Enhancing student growth and achievement in the classroom requires a multifaceted approach that addresses the diverse needs of students and fosters a culture of learning and growth. By implementing the strategies outlined in this blog post, educators can create an enriching and supportive environment that nurtures student success and cultivates a passion for lifelong learning. Through intentional and strategic approaches, educators can make a meaningful impact on student growth and achievement, empowering students to reach their full potential.

Today, we are going to look at the MAP Data assessment and how to set up data meeting before or after the MAP assessment.  WAIT, just because the test is give three times it a year, it does not mean you can only have three data meeting about MAP data.  If fact, I would include the RIT goal on a regular basis when conducting data meetings.  ​

Ultimately, student data meetings have the power to transform the educational experience for students.

 When I travel for work, I enjoy listening to books on Audible. I've learned how to become a better leader, listen intently, practice reflective learning, and stop giving so many *****. I also like listening to fiction books. So, I usually listen to nonfiction or self-help books, and the next book is normally a fiction book by Freida McFadden. We will save an overview of her excellent books for the next blog post.
I took a moment to list out some of my favorite quotes from my summer work travels. The inspiration I gain from quotes helps me prepare for workshops and coaching sessions.  Note: Success is not a destination but a continuous journey of growth, learning, and resilience. Here are some profound insights from thought leaders that can inspire and guide you on your path to personal and professional development.

During the summer, we organized several educational workshops and presented at conferences nationwide on various educational subjects. Our most popular workshops included "Did AI Write That?”, "Data-Driven Small Groups Made Easy," "Elementary Centers with a Blended Twist," and "How to Increase Student Engagement.” The engagement level during all our workshops and presentations was outstanding. This can be attributed to our approach of delivering content in bite-sized chunks, allowing teachers to share, reflect, and implement the strategies, and providing hands-on learning opportunities for the participants.

While reflecting on the successful workshops and presentations, I wanted to share some of my favorite engagement activities that you can try in your classroom, at a staff meeting, or in your next workshop. All the resources and ideas can be found in the blog post, along with videos showing how we implemented the activities.

At the "Did AI Write That" workshop, participants tried different AI detector websites to determine whether the content was generated by a human or an artificial intelligence. The results varied, but ultimately, the participants found a more reliable way to verify the authenticity of the content. 
Grab a copy of the top five AI Detectors that we explored during the "Did AI Write That?" Workshop 
A few of the websites that we explored are listed below.
gptzero.me
Undetectable.ai
turnitin.com
grammarly.com
quillbot.com ​

Checklist Exploration Activity 
From the Student Engagement and Ownership Workshop -
Checklist and Choice Boards For the Win

I love a good checklist. Every day before I head home from work, I make a checklist of things that I need to complete or work on for the next day. I design my checklist into four categories: High-Priority Work Items, Contacts, Ongoing Projects, and Social Media posts.

By using a checklist in the classroom during small group instruction days, students can become more independent, engaged, and able to work through the learning activities at their own pace. As part of the Checklist and Choice Boards for The Win Workshop, participants engage in an activity where they can explore various checklists.
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The checklists all look different. They showcase a variety of activities, and the examples are from Pre-Kindergarten all the way through 12th grade. This activity aims to showcase that there is not just one type of checklist, but they all have similar elements.

"Data is not just another thing to add to your plate but rather the first thing that should go on your plate." I came across this quote over the summer on social media, talking about data points in the classroom. Now, I share it at the start of every workshop. Data often feels like a lot of work, but if we change our mindsets and consider the impact that data has on the classroom structure and the individual students, then maybe we should explore data as the first thing at the beginning of each lesson.During the Impact on Achievement workshop, I shared an easy way to keep track of observation, formative, summative, and even MAP data. This strategy is not new but rather a tried-and-true method that helps to form differentiated small groups in minutes. The sample teacher data tracker showcased here can be replaced with the student roster. You don’t need to get fancy; start keeping track of ongoing data on a daily basis.

Padlet.com
The most used website from all of my workshops and conference sessions.  

Over the years, I have learned to keep things simple. The more complex a topic, website, or activity, the more likely the participants will get frustrated and give up. Therefore, I always use padlet.com as my backchannel - a place to post resources, facilitate collaboration activities, and more. Now, Padlet has AI built into the platform and a new Sandbox, which seems to make planning engaging activities a little bit easier for both the classroom and professional development workshops.

My top ten reasons why Padlet is always a part of my workshops.
10. Allows everyone to have a voice throughout the workshop
9. Promotes a sense of community
8. Still a “freemium” website - three boards for free
7. Embed the Padlet into a Website or LMS
6. Easy to create a post, video, photo, drawing, and so much more
5. Digital “Parking Lot” for Questions or comments
4. Post resources and links in the moment
3. Great way to authenticate the learning
2. A replacement to Flip.com
1.  No usernames or passwords required for posting

We are currently scheduling both coaching and workshops for the 2024/25 school year. Additionally, we are beginning to schedule workshops for the Summer of 2025. If you would like Marcia Kish to present at your next workshop or conference, please feel free to send a direct email to Marcia, or click on the links below for the workshop that aligns best with your school’s vision.
Discount and A Free Copy of The Field Guide 
To promote the start of new school year, we are offering discounts for both the coaching and workshop sessions.  Plus, you will also receive a copy of the "Field Guide" *

