Adam C. Steiner

Employers complain that graduates arrive without essential skills yet our students are stressed out with the current workload. Our schools are tasked with more than simple job preparation; our primary focus should remain on whole child education despite the needs of employers, but we can’t ignore practical skills. In an age when technology and the nature of work changes more rapidly than our ability to account for it, how can we reconcile the need to do more in terms of…

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Driven by the wide availability of robust learning management systems (LMS) and access to low cost wireless-enabled mobile devices, digital personalized learning for students is all the craze. Personalized learning takes many forms, but generally includes an online platform or learning management system (LMS) that enables the teacher to organize learning activities and resources. Students access this material with a range of support and guidance, and in some cases, even take online assessments built into the LMS. The philosophical justification…

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The latest craze in educational technology consists of digital learning platforms that promise to provide a personalized experience to match the abilities of each student. Students generally spend part of each day on a device learning basic concepts and use leftover class time to build on these skills. In theory, this sounds like the ultimate product of digital learning – math and literacy instruction that matches student needs and connects to hands-on activities that are led by a classroom teacher….

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Develop your own personal philosophy on when your child should use your iPad or phone before they ask – like when they are born! Don’t wait until he or she is 2 and beg to play Angry Birds. As your child grows you may have to adjust your expectations based on maturation, but it is good to have a guideline in mind. When you do decide the time is right, don’t just hand your child the keys to the Ferrari….

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The “Genius Hour” is a concept that many schools are adopting – and for good reason. It empowers students to spend a portion of every day or week focusing on a topic of personal interest. Each student is also given opportunities to share his/her work and passion project with other students, teachers, and the school community at large. It is such a powerful way to embrace diverse interests, promote student centered learning, and engage students in an authentic manner. However,…

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Technology is ever-present in schools today, but to what end? School leaders’ inspiration for this use varies from school to school. For some, technology use is driven by a desire to prepare students for online test-taking, for others, it is all about job readiness, and still others argue that it is also about engaging students growing up in a digital world. However, the technological gift that I wish for every student at is to find a platform for giving voice…

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By Brenda Maurao, Holliston Public Schools, @bmaurao I am an assistant principal of an elementary school with students in grades 3, 4 and 5. I am also the mother of two children – a daughter (age 11) and a son (age 9). My daughter woke up devastated the day after the election when she learned that Donald Trump was our new president. She didn’t share her feelings with me right away – instead she stomped her foot in frustration because…

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For many young people, middle school is a maelstrom of insecurity and angst. As educators, we have to do everything in our power to nurture our middle school students, to prop them up when they need support and to celebrate their successes when times are good. Only with deliberate action can we ensure that our students survive and thrive during the middle school years. To this end, here are 9 concrete strategies that every middle school should consider: Morning: Begin…

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Inspired by Professional Capital by Andy Hargreaves (@HargreavesBC) and Michael Fullan (@MichaelFullan1) Andy Hargreaves and Michael Fullan applied the concept of professional capital to school improvement as an alternative to the business capital approach to education that emphasizes the use of data to homogenize teaching. Professional capital instead recognizes that teaching cannot be scripted and emphasizes collective responsibility and shared success as key to school success. Professional capital consists of three strands: human capital, social capital, and decisional capital. Human…

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Natacha Scott, Assistant Director of History and Social Studies for the Boston Public Schools We’ve all heard the dreaded phrase in an elementary classroom, “I hate to read.” Together, those four words cause a teacher to freeze, drop their jaw in astonishment, and secretly hope the comment isn’t completed by any of the following statements: “It’s boring.” “The book is too long!” “It’s too hard.” “There are no pictures!” This scenario that constantly replays in classrooms across the country, forces…

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