Blog
Universal Design for Learning: Inclusive Strategies for All Learners
Universal Design for Learning: Inclusive Strategies for All Learners By: Dr. Betsy Rosenbalm, Regional Director at App State Featuring: Karla Causey, BT at American Renaissance Charter School in Statesville, NC The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Framework emphasizes that designing instruction for one student often benefits many—or even all—students in the classroom. This idea stems…
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NC Dems eye funding boost for teacher support program amid attrition concerns
Original article by Ahmed Jallow – March 26, 2025 The Pulse Christina Butler, a first grade teacher in Wilkes County, nearly quit her job just weeks into her first year. But thanks to the North Carolina New Teacher Support Program, Butler is still a teacher today. “If you go into teaching, you know it’s not about the money,…
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Lesson Planning: How AI Can Enhance Your Lesson
As a beginning teacher, it is easy to constantly struggle with juggling everything from lesson planning to grading to parent communication to PLC meetings…you name it. All of this can feel very overwhelming; like you are trying to keep your head above water. AI can take the guesswork out of things like lesson planning, differentiation/personalized…
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Leveling up Student Learning with Student Voice and Choice
Leveling up Student Learning with Student Voice and Choice Do you want to deepen student thinking and increase learning? This time of year, often teachers reflect on how to ensure and deepen student understanding with the time remaining in the academic school year. We all want to be seen and heard. No exceptions. Giving students…
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Promoting Authentic Engagement and Active Learning Opportunities
Around the midpoint of the school year, it is often a time to pause, reflect, and recharge. We must not lose sight that each student can achieve at high levels. It is our job as educators to bring out the best in every child and motivate each to learn. Have you ever pondered if your…
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“Raising The Roof:” Using Pop Music to Build Content Understanding
“Raising The Roof:” