Branding 101 for leaders in education Trish Rubin Leaders know the necessity of upgrading digital devices. The longer we put it off, the more likely a system will fail. The upgrade is part of the modern digital world. The digital age brings a comparable call to action for administrators, who must upgrade their leadership brand. Read more>> How blended learning can enhance language instruction Sponsored by Fuel Education Blended learning allows students to learn at their own pace, but there are a number of challenges to making it work. Read more on how two exemplary schools have overcome these challenges and have made blended learning a success in teaching world languages. Read more>> Education more than avoiding Stillwater News Press The desire to protect young people from offensive ideas and words is an understandable instinct. In the context of bullying, it is a requirement. In the context of great literature, it is nearly always mistaken. Read more>> Break through with blended learning Sponsored by Istation Achieve educational equity and transform classrooms by mixing technology with teaching. Written for educational leaders, this e-book from Istation covers affordable approaches, powerful strategies and more. Read more>> Developing students’ ability to give and take effective feedback KQED Training kids to give effective critique is one of those teaching strategies that takes some time on the front end, but can save a lot of time once students get good at it. And when kids got feedback from peers, they tend to internalize it more. Read more>> Creating equity in education for ELLs Sponsored by Rosetta Stone Education Dr. Bernadette Musetti has devoted most of her career to learning about and creating more equity and access in education for students whose primary language is other than English. In this podcast, she discusses the benefits of bilingualism and shares strategies to support English learners. Read more>> It’s the culture, not the cash, that matters most to teachers The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Teachers talk about how important it is for them to work in a building where there is a shared purpose, collaboration and school-wide commitment to improvement and to excellence. They want smart principals who regard them as partners and who create a safe, welcoming environment for students. Read more>> The Freedom Writers Diary by Erin Gruwell Sponsored by Penguin Random House Straight from the front line of urban America, the inspiring story of one fiercely determined teacher and her 150 remarkable students who changed the course of their lives through writing. Armed with pens and composition notebooks, the Freedom Writers challenged themselves and the education system to be better. Read more>> Acknowledging what students do well Usable Knowledge Helping students develop their analytical skills, rather than simply their ability to memorize facts and processes, is a tricky project. Among the avenues for encouraging those deeper-thinking tools: positive, public reinforcement of the strong thinking you hear and observe in your classroom. Read more>> | 