Social, cultural, and political factors in 2020, such as civil unrest, COVID-19, and the presidential election, have resulted in the highest recorded stress levels of American adults. These stressors have led many to believe in unfounded explanations of events, situations, or conspiracy theories. This type of thinking blames the secretive work of sinister, influential people, involves complicated reasons, generally easily proven false, and relies on faulty logic, reasoning, and false evidence. Belief in conspiracy theories offers simple and often-sensationalized explanations for events we don’t fully understand, meets unconscious psychological and emotional needs, takes advantage of vulnerabilities caused by stress, fears, and anxieties, and provides a sense of community.
Students with learning differences (LD) often struggle in school. Not because they aren’t capable intellectually, but because learning disabilities like dyslexia, ADHD, and dysgraphia make it difficult to navigate tasks. Peggy Stern, Founder and CEO of the research-based company, SuperDville, said in a recent edWebinar, sponsored by Learning Ally, that LD students can make academic strides with a strong sense of self. It’s why she believes that social-emotional learning (SEL) is the most necessary support for children who learn differently.
Between the recent presidential election, COVID-19, and racial unrest, our students are barraged with 24/7 access to news and media that can be real, fake, or altered. According to the presenters in a recent edWebinar, sponsored by ABC-CLIO, the relationship between the terms “news” and “media” are fundamental distinctions that we need to make when working with students in the new era of journalism. Jacquelyn Whiting, Innovation and Technology Specialist for Cooperative Educational Services, and Peter Adams, Senior Vice President of Education for the News Literacy Project, assert that while there are many credentialed journalists, there is also “a world of citizen journalists with mini computers in their pockets.”
Presented by Lauren Pingul, K-12 Product Marketing Specialist, EVERFI; and Amy Taylor, Chief of Community Engagement, Truth Initiative
Read the Report | by Evan St. Lifer At a time when schools across the country are struggling with how best to operationalize in order to successfully deliver sustained and effective instruction, and to ensure students are consistently connected, engaged, and avidly learning, an intriguing title by two academic researchers might just offer the critical,… read more →
Presented by Brian Mowry, Ph.D., Author and Early Childhood Curriculum and Content Specialist, Frog Street Press
Moderated by Stephen Fite, President and Artist, Melody House Inc.
Presented by Dr. Doug Brubaker, Superintendent, Fort Smith Public Schools (AR); Dr. Ann Levett, Superintendent, Savannah-Chatham Schools (GA); and Dr. Kristi Wilson, Superintendent, Buckeye Elementary School District (AZ), and President of AASA
Ending systemic injustices and dismantling long-standing barriers isn’t easy, and district leaders engaged in the process recently identified procedures and tools that have helped them support and guide their districts during their “equity journeys.” During an edWebinar hosted by AASA, The School Superintendents Association and AASA’s Leadership Network, Dr. Leila Nuland, Managing Director of the K-12 Research Team at Hanover Research, explained how district leaders can compile and utilize data on educational equity. Then, Dr. Daryl Camp, Superintendent of the San Lorenzo Unified School District in California, and Dr. Gregory Hutchings, Superintendent of the Alexandria City Public Schools in Virginia, discussed the priorities and processes they have established to increase equity in their districts.
Presented by Dr. Leila Nuland, Managing Director of the K-12 Research Team, Hanover Research; Dr. Daryl Camp, Superintendent, San Lorenzo Unified School District (CA); and Dr. Gregory Hutchings, Superintendent, Alexandria City Public Schools (VA)
The pandemic, while a great disruption in schools, is also an opportunity for change. According to presenters of a recent edWebinar, hosted by AASA, The School Superintendents Association and AASA’s Leadership Network, as school leaders look to reopen their schools, they shouldn’t just be focused on logistics. In addition, they need to ask themselves: Is my school truly responsive to student needs, and if not, how can I make the school work for all students?