Ed Directions coaches and leadership team encounter lots of educational challenges in the schools we partner with. Read more about how to overcome some of the more common challenges that we have helped schools overcome.
Fostering a literate classroom is essential in today’s educational landscape. The ability to read, write, and communicate effectively forms the foundation of all learning. Below are practical strategies to build a literate classroom that engages and empowers students. Understanding Literacy in the Modern Classroom Literacy extends beyond the basic ability
Homework has long been a staple in the educational process, sparking debates among educators, principals, and parents alike. While it can sometimes feel like an added burden on students, effective homework provides a wealth of benefits that extend beyond the classroom. This blog post explores the academic, cognitive, and social-emotional
A school thrives when its leaders and educators work together to create an environment of collaboration, support, and growth. At the heart of this ecosystem is the principal, whose leadership can significantly influence teacher satisfaction, engagement, and student success. But what does excellent leadership look like in action? Below, we
In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, the need for an intentional, inclusive, and effective support system for students is more critical than ever. Enter the Multi-Tier Systems of Support (MTSS) — a framework designed to meet the diverse needs of every student and enhance their overall learning experience. Aimed at
In today’s dynamic educational landscape, the importance of “time on task” is often overlooked in planning and decision-making. Research highlights that a “student-as-worker” approach to planning is critical for all students as learners and performers. Students must engage in specific tasks—attend, acquire, organize, create meaning, and independently apply their learning
Understanding Proficiency Beyond Textbooks The education landscape has undergone a paradigm shift with the advent of the “standards movement.” With its focus on expectations for all students, measured by high-stakes accountability assessments of student performance, education is no longer just about adhering to a daily schedule, following traditional lesson routines,
A Teacher Spotlight on Molly Revlett Being back in the classroom after 13 years, was a scary leap for me. I hadn’t planned to go back to teaching, but life circumstances demanded that I did. I knew one thing, if I was going to do this I did not want
In an educational environment, maintaining student discipline is a crucial aspect that often determines the success of the students and the institution. Effective discipline helps create a safe and conducive learning atmosphere, improving outcomes for teachers and students alike. However, traditional authoritarian approaches are proving less effective as we better
At this point in the year, many teachers wonder if there is anything they can do to improve student scores. The answer is simple but takes some explaining – solve the right problem and quit wasting time solving the wrong ones. So, how do we figure out what the “right
As a public-school educator for 30 plus years, and the site leader of two elementary schools for fourteen of those years, the state school testing cycle every spring was unsettling. We hoped our work planning instruction, executing lessons, and analyzing data weekly in PLC’s would yield positive results on a
I admit that when I was a building administrator, and I thought about the end of the school year I concentrated on planning to avoid casualties. I missed opportunities to be a more effective academic leader in pursuit of survival. I know now that there are number of things academic
By mid-March, teachers and school administrators should know which students are ready for the assessment and which ones are not. If you’ve not already created student profiles, then now is the time to do so. Student profiles will help you identify areas of student strength as well as areas that
All Educational Directions PD offerings are action-oriented. The session begins with an introduction to issues, includes an introduction to the knowledge base related to the resolution of those issues, and then provides participants with facilitated planning time to take what they have learned back into their role at the school
A common question that we receive from principals is, “I have my benchmarking test scores, how to I maximize insights from these tests to boost student performance?” When thinking about academic leadership in December (the transition month between the Formative Period and the Calibrating Period of the Learner Year), the
The Formative Period runs from about the third week of school to winter break. In addition to content delivery/learning, the Formative Period emphasizes the development of efficient learning skills and behaviors in every student. Around the first of October, school leaders need to assess classroom status in terms of student
