The Reality of Grief in Our Classrooms Here’s something that might surprise you: In every classroom ...

Mentor Texts as a Gateway to Writing

posted 10-28-2024
Mentor Texts as a Gateway to Writing By Julie Wasmund Hoffman Chances are, the first time you wrote a business letter or resumé, you looked at an example. We study exemplars. We learn new dance moves by watching other dancers and practicing what we see. We search for decoration ideas on Pinterest. We learn by observing the greats, mimicking what we observe, and then finding our own ...

“This Is for Everyone’s Wellbeing”: Recognizing an Un/Documented Latina Mother’s Community Activism as Parent Engagement

posted 10-23-2024
“This Is for Everyone’s Well-being”: Recognizing an Un/Documented Latina Mother’s Community Activism as Parent Engagement By Grace Cornell Gonzales and Alicia Rusoja María and her daughter host a protest to shut down the Berks Family Detention Center in Pennsylvania. Photo by Steve Pavey. Grace Cornell Gonzales and Alicia Rusoja wrote the article “'I Have Been Getting Involved ...

Winning at Parent Conferences

posted 10-15-2024
Winning at Parent Conferences By Jeanne Anne Craig One of the scariest things that faced me as a brand-new teacher (besides the kids!) was parent conferences. Especially the ones that involved difficult issues such as an under-performing or misbehaving child, an unpopular or smelly child —their child! How could I share this news without seeming to point the finger or coming off ...

Member Spotlight: Sofia E. Hardman

posted 10-08-2024
Member Spotlight: Sofia E. Hardman We’re thrilled to feature Sofia E. Hardman , President of the Theta Alpha Chapter at Howard University. Sofia shares her experiences as a chapter president and the impact KDP has had on her growth as a future educator and leader. Read more about her inspiring journey and impact in the education community. Q: How has your ...

Families as Researchers and Intellectual Activists

posted 10-01-2024
Families as Researchers and Intellectual Activists By María Paula Ghiso and Gerald Campano María Paula Ghiso and Gerald Campano wrote the article, “ Care, Support, and Solidarity: Families Demanding a Universal Vision of Student Flourishing ” in the latest quarterly issue of The Educational Forum . We’ve heard the adage many times—for teachers to just close the classroom door and ...

“He did what?!” 6 Tips to Heading Off an Aggressive Meltdown

posted 10-01-2024
“He did what?!” 6 Tips to Heading Off an Aggressive Meltdown By Charlene Blair Tolley Bobby walked into my class, a student I will never forget. He had long hair and didn’t look me in the face. He didn’t say hello; he didn’t say good morning; he simply walked in, picked a chair in the shadows at the back of the classroom, and sat alone. At the time, he was a sixth grader, new ...

7 Tips (and Helpful Links) for Organizing Your Classroom and Staying Sane

posted 09-17-2024
7 Tips (and Helpful Links) for Organizing Your Classroom and Staying Sane By Joyce Wilson Teaching is a challenging profession, especially if you’re a new teacher. Fortunately, you can implement strategies to stay organized, focused, and effective in your teaching career. I’m going to share seven practical tips that can help you keep up. 1. Meet individual needs. The first step ...