Decisions about how mathematics is communicated--and who gets to communicate that work--influence who has "mathematical authority" in a classroom. But what exactly does that mean, and in what ways can that authority be shared between students and their teacher? In this article, the authors expand on the idea of what it means to have…

This guide is designed to help school leaders and educators use restorative approaches to build relationships and address conflict. These practices help facilitate community building and address infractions, enabling students to take responsibility for their actions and repair harm when possible. This report is organized as follows:(1) Part 1:…

Want to make your instruction more equitable and effective, more interesting, and more fun? It's time to try flexible grouping. Unlike traditional grouping, which typically puts like with like or combines students without regard to the best way to promote their individual growth, flexible grouping is both purposeful "and" fluid,…

This article uses Gresalfi and Cobb's (2006) definition of "mathematical authority": "the degree to which students are given opportunities to be involved in decision making and whether they have a say in establishing priorities in task completion, method, or pace of learning. Thus, authority is not about 'who's in charge' in terms…

The World Health Organization (WHO) has made the assessment that COVID-19 (coronavirus) can be characterised as a pandemic and the virus has now spread to many countries and territories. While a lot is still unknown about the virus that causes COVID-19, we do know that it is transmitted through direct contact with respiratory droplets of an…

This module assumes that the information presented in previous modules is well known to the learner. Module 4 is the first of three modules (4, 5, and 6) designed to provide an in-depth look at the Standards of Mathematical Practice which are part of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics. Module 4 focuses on developing an initial…

This guide addresses the practical aspects of managing a classroom, with suggestions and resources appropriate for grades K-12. Most of the tips are applicable to students of all ages, but the actual techniques will look different for the various grades. For instance, "build community" might mean playing name games with elementary students but…

"Placing Students at the Heart of Creative Learning" shows teachers of key stages 2 and 3 how to introduce creativity into what is often seen as a prescriptive and stifling curriculum, and addresses the tensions that can exist between the requirement to follow the curriculum and the desire to employ innovative pedagogies. It offers…

For several years, there have been varying and often conflicting viewpoints and definitions of what formative assessment is--is it a product, is it a process, is it something that can be bought? One source of confusion about this issue has come from products and services sold by curriculum and assessment vendors, touted as "formative assessment."…

When describing activities in today's K-12 science classrooms, the word inquiry often causes some confusion. As a result, many of us find ourselves asking the same questions: How do we know when inquiry is authentic? What should happen in an inquiry-centered science classroom? What is the teacher's role in an inquiry-centered class and what is the…

"Alabama Education News" is published monthly except for June, July, and December by the Alabama Department of Education. This publication, authorized by Section 16-2-4 of the "Code of Alabama", as recompiled in 1975, is a public service of the Alabama Department of Education designed to inform citizens and educators about…

This article offers strategies teachers can use throughout the year to help families of children with and without disabilities, and by extension the broader community, understand and appreciate inclusive education and their roles in ensuring its success. (Contains 3 tables.)

Learning objects are instructional materials found on the Internet that can be used to illustrate, support, supplement, or assess student learning. Small in size, they can provide instruction that is just enough, just in time, just for you. Is it time to move your classroom into the twenty-first century? In this article, the author explores what…

This book embraces the idea of listening to and learning from students. Although many educational theorists have long argued that incorporating children's perspectives about teaching and curriculum has the potential for increasing students' interest and participation in learning, their radical perspectives are still ignored or dismissed in theory…

In this far-reaching discussion of curriculum and liberal education, William A. Reid compares curriculum making to the idea of "pursuit." Like justice, Reid argues that curriculum is not something that we own or possess in a material sense; rather, it is an achievement that anyone involved in schooling must and should pursue. Drawing upon the…