Thousands of schools across the United States, and worldwide, implement School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS). SWPBIS provides a framework whereby teams of educators engage in data-based decision making to select, implement, and monitor a continuum of behavioral supports and build sustainable systems to promote…

Active learning, a constructivist approach to learning, can be an effective pedagogical tool. As active learning becomes more ubiquitous and begins to replace some lecture-style content delivery, the built environment should also change. A design case study, "a description of a real artifact or experience that has been intentionally…

Middle school is a critical transition for all school-aged youth. On a personal level they experience rapid changes across several areas of development. Their environment simultaneously adapts as schools' expectations seem greater and social pressures arise. During this juncture, they are more vulnerable to academic and psychological difficulties.…

Based on McREL International's research and experience, this white paper suggests that student curiosity is a powerful driver of student success and engagement. The most powerful changes that can be made within schools must come from the inside out, from the natural curiosity and intrinsic motivation that everyone shares to experience the joy of…

This concise and accessible resource provides an overview of the fundamentals of teaching in early childhood settings (pre-K-2), with a focus on what high-quality practices look like. It details the features of developmentally appropriate, linguistically responsive, culturally relevant/sustaining teaching and how this approach can prepare our…

High stress levels are experienced by student nurses throughout their professional education, with the chaotic ever-changing clinical environment being a predominant source of stress. Clinical nursing faculty have a critical role to recognize the stress their students experience in the clinical environment and understand its significance. A…

"Culturally Responsive School Leadership" focuses on how school leaders can effectively serve minoritized students--those who have been historically marginalized in school and society. The book demonstrates how leaders can engage students, parents, teachers, and communities in ways that positively impact learning by honoring indigenous…

A recent shift in the design of school buildings in Iceland is apparent, from a conventional classroom setting to a more open and flexible learning environment. The aim of the project related here is to take a close look at this development by identifying significant design features and how they have changed over time to reflect educational policy…

This study explored the relationship between perceived leadership style and the organizational climate of elementary schools when controlling for teacher gender, age and tenure. McAllen Independent School District has a total of 20 elementary schools all of which received the link to complete the survey. A total of 275 teachers participated in the…

This dissertation explores the online learning experience of graduate students with visual impairments and their perspectives on this newer method of learning. Case study methodology was adopted to describe and analyze participants' perspectives from three lens: (a) participants' personal attributes, (b) support sought from participants' social…

Research has shown that the accelerated growth of technology in the global society is not paralleled in teaching and learning. In Trinidad and Tobago, while there is heavy government and university funding to support technology integration into education, it is not clear if and how university faculty is integrating technology in their teaching.…

"Creating Safe, Equitable, Engaging Schools" brings together the collective wisdom of more than thirty experts from a variety of fields to show how school leaders can create communities that support the social, emotional, and academic needs of all students. It offers an essential guide for making sense of the myriad evidence-based…

This research study examined the relationship between district climate and teacher commitment. The study was conducted using a sample of fifteen (15) school districts in North and Central Alabama. The districts were composed of 110 schools, 51 secondary and 59 elementary. The respondents to the research study were 1587 school teachers and 99…

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to hone in on a successful non-traditional urban high school to learn and determine the different factors that affect student academic achievement. The study focused on programs and practices, leadership practices and cultural norms. Interviews with school faculty, observations of classrooms and…

This topic brief is one in a series on personalized learning prepared for Conversations with Innovators, 2018. Norming is an important factor in developing positive classroom and school culture. Norms are specific expectations that teachers and students establish to manage behavior toward one another and the school environment. They are part of…