It seems obvious that learning should not stop when independent work begins. In too many cases, however, the tasks and the thinking required to complete independent assignments are limited to regurgitating knowledge. The work itself does not move students' learning forward. Students must master the procedural knowledge (the how) of applying…

Some courts have upheld school districts' decisions to discipline teachers for their behaviors outside of school if there was a connection back to the school. Specifically, many courts have adopted a nexus theory that suggests that a teacher's off-duty conduct might have a negative impact on his or her teaching effectiveness.…

Material resources, personalized support, time to collaborate, and strong principal leadership are necessary for making curricular and instructional shifts. The authors of this article share the lessons they learned about supporting implementation of the Common Core State Standards. They draw on interviews with teachers, as well as field notes…

Dwight Carter admits he was a novice at social networking when he was introduced to the 140-character world of Twitter in 2010. Now, three years later, the principal of Ohio's Gahanna Lincoln High School and one of three winners of the 2013 National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) Digital Principal Award does not know what he…

Most professional educators are aware that every school should have an effective approach to harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB) prevention in which every member of the school community participates. Regardless of the approach a school takes, all students and all staff members should be knowledgeable participants who have been trained to…

The answer to the question, Can evaluation improve teaching? is a qualified yes. Teacher evaluation has changed and the role of the principal has changed as well; the focus now is on evidence, not merely good judgment. With the right tools, systems, and support, it should be possible to help improve teaching performance and student learning…

A whirlwind of activity surrounds the topic of teaching and learning mathematics. The driving forces are a combination of changes in assessment and advances in technology that are being spurred on by the introduction of content in the Common Core State Standards for Mathematical Practice. Although the issues are certainly complex, the same forces…

This article presents an interview with Michael Foran, the 2012 MetLife/NASSP National High School Principal of the Year. In the interview, Mr. Foran explains what it means to be a school leader and how it has influenced his work at New Britain (CT) High School. He also describes the ways he is working toward getting all students at New Britain…

The Common Core wave has swept the country. The expectation is in place for a rapid implementation of both the curriculum and the assessments. The author visited schools across the country as an external evaluator to review their transition plans, and he was struck by the great unevenness of the preparation across districts and schools. What are…

Ready or not, educators in most states will soon be asked to implement online testing to meet NCLB or common core standards requirements or simply to make better use of student data and ensure that it is used to improve learning. All but five states--Virginia, Texas, Alaska, Nebraska, and Minnesota--have joined two consortia that will share $350…

Most principals know about the Common Core State Standards, but they may not be aware that they are different from previous standards in one essential way: they emphasize students' capacity to understand complex texts. Standard 10 puts an unprecedented focus on texts and will fundamentally change assessments, textbooks, and teaching at the…

This article features Haymon-Morris Middle School in Winder, Georgia. This highly successful Title I middle school is tucked behind the high school in a rural area 50 miles northeast of Atlanta. The staff is dedicated to creating a culture where it is believed that a calm, serene school setting results in less stress for both students and staff…

Today's reform landscape transcends instructional leadership and data-based decision-making skills. This is not to say that those behaviors are not essential to a principal's success, but they no longer suffice. Principals do not need to be curriculum experts, but they do need to lead their schools with full knowledge of the Common Core State…

Most of the nation's teachers and administrators are White and from the middle class and have little experience or training working with culturally and linguistically diverse learners. Although those findings should raise school leaders' concern, the rapid growth rate of ELs makes solving those challenges an urgent necessity. To meet the needs of…

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) is a voice and advocate for mathematics educators, working to ensure that all students receive equitable mathematics learning of the highest quality. To help teachers and school leaders understand the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM) and to point out how the CCSSM can be…