Ready to up your game as a leader in your learning community? Concordia University-Portland’s College of Education partnered with Scholastic to provide you with strategies and resources that will help you advance as a teacher leader, and you can earn professional development credit at the same time. Watch our FREE Leadership and Professional Learning webinar… Read More

Teaching kids about empathy, kindness, and compassion is a must for schools. More than one out of every five students report being bullied. Of those students: 13% were made fun of, called names, or insulted 12% were the subject of rumors 5% were pushed, shoved, tripped, or spit on 5% were excluded from activities on… Read More

K-12 schools have long served as a safe space for students. Whether a student is escaping abuse at home, discrimination due to sexuality or race, or overcoming trauma, teachers and schools regularly provide much more beyond academic learning. They also offer therapy, support, and a place of refuge for many, which makes learning possible. Looking… Read More

Innovations in educational technology are changing the classroom, which means your students are spending more time online than ever. Follow these tips and activities to help make the web a safe, fun place for kids and teens to learn. Set up a safe classroom To establish basic digital guidelines in your class, follow these best… Read More

If you’re ready to advance but not sure where to begin, here are some fun, rewarding ways to grow your leadership skills beyond the classroom — and supercharge your professional development. Join a Professional Learning Community (PLC) If your school already has a PLC in place, you should definitely take part. You’ll meet regularly with… Read More

Editor’s note: This blog post was originally published on the Teaching Channel. Read it here. Any teacher will tell you that school doesn’t really cool down. The end of the school year is one of the busiest, most stressful times of the year. Testing, spring fever, events, final projects, grading—the home stretch is a doozy. While… Read More

Innovative teachers like you keep students engaged and excited, but you know kids learn best when they’re not tense. Deal with stress in the classroom by trying these easy mood-boosters on a daily basis. Get them moving! Sitting still is hard for all of us. These mood-boosting activities and brain breaks will give students instant… Read More

Cranky. Tired. Lethargic. Moody. Sick. Failing. These are just a few things that happen when students are hungry. Schools—and especially classroom teachers—can play a vital role in helping kids stay healthy and learn. Here’s a look at how. The problem of hunger In our nation’s suburbs, urban areas, and rural towns, over 13 million children… Read More

Ready to innovate? Experts from Concordia University-Portland’s College of Education and Scholastic partnered together to bring you resources that’ll kickstart innovation in your classroom. Watch our FREE Innovations in Education webinar on demand Learn about flexible learning spaces, technology in school, new approaches to student support, and much more. Participants who view the webinar for… Read More

School shootings. Tornadoes. Floods. Neighborhood violence. Abuse. It’s estimated that 26% of our nation’s children will witness or experience a traumatic event before they turn four (1). When students face trauma and tragedy, educators need practical resources to facilitate difficult discussions and support their learning communities. Here are some powerful resources for teaching and counseling… Read More

If a time traveler from 1990 came to 2018, they’d most certainly ask: “What is everyone carrying around and staring at?” Smartphones, tablets, laptops—the world is so immersed in technology; it’s hard to believe that even 20 years ago things were extremely different. As some of today’s teachers represent the last of the pre-digital-native generation,… Read More

Restorative practices are helping schools move away from punitive practices to more therapeutic practices for everything from behavioral issues to counseling and treating trauma to classroom management. Circle talks have become a staple of the restorative classroom, lowering suspensions in favor of social-emotional learning strategies to foster student, teacher, and family relationships. Why Circles? When… Read More

Between required curriculum and mandated testing, it can often feel like there aren’t many opportunities to fit in enriching, fundamental activities like reading. However, the “Drop Everything and Read,” (or D.E.A.R.) movement hopes to encourage students, families, and educators to immerse themselves in reading. D.E.A.R. was inspired by Beverly Cleary (who wrote about the concept… Read More

Recognizing where our students come from, what they’re facing, and how we can help them in different ways is a key component of responsive teaching practices. We discussed this and much more during a recent symposium put on by Concordia University-Portland and TeachingPartners. Guests included keynote speaker Lynda Coates with Communication Across Barriers and Dr…. Read More