Posted on

2 Ways That Language Instruction Shined in 2015

In today’s global world, it is important that students leave high school knowing more than just one language. Several innovative school districts in the U.S. are making this a reality by ensuring that their students learn a second language. Maryland districts add Spanish immersion at three of its elementary schools. Prince George County in Maryland is working hard to immerse young students in foreign language. Three schools in the county started formally offering Spanish immersion as part of an expansion option for children this school year. Mariluz Mendez, a kindergarten teacher at Cesar Chavez Elementary School, said that some of …

Continue reading “2 Ways That Language Instruction Shined in 2015”

Posted on

3 Ways Activists Fought For P-20 Education in 2015

Activism and fighting for the common good are as old as the human race itself. In P-20 education, the last decade has seen progress for groups that have traditionally been left out of the decision and often made to fight for a seat at the table. To the surprise of some and elation of others, many of these education activists groups have be overwhelmingly successful, especially this past year. In honor of those of us that fight for what’s right, I decided to do a piece discussing the top ways that education activists pushed back against “the man” in 2015. …

Continue reading “3 Ways Activists Fought For P-20 Education in 2015”

Posted on

4 Interesting Stories about Global Education in 2015

The world is increasingly becoming a global community. Since education is an important part of every country, it was only a matter of time before the field of education conformed to this new global reality. To drive this point home, we decided to write a piece featuring the top global education stories of 2015. Teens fight for better global educational opportunities. Across the globe, 15-year-olds recently came together to stand up for an issue that impacts the education of kids around the world: poverty. As I’ve discussed before, students with underlying issues like poverty, hunger, or neglect are often unable …

Continue reading “4 Interesting Stories about Global Education in 2015”

Posted on

2 States That Made Big Investments in P-20 Education in 2015

In order for education in the U.S. to regain its former preeminence, we must start to fully fund education. Fortunately, many state governors got the memo and decided to do just that. Here is a shortlist of states that made investments in education in 2015. Michigan governor invested millions in P-20 education. Higher education and public schools received a shot in the arm from the Michigan legislature earlier this year when Governor Rick Snyder approved a new funding bill for the 2015–2016 school year. According mlive.com, the legislature sent $16 million worth of education funding to the governor’s desk for …

Continue reading “2 States That Made Big Investments in P-20 Education in 2015”

Posted on

3 Biggest Losses for K-12 Education in 2015

All in all, 2015 was a good year for K-12 education. However, for all the great wins we experienced, we also had some major losses. Let’s look back at just a few of these disappointments. In 23 states, poor students see less school funding. Poverty makes it more difficult for children to succeed in school, and they come to school at a disadvantage. These students tend to have more needs than their middle-class and well-off peers. Children from poor families are behind their counterparts on nearly every measure of academic achievement. In 23 states, state and local governments together spend …

Continue reading “3 Biggest Losses for K-12 Education in 2015”

Posted on

2 Biggest K-12 Education Wins of 2015

2015 was a good year for K-12 education, and we had some great wins. Let’s look back at a couple of these accomplishments: Social programs keep child poverty rates from doubling. More children are living in poverty conditions in the U.S. than official numbers present, according to a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The Measuring Access to Opportunity in the United States Report uses the Supplemental Poverty Measure, a standard first implemented by the U.S. Census in 2011 that measures the impact of important social programs like SNAP and the Earned Income Tax Credit on true poverty …

Continue reading “2 Biggest K-12 Education Wins of 2015”

Posted on

The 4 Biggest Ed Tech Stories of 2015

As expected, ed tech continued to be a hot topic of discussion in 2015. Because of its increased coverage, The Edvocate decided to create a list of the top 4 ed tech stories of 2015. Are MOOCs the biggest ed tech story of 2015? With a steady stream of reporting that the price of college is quickly becoming too high for many Americans to afford, an alternative form of higher education seemed to be how some future students would learn. MOOCs, or massive open online classes, offer free lectures and web-based courses by some of the world’s best universities. But …

Continue reading “The 4 Biggest Ed Tech Stories of 2015”

Posted on

2 Bold Moves Made By Pearson Education in 2015

Depending on your view of Pearson, described as “the world’s largest education company” by the Washington Post, any news about the company may serve as good or bad. Love it or hate it, Pearson is the top education company in the world. During 2015, Pearson made a series of bold moves, which are chronicled below. Pearson picked education as its sole focus. In July, the Washington Post reported that Pearson was making a move to focus solely on education. “The company is selling its stake in the Financial Times to Nikkei Inc., a leading Japanese media organization, for $1.3 billion, …

Continue reading “2 Bold Moves Made By Pearson Education in 2015”

Posted on

4 ways HBCUs can prepare students for the lack of workplace diversity

Historically Black Colleges and Universities have always been places that encourage greater diversity when it comes to higher education, both on their campuses and in the greater college landscape. From their origins as being the only places people of color could go for a college education to their role today as welcoming all students and instilling cultural awareness, HBCUs stand as models of multicultural learning at its best. Are HBCUs doing enough to prepare their students for the real workplace, though? The reason so many college administrators, myself included, stand firmly by the necessity of HBCUs in contemporary college education …

Continue reading “4 ways HBCUs can prepare students for the lack of workplace diversity”

Posted on

Ask Dr. Lynch: The Trayvon Martin Tragedy as a Teachable Moment

Question: I am an 8th-grade Social Studies teacher and want to discuss the Trayvon Martin tragedy with my students, but I am having difficulty coming up with ideas. I especially want to touch upon the topic of racial profiling and the part that it may have played in this tragedy. In addition, I want my students to develop a sense of social justice, but I also want them to learn that in America, you are innocent until proven guilty. Do you have any suggestions? Answer: Thanks well-articulated question. As readers may know, George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, admitted to …

Continue reading “Ask Dr. Lynch: The Trayvon Martin Tragedy as a Teachable Moment”