Below are a few education stories we've bookmarked recently.
While many look to January as a time to analyze goals and start fresh, the beginning of a new school year is also a moment to evaluate and emphasize what will be important in the coming months. As students head back to school this year, districts nationwide are shining a spotlight on literacy and building the family, community, and learning supports that students need to succeed in their continued learning journeys. We’ve bookmarked a few local examples of districts that are highlighting literacy, learning supports, and social-emotional intelligence as a focus.
Middlesex teachers focus on increasing student literacy ahead of school year
Middlesex School District in New Jersey hosted a back-to-school kickoff event for all district staff where literacy expert Pam Allyn provided a keynote presentation about the power of reading with tips for helping all kids become “Super Readers.”
Northside ISD creates free clothing closet for students in need
Before students head back to school at Northside ISD in Texas, they will have a chance to shop for new clothes thanks to Northside Threads, a free collection of clothing for students who need new outfits, but aren't able to afford them. Students will arrive for the first day of school feeling more confident and able to focus on classroom work, knowing they have an outfit for every day of the school week.
Grand Rapids schools dedicating 2 hours daily to literacy
Grand Rapids Public Schools in Michigan began a literacy initiative encouraging kindergarten through second grade classrooms to dedicate two-hour blocks of time each day to literacy instruction to improve proficiency in English language arts.
State's Superintendents Schooled On Emotional Intelligence At Annual Back-To-School Meeting
During their annual back-to-school meeting, Connecticut superintendents received a crucial lesson in emotional intelligence from Marc Brackett, director of Yale’s Center for Emotional Intelligence. Fran Rabinowitz, executive director of the Connecticut Association for Public School Superintendents, explained, “It begins with the adults ... to honor their feelings, who they are as a whole individual. That was the key, then moving to the child. It cut down bullying, it cut down suspensions, increased attendance.”
