Two Pint PLC

State standards set the expectations for what teachers teach in the classroom, but we should continue to examine who is represented in those standards… and who is erased? We read a study of state civics standards to analyze where Indigenous nations are represented. We learned from these examples to see how to explicitly include Indigenous nations in instruction.

Later, we read a study of how teacher responsiveness is an essential tool for providing equitable instruction in classrooms. What role do teachers have to use their agency to change the classroom experience to better align to what students need?

Starting another school year with pandemic concerns rising again, it’s important to address student mental wellness as a classroom goal. We read a national survey that asked students how they feel about school, both at the moment and as they remember it. The results give us concrete opportunities to support student wellness this fall.

Later, we read a design-based study that evaluated a culturally sustaining approach to multilingual literacy. This example shows how to help students reach reading AND content goals.

This month we reflect on our year of reading scholarship and growing as humans. First we’ll return to the segments we felt had the greatest impact on our practice and our thinking from the research we read.

Later, we’ll reflect specifically on our praxis. We share some of the changes we’re making in our classroom and in our study that is moving us toward our goals as education practitioners.

Finally, we’ll share a bit about how our lives are changing outside of school… and mark the 2021 recipient of the Mug of Honor.

This month we are talking about race, and read a series of papers looking at the experience of Black students in US education.

First, we read an article that examined the story of “The Space Traders” as a starting point for imagining what it looks like to create Black Education Spaces for students to express fugitivity and create racial counterspaces.

Later, we read an empirical study that measured associations between autonomy-supportive teaching practices and student self-determination skill expression. They found connections between the way Black students perceive autonomy-support and their engagement & skill development.

Student social, emotional, and behavior development will be a critical consideration for teachers returning to physical classrooms in the fall. We read a national study examining the various methods schools use to screen students for social, emotional, and behavioral needs. Universal screening is still rare in the US, but its impacts are considerable.

Later, we discuss the emotional display rules for teachers. How are we expected to show, or not show, our emotions with students or colleagues? We read how the rules are not the same for everyone.

This month we are thinking… about thinking. We read a review of the applied research on retrieval practice, which recognizes the difference between “learning” something and “knowing” something. We reflect on the ways this has played out in our classrooms, and what we can learn from recent studies for how to improve our use of the technique.

Later, we read a piece on translational research that makes recommendations for how to help students improve their ability to engage in metacognition.

Standardized testing is happening again this year. Researchers are talking about how to use the data more responsibly. We read an advising memo that describes some of the common problems with comparing testing data from this year to past years, so we can properly recognize the progress students have made this year.

Later, we discuss several studies that look at the impact later high school start times have on a variety of outcomes for student achievement and community health.

Finally, we talk In Your Classroom to think about our personal definition of success after a very difficult year.

Images and animations offer tools to visualize our content, but must strike a balance between ease-of-use and ability to prompt thinking. We read a study that tested the impact of prior knowledge and multimedia format on learning outcomes.

Later, we read a case study about an administrator navigating a toxic district culture. Guest Jenn Binis joins us to examine the flaws in how the author presents the story, and how we can approach leadership more just foundation.

Gamification offers a fresh take on teaching design that offers increased engagement and improved learning. However, research to-date has been unclear about what components of gamification work. We read a meta-analysis that searches for which pieces of gamification can benefit your students.

Later, we turned to a study of how research is interpreted by teachers. They identify which measures are popular and which ones are effective. As teachers, we can recognize our preference so we can manage our bias as we read.

047 Epistemic Disobedience & Neuroscience Motivation by Laurence Woodruff & Michael Ralph