One necessary addition to public higher ed’s equity agenda
There is one easy policy change that would contribute immediately to the Equity Agenda.
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Why It Matters to Raise Up the Student Voice in the Classroom
In education, administrators, teachers, and students are regarded as key stakeholders. However, for students, their ability to affect classroom policies is dependent on being heard. Including the student voice matters because it can lead to greater student engagement, help shape the culture of schools and classrooms, and, most importantly, help to advance educational equity. As the 2022-2023 school year commences, here are three reasons why it is important to raise up the student voice.
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I love statistics!
I love statistics! Anyone who knows me knows that. To me, it is the most relevant math class a student can take. Within the first few weeks of class, students can already see its usefulness, and never in 16 years of teaching AP Stats did I EVER have a student say “When am I ever…
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Bring some SHAZAM to your classroom teaching
I remember taking an astrophysics class at the Museum of Natural History in New York City where the draw was that world-renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson would be our teacher! As I nervously entered the small auditorium I thought “what the heck am I doing?” I would certainly know the least of anyone in the room, but then again, anything I…
read more— Ed Wren
Shoring Up Support for New Teachers of Color
When you’re on the sidelines and know the game, you have a unique advantage. You are proficient and have mastered many of the moves you see on the field. The players come to you when they need advice and with precision you have the ability to help them improve their performance. That is how I see…
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Tips for preparing students of color for AP exams
If you’re like most teachers, identifying what your Advanced Placement students of color may need to help prepare for AP exams might be challenging as these students have been historically underrepresented in AP classes. Here are some tips for helping students of color feel more at home and comfortable with the AP exams. Tips for…
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Two Ways to Maximize ESSER 2 Funds
New federal dollars being sent to school districts are creating lots of opportunities for school leaders and educators. Districts will soon have access to financial resources they desperately need. But now comes the hard part: maximizing the dollars for the greatest impact for students. Two things matter a lot to do this well—building capacity and ensuring…
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Lessons in leaning in
I recently had the honor of sharing the virtual podium with fellow Isenberg alum Derek Monson of Evoke Group. We shared our experiences and perspectives with the students of Isenberg’s Introduction to Diversity & Inclusion in Business, a new elective co-taught by Alaina Macaulay, Dr. Nefertiti Walker, and Dr. Nicole Melton. I was asked to share my experiences as a woman in a historically male-dominated profession. I…
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A Statement from the Mass Insight Team
Mass Insight stands in support of all members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community (AAPI). We condemn the shootings in Atlanta, and our hearts go out particularly to the families directly impacted by this senseless violence. We recognize, too, that the on-going, less publicized acts of racism against the AAPI community – verbal,…
read more— Sue Lusi
Framingham equity audit – a study in intentionality
It’s one thing to develop a good plan for change in a school district. It’s another altogether to see the plan actualized and clearly move the needle. Among the important ingredients in plans that yield results is what I call intentionality. It’s a level of buy-in, methodical planning, the open recognition that change is difficult,…
read more— Sue Lusi
Is Great Teaching and Project-Based Learning the Recipe for Boosting AP Success?
As Mass Insight honors some of Massachusetts’ best STEM & English Advanced Placement (AP) teachers this month, new research is spotlighting the benefits of Project-Based Learning (PBL) for AP students. In a randomized control trial, research scientists at the Center for Economic and Social Research at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, found that high school students –…
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What learning in the COVID-19 era is teaching us
It has been a learn-as-you-go environment for everyone in education. The challenging times also have demanded that educators adapt quickly, and under duress many have catalyzed innovations that educators expect to deploy well after the COVID-19 era fades. Coping and attempting to thrive in a world turned upside down – that was the focus of…
read more— Sue Lusi
Our blog features commentary and insights from our staff and, from time-to-time, special guest bloggers about school improvement practices and policies that are changing student lives and changing schools. Contact jschneider@massinsight.org for more information.