The poem they perform — a piece called “Black Girl Magic” — is a celebration of black female identity and a protest against an education system entrenched in a white-dominant narrative that doesn’t serve their cultural and socio-emotional needs. April is National Poetry Month — a good time to consider the power of spoken-word poetry as a pedagogical tool, as a tool for student voice, and as a driver for transformative change. Exposing young people to spoken word can help them flex their imaginations — finding and using their authentic voices, and drawing from their specific experiences. Spoken word poetry is one more way that young people can make the change happen — using their authentic voices, drawing from their specific experiences, and using their boundless creativity and passion. Usable Knowledge is a trusted source of insight into what works in education — translating new research into easy-to-use stories and strategies for teachers, parents, K-12 leaders, higher ed professionals, and policymakers.

Ready to run is a robust collection of over two-dozen learning sessions designed in partnership with leading content experts. Having them connect immediately from any device (BYOD) to interact with my presentation allowed them to experience hands-on one of my favorite vehicles for executing learning experiences!” Parent communication can be a major pain point for administrators. They can save with the click of the button and instantly share with members. Create interactive school assemblies by allowing your BYOD school to actively participate. Share important information with your school and allow students and teachers to feel a part of the announcement by transforming your delivery.

This is the first of several posts I hope to write about writing—why it is important and how despite our best intentions, I think we can teach and practice it better. As I observe I will note that they are producing diligent but often non-sensical writing—a hodge-podge of phrases and words strung together in largely inchoate ways. Kids are earnestly trying to respond to a complex prompt but they have very little Syntactic Control, which Bruce Saddler defines as “the ability to create a variety of sentences that clearly express an intended meaning” and which we sometimes adapt in our workshops as “the ability to use a variety of syntactic structures to create a variety of sentences that clearly express an intended meaning.” I see, as Judith Hochman puts it The Writing Revolution, a lot of writing assigned but not a lot of learning to write. It is an interim step they learn to use writing to decide what they think. Kids are earnestly trying to respond to a complex prompt but they have very little Syntactic Control, which Bruce Saddler defines as “the ability to create a variety of sentences that clearly express an intended meaning” and which we sometimes adapt in our workshops as the ability to use a variety of syntactic structures to create a variety of sentences that clearly express an intended meaning.

Demands on your time will never end. Implementing these five smart moves will move you toward success in both arenas: the classroom and the football field. It’s just a part of your life right now and it will continue as you transition into work life after school. By taking charge of your time now, you have solved the success quotient for life. Let’s call an audible for your next writing project that moves you from the red zone into the end zone.

And it’s quite right for the National Education Union, my union, to campaign for higher funding as an election issue. Because of the permanent revolution of change: in school structure, in the curriculum, in the ethos of education – an unending storm which prevents teachers from serving children by giving them the education they deserve. Now, many students and parents believe that it is the teacher’s job to get a child good grades, whether or not they make an effort. And the curriculum? Sorry, it’s An Inspector Calls for the 15th year running.