As educators, we are always looking for ways to better meet the needs of each student in our classrooms. One powerful tool that has the potential to revolutionize differentiated instruction is artificial intelligence (AI). With its ability to analyze data, personalize learning experiences, and provide real-time feedback, AI can be a game changer for educators. Here are five ways to use AI to help with differentiated instruction in the classroom:

Personalized Learning Paths: AI can analyze each student's learning style, pace, and strengths to create personalized learning paths. With AI-powered adaptive learning platforms, students can receive individualized assignments and resources that cater to their specific needs, ensuring that they are appropriately challenged and supported.
Websites to Explore for Personalized Learning Paths 

Intelligent Tutoring Systems: AI-powered intelligent tutoring systems can provide personalized support to students by offering real-time feedback, hints, and explanations based on their responses. These systems can adapt to each student's progress and understanding, providing targeted assistance where needed.

Data-Driven Insights: AI can analyze vast amounts of student data to identify patterns and trends that can inform instructional decisions. Educators can use AI-generated insights to better understand each student's progress, identify areas for intervention, and adjust their teaching strategies to meet diverse learning needs.

Automated Grading and Feedback: AI-powered grading tools can efficiently assess student work, providing instant feedback to students and freeing up valuable time for educators to focus on instructional planning and individualized support.

Virtual Assistants for Teachers: AI-powered virtual assistants can help teachers manage administrative tasks, access instructional resources, and even provide personalized recommendations for instructional content and interventions based on student data.

By leveraging AI in these ways, educators can effectively tailor instruction to meet the needs of each student in a more efficient and targeted manner. While AI is not a replacement for human educators, it has the potential to enhance our ability to provide differentiated instruction and support the diverse needs of all learners in our classrooms.

As educators, we are constantly striving to improve our teaching strategies to create a more effective and engaging learning environment for our students. Incorporating a variety of teaching methods into our classrooms can help promote a deeper understanding and retention of the material. Here are some teaching strategies that have proven to be successful in promoting active learning and student engagement.

Incorporating these diverse teaching strategies into our classrooms can help create a dynamic and inclusive learning environment that meets the needs of all students. By promoting collaboration, personalized instruction, and hands-on learning experiences, educators can empower students to become active and enthusiastic learners. As we continue to explore and implement innovative teaching methods, we can ensure that every student has the opportunity to thrive and succeed in the classroom.

Shifting students from a mindset of compliance to one of engagement and, ultimately, ownership is a vital goal for educators. When students are solely compliant, they may complete tasks and follow instructions, but they lack genuine interest and investment in their learning. Engagement signifies a higher level of involvement and interest, while ownership reflects a deep sense of responsibility and commitment to their own learning journey.

I found this quick read by the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) on “What is the Difference Between Engagement and Ownership.” Find the article here: bit.ly/3VwGbSO. What I enjoyed about the article is that it first defines ownership and engagement.  Sometimes, I feel that, as educators, we have a false definition of both words and that sometimes, students are not even engaged; they are just being compliant. Before we go any further, let’s generate a definition for all three words: compliant, engaged, and ownership.

4. Implementing Inquiry-Based Learning: Incorporate inquiry-based approaches that encourage students to ask questions, investigate, and explore topics deeply. This promotes engagement and helps students take ownership of their learning process.
5. Providing Ongoing Coaching Support: Continuous coaching support for teachers, coaches, and administrators can lead to improved student achievement and engagement. Ongoing guidance helps educators create data-driven learning environments that promote student ownership.

By implementing these strategies, educators can guide students from compliance to engagement and finally to ownership, fostering a culture of active, self-directed learners who are invested in their educational journey.
Read More:
Article from Edutopia: https://www.edutopia.org/article/to-increase-student-engagement-focus-on-motivation/
Article from NIET: What is the difference between student engagement and ownership? https://bit.ly/3VwGbSO
Videos: 
​John Spencer: https://bit.ly/stvideo2022

2. Be Consistent: Explore your pacing guide and unit layouts over the summer. Calendar out the first four weeks of school. When the calendar is complete, think about adding learning studios to at least one weekly lesson. By being consistent with the deployment of blended learning in the studios, the more the students will understand how to learn and work in the learning studio environment.

4. Leverage AI Technology: Explore various educational technology artificial intelligence tools and platforms that can support blended learning studios. Visit our YouTube channel and watch some videos showcasing how I use artificial intelligence to help with the planning process for learning studio days. The planning process will be cut in half by utilizing quality resources and websites. Note: AI will not generate everything for you, but it is a good jumping-off point for getting started with blended learning studios.

​5. Foster Student Collaboration: Using blended learning encourages student collaboration and communication. Incorporate online discussion forums, group projects, and peer feedback activities to promote interaction and teamwork. Over the summer, explore how to build collaboration time into the blended learning studio days gradually.  We have a ton of resources and ideas posted on our blog posts that showcase creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking skills activities that can be dropped into any learning environment.

From Beach Reads to Best Practices, take a moment to start envisioning your blended learning space.  Jot down the ideas that stick with you using our summer blended learning journal guide.  Remember, blended learning creates dynamic and engaging learning experiences that cater to the diverse needs of today's students. You Got This!