Grow Your Mind
Guest Blog: You Can't Reach Everyone the Same Way
Communication breakdowns in schools are rarely about intelligence or intention. They're about people with different communication styles talking past each other — and no shared language to name what's happening. Kathleen Kennedy of the Center for Communication & Engagement breaks down four Communication Operating Structures and what it looks like to actually meet people where they are.
Guest Blog: Foundations of Numeracy Part 1
Decades of research have converged on a clear picture of what students need to build lasting mathematical proficiency — but translating that evidence into coherent, school-wide action is where many systems fall short. In this guest post, Jillian Mendoza, Director of Math at PowerMyLearning, introduces the Foundations of Numeracy framework: a research-backed map for making smarter decisions about curriculum, intervention, and instructional coherence. Whether you're a principal, instructional coach, or district leader, this framework gives you a shared language for evaluating every math decision — not just a slice of it, but the whole picture.
Guest Blog: Leadership Before Tools
Before you invest in AI tools for your school or district, take a hard look at your leadership systems. In this powerful post, leadership coach Marci Houseman reveals how communication, collaboration, and capacity, not technology, determine whether AI becomes a burden or a breakthrough.
Guest Blog: Instructional Coaching as Collaborative Action Research
Over a decade ago, I had an amazing opportunity to be part of a year-long professional learning program for instructional coaching. As I listened to instructional coaches discuss their roles from across my state, I found that there were distinct differences in how we viewed our roles.
Changing Language to Change Interactions
We know how much words matter, especially when it comes to teaching. The words we communicate with can make or break a student's educational experience and feelings about school.
Guest Blog: Is Your Classroom a Haven for Risk Taking & Growth?
I felt embarrassed and sad for my friends and classmates as they sat looking down at their desks waiting for the humiliation of their test finally being placed in front of them at the bottom of the pile. It has haunted me ever since…