Aligning Classroom Practice with School-wide Systems School-wide systems exist first and foremost to support teachers to create effective classrooms. As we emerge from this epidemic, it will be more important than ever for schools to align their initiatives. To maximize learning for all students, schools must...
The challenges teachers face right now cause unwelcome distractions from the initiatives and projects that were underway before COVID-19. There are so many things that have suddenly stolen our attention and usurped our priorities. Nonetheless, initiatives such as fully implementing standards-based grading persist and will...
The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement is highlighting injustice and racial discrimination in policing. Some districts are already taking strides to remove police from schools. Beyond the debate about police reform, this is a valuable time for us as educators to look at racism and...
Over the past year a lot has been happening at Forefront Education behind the scenes, and soon it will be on your screens! The newest version of Forefront (v5) will be in place on July 1, 2020. Below are some highlights of this updated version: New...
Is your school or district making the shift to standards-based or standards-aligned grading? Standards-based grading goes well beyond a new report card and a shift to a 1 - 4 scale. Standards-based grading changes how schools and school districts report about student learning and understanding....
Last month, the White House gave blanket approval for states to cancel standardized tests. Next fall, teachers will adjust to students coming from a wide variety of remote learning experiences. They will also face an unprecedented lack of data. Information will be vital, and yet...
Of all the assessments teachers, schools, and districts use, classroom assessments provide the most detailed, precise, and timely information. These everyday quizzes, unit tests, and exit tickets provide: Formative information teachers need to improve instruction Focus for teacher-parent communication The data teachers rely...
Classroom assessments are at the heart of every classroom, yet when it comes to systematic work, classroom assessments are underutilized. When the right conditions are set, classroom assessments can become central to school improvement efforts. They can also provide educators with more detailed, precise, and...
In recent years, so much of the work of interpreting student learning, setting goals, grouping students, and differentiating has been outsourced to publishers, assessment companies, and technology solutions. The PLC movement shifts the power dynamic: re-empowering teachers to improve instruction through a collaborative process directed...
Data does not necessarily improve practice. It does not necessarily improve focus, communication, instruction, or other factors that lead to improved student learning. Meaningful data, that is, data that becomes information and leads to intelligent actions, can improve practice. Unfortunately, truly meaningful data can be...