Fastbacks, flashbacks, and Response to Intervention

Latest Post

Fastbacks, flashbacks, and Response to Intervention

August 4, 2016

Categories: Assessment, Math, Reading

More than fifty years down the road, you still see a few baby-blue 1967 VW Fastbacks. What is it about the ’67 V-Dub that keeps it functional, relevant, and efficient year-over-year? Is it the skilled drivers who remain dedicated to [...]

Pokémon Go is more about learning than we think

Latest Post

Pokémon Go is more about learning than we think

July 21, 2016

Categories: Assessment, Math, Reading

Last night, I was walking along a lake near my house, my eyes intently shifting between the path I was on and my iPhone. Normally, I’d be getting ready for bed, but I was looking for Pokémon and there was [...]

6 summer reads for educators

Latest Post

6 summer reads for educators

July 21, 2016

Categories: Professional Development, Reading

There’s nothing quite like reading a great book on a warm summer day—whether it’s in the comfort of an air-conditioned home or outside under the shade of a backyard tree. Summer is a good time to play a bit [...]

4 tips to promote accountable reading practice

Latest Post

4 tips to promote accountable reading practice

July 14, 2016

Categories: Reading

As a child, I loved the Harry Potter series. Nightly, I would stay up late past my bedtime, trying to remain as quiet as possible, while finishing one more chapter. However, my interest in the series waned around middle school [...]

7 tips to ignite summer learning

Latest Post

7 tips to ignite summer learning

July 12, 2016

Categories: Assessment, Math, Reading

While working on a project several months ago, I was talking to Ken, a copywriter recently hired by Renaissance. Being that it was his first job out of college, I asked him what he thought of working life. “It’s kind of [...]

The expanding role of technology in education: 5 key insights from ISTE 2016

Latest Post

The expanding role of technology in education: 5 key insights from ISTE 2016

July 7, 2016

Categories: Professional Development

This past week, I was one of the 20,000 people who attended the 2016 International Society for Technology in Education Conference and Expo (ISTE) in Denver, CO. While I was there, I spoke to passionate educators about [...]

Evaluating educational programs: 5 tough questions to ask

Latest Post

Evaluating educational programs: 5 tough questions to ask

June 17, 2016

Categories: Reading

Here’s something you probably know all too well—educators are inundated with all sorts of claims when it comes to the myriad of educational programs and software solutions that are available. Walking through a vendor exhibit hall at ISTE, ILA, or [...]

An Act of Congress (in three parts): A history of ESSA

Latest Post

An Act of Congress (in three parts): A history of ESSA

June 9, 2016

Categories: Assessment

Part 1: Inaction The spring of 1930 in the United States was the first post-winter bloom spent in the throes of the Great Depression. Already, public ire for Congress grew with each day of perceived legislative lethargy in addressing the [...]

Title I funds: three considerations for school year’s end

Latest Post

Title I funds: three considerations for school year’s end

May 26, 2016

Categories: Assessment, Math, Reading

When I think of a role model who’s had a major impact on my life, I immediately think of my mother. Not only is my mom the best mom in the world (of course!), but she was also a Title [...]

Giving meaning to test scores

Latest Post

Giving meaning to test scores

May 12, 2016

Categories: Assessment

Test scores are of much interest to parents and educators. We all want our children to achieve their best—so, we frequently use tests to measure what a student has learned and can do as a result of instruction. Sometimes we [...]

Renaissance Blog

Latest Post

Fastbacks, flashbacks, and Response to Intervention

Fastbacks, flashbacks, and Response to Intervention

Recent Posts

Pokémon Go is more about learning than we think

Pokémon Go is more about learning than we think

6 summer reads for educators

6 summer reads for educators

4 tips to promote accountable reading practice

4 tips to promote accountable reading practice

7 tips to ignite summer learning

7 tips to ignite summer learning

The expanding role of technology in education: 5 key insights from ISTE 2016

The expanding role of technology in education: 5 key insights from ISTE 2016

Evaluating educational programs: 5 tough questions to ask

Evaluating educational programs: 5 tough questions to ask

An Act of Congress (in three parts): A history of ESSA

An Act of Congress (in three parts): A history of ESSA

Title I funds: three considerations for school year’s end

Title I funds: three considerations for school year’s end

Giving meaning to test scores

Giving meaning to test scores