Classroom Talk

Formative assessment is an ongoing process teachers use during instruction to gather evidence of learning and immediately adapt teaching to meet student needs. Unlike end-of-unit exams, these check-ins are low stakes, feedback-oriented, and designed to shine a light on misunderstandings while there’s still time to fix them—saving both students and teachers from last-minute surprises. Whether […]

Want the short version? Check off these four boxes and you’ll be classroom-ready: ① earn a bachelor’s (or higher) in a teachable subject, ② complete an accredited teacher-prep program with real student-teaching hours, ③ pass your state’s basic skills, content, and pedagogy exams, and ④ file for an initial teaching license. Hit those milestones and

Summative assessments are the end-line scorecard educators use to judge whether instruction hit its mark. They happen after a unit, term, or course wraps up and, because grades, promotion, or accreditation often hinge on the results, stakes are high. Unlike quick formative check-ins that guide tomorrow’s lesson, a summative task captures what students can do

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) has come a long way since CAST first introduced the framework in the late 1990s. With the release of UDL Guidelines 3.0, the core message is clearer than ever: it’s the design—not the learner—that creates barriers. By proactively planning for variability, we give every student an equitable shot at success

Ever stared at a sea of blank faces during whole-class instruction and wondered if anyone was actually on the same page—let alone the same paragraph? I’ve been there. That’s why I started experimenting with flexible grouping: reorganizing students into temporary, purpose-driven groups that shift as needs change. It felt a bit like classroom Tetris at

If your classroom sometimes feels like the control tower of an international airport—planes circling, radios crackling, and somebody always “needing to go right now”—you’re not alone. Students are juggling academics, friendships, family dynamics, and that level in their favorite video game. A coping skills toolbox gives them (and us) a way to land those metaphorical

Ever finish a crystal-clear explanation only to watch understanding slide off your students like water off a whiteboard? Don’t blame them—or yourself. Blame the limits of working memory. Dual coding offers a scientifically tested workaround: pair concise words with purposeful visuals and the message sticks. Think of it as cognitive Velcro for your lessons. What

Why a Musical Poems Lesson Rocks (Literally) I’ve yet to meet a teenager who doesn’t perk up when the speakers crackle to life. By hitching poetry to a catchy melody, we hijack students’ natural sense of rhythm—making meter, figurative language, and theme feel less like homework and more like an impromptu jam session. Learning Objectives

Ever taught the period right after lunch on a gloomy Tuesday? I have, and I swear half my class tried to hibernate under their hoodies. That was the day I discovered the magic of multiple means of engagement—UDL’s fancy way of saying, “Give students more than one good reason to care.” What exactly is “multiple