Teachers can reward students with CritterCoin NFTs
By using CritterCoin, schools can create their own systems that allow teachers to reward students with digital coins and non-fungible tokens for exhibiting desired behaviors.
CritterCoin “is free for schools and teachers forever,” according to its website, with premium features available for a monthly fee. For more information and to register a school, click here.…
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Chiera requests $100M in ARP funds for N.J. higher education
AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera has asked that $100 million in American Rescue Plan funds be allocated “to shore up New Jersey’s higher education system,” making her detailed request Aug. 2 during an ARP virtual hearing with Gov. Phil Murphy’s office.
Chiera, the hearing’s fifth speaker, opened by saying many of New Jersey’s public and private institutions of higher ed “are going through financial hardships and are thinking to cut staff, programs and services to students just to keep their doors open.”…
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Apply by Aug. 15 for chance at NSHSS diversity grants
The National Society of High School Scholars is accepting applications for its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Teaching Grant program through Aug. 15.
Any high school teacher currently employed at a U.S. public high school is eligible. Recipients of the five $1,500 awards may use the funds for supplies, field trips and other resources.
For a list of requirements and to apply, click here. …
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Mastery learning can accelerate learning recovery, teacher survey says
Nearly 85 percent of teachers “believe mastery learning can help address learning loss from the pandemic,” according to a new nationally representative survey from Khan Academy, a nonprofit providing free education resources.
“Mastery can play a critical role in recovery,” says Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy. “It allows teachers to personalize learning so that each student can progress through their grade level while also addressing the areas where they may need extra help.”…
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CUPA-HR: Higher education faces crisis in retaining talent
About 57 percent of the higher education workforce is at least somewhat likely to look into other employment opportunities during the next 12 months, according to a new employee retention survey from the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources.
“The most common reason for seeking other employment (provided by three-fourths of those likely to look for another job) is an increase in pay,” four CUPA-HR researchers wrote in the survey’s conclusions.…
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SML sets up a cinematic summer
Share My Lesson has a curated collection of summer movies for children with resources to help avoid the “summer slide.”
Among the lessons is “Summer of Soul: 1969, A Unique Year,” which focuses on the acclaimed “Summer of Soul,” a documentary about the long-forgotten Harlem Cultural Festival in New York starring Stevie Wonder, B.B. King, Nina Simone and others.…
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New U.S. DOE resources provide schools with support for students with disabilities
On July 19, the U.S. Department of Education issued guidance and resources designed to help public elementary and secondary schools “fulfill their responsibilities to meet the needs of students with disabilities and avoid the discriminatory use of student discipline,” per a U.S. DOE press release.
“The guidance we’re releasing today will help ensure that students with disabilities are treated fairly and have access to supports and services to meet their needs — including their disability-based behavior,” U.S.…
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AFT report: Supporting diversity, mentorship could revitalize educator, school staff pipeline
Developing a federal Diverse Teacher Corps fund/grant and maintaining state-funded support for mentorship programs are among the AFT Teacher and School Staff Shortage Task Force’s recommended implementation strategies for revitalizing the educator and school staff pipeline.
In its July report — officially named “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow?” — the task force also offers strategies for creating a culture that supports all workers and for creating a system that provides them with the time, tools, trust and training to do their jobs.…
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GAO updates Cardona on its priority open recommendations
The U.S. Government Accountability Office recently sent a letter to U.S. Education Secretary Dr. Miguel A. Cardona with an update on its priority open recommendations for the U.S. Department of Education.
As of the June 28 letter (made available to the public in early July), the GAO had five priority recommendations that fall into two areas: protecting the investment in higher education, and ensuring the well-being and education of the nation’s school-age children.…
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Read Not Guess provides instruction, encouragement
When Chad Aldeman realized this spring that his 8-year-old son would guess when encountering unfamiliar words while reading, the Georgetown University education researcher came up with Read Not Guess.
It’s a 30-day summer reading challenge “to help parents get their kids ready to start the next school year strong,” Aldeman writes for The 74. From July 18 to Aug.…
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Black, special ed students received ‘exclusionary discipline’ during pandemic, study shows
With most students in virtual classroom during the 2020-21 school year, suspensions declined, “yet African American students and students with disabilities disproportionately received exclusionary discipline,” writes New York University’s Dr. Richard O. Welsh in a recently released study.
“In 2021–22, suspensions seem to be on the rise as educators grapple with stress accompanying the return to in-person learning,” adds Dr.…
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AFT survey: 2021-22 was one of the worst years for PreK-12 teachers, staff
More than 70 percent of AFT members who participated in a recent Hart Research Associates-AFT survey described the 2021-22 academic year as one of the worst for PreK-12 teachers and staff.
Interviews were conducted June 17-21 with 2,379 AFT members. Other key findings:
• 60 percent said they probably will stay or definitely will stay in their current job in the next one to two years
• 51 percent said they were represented very well by their local union
• 44 percent said they are either fairly worried or very worried about the possibility of a mass shooting where they work
To view and download “Under Siege: The Outlook of AFT Members,” click here.…
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Win tickets to ‘Hamilton’ through SML
As part of its Summer of Learning 2022 series, Share My Lesson is giving away three grand-prize packages to see “Hamilton” at the Richard Rodgers Theater in New York.
The entry deadline for the “Hamilton” and the Big Apple Educator Sweepstakes is Aug. 5; the prize drawing will occur Aug. 10.
For more info, contest rules and to enter, click here.…
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