Yet another great article on how to create stronger units and better engage students.

Edutopia is a great resource!

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/9-ways-plan-transformational-lessons-todd-finley?utm_content=bufferda7a4&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Creative thinking and good habits of mind are connected.  Here is an article that points toward building good habits of mind in our students through creative thinking.

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/changemakers-science-practice-of-creativity-diane-cadiergue?utm_content=blog&utm_campaign=science-practice-creativity&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=socialflow&utm_term=first-image

Here is a brief article I found on the topic of getting students to reflect and offer suggestions on the school year.  The idea of anonymous feedback is a powerful tool.  How much of this can you…will you add to what you do this year?

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/student-feedback-improves-your-teaching-vicki-davis?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=socialflow%20&utm_campaign=RSS

How to build a great parent-teacher relationship…

http://corkboardconnections.blogspot.com/2014/09/what-makes-parent-love-teacher.html

Educators that are not focused on the future have already been left behind.  I have focused on NMC.org and the Horizon Report.  Here is another report published in EdWeek.  This report focuses on areas that educators need to be preparing themselves to engage.

I really like the pairing of mobile technology and parental engagement.  These two must coincide.  We need to bring parents into the 21st century with our students.  Failing to do both simultaneously will bring about bad results.  So, it’s time to put on our “future vision” goggles and seriously think about what tomorrow has in store for us all.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/marketplacek12/2015/07/top_10_impact_investing_opportunities_identified_for_k-12_in_report.html?cmp=soc-edit-tw

Here’s a solid article on the impact of helicopter parenting.  The correlational studies might be circumstantial, but we need to be aware of the possibility or probability that close parenting styles can have long-term impacts on our kids.

http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2015/07/helicopter_parenting_is_increasingly_correlated_with_college_age_depression.html

Here’s the latest focal point for a fringe freak-out.

The 2015 reauthorization of the 1965 ESEA has stalled in Congress.

Click to access a-eseaoverview.pdf

Here is the Blueprint:

Click to access blueprint.pdf

Finally, a helpful table to show what is staying and what is going away.

http://edexcellence.net/articles/esea-reauthorization-explained-in-a-single-table

Looking for something to help you grow as an educator this sumer?  Here are a few suggestions from Edutopia.

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/summer-reading-list-professional-development-ross-cooper?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=cpc