Here are a few of the education stories we’ve bookmarked recently.
Netter: Like Airlines, Schools Can Fall Victim to ‘Press-On-Itis.’ 6 Ways to Make Sure Reopening Plans Can Adapt as Circumstances Change
“Schools and systems will struggle if they’re not prepared to adapt in a constantly changing environment. Critical issues and risks won’t be identified and mitigated. Students and families might disengage or find other options that have adapted better to new conditions. And student learning and well-being might suffer,” cautions Gabi Netter, an associate partner at NewSchools Venture Fund. She shares six ways school districts can avoid falling victim to plan continuation bias in their reopening plans, including managing expectations, listening to communities, and having options ready.
U.S. schools revamp curricula in response to Black Lives Matter
The deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd have prompted demands from educators in school districts across the country for teaching materials and practices that honor Black American history. “We’re not just talking about a couple of lesson changes,” John Marshall, chief diversity officer in Kentucky’s Jefferson County Public Schools. “We’re getting to the quintessential work of trying to put race, equity and inclusion inside of our curriculum.”
James Baldwin’s Lesson for Teachers in a Time of Turmoil
During the fall of 2017, writer and poet Clint Smith reflected on how James Baldwin’s essay “A Talk to Teachers” helped him approach teaching social issues during a tumultuous year alongside standardized curriculum. Smith writes, “…I altered my approach, placing less emphasis on the standardized tests and using literature to help my students examine their world. I realized that rigorous lessons were not mutually exclusive from culturally and politically relevant ones.”
Students With Disabilities Struggle To Learn Remotely
Remote learning during the spring for students who receive special education services meant they were unable to access vital care. NPR’s Cory Turner recently spoke with parents, special education educators, and school superintendents about how they are approaching the new school year to better serve children with disabilities.
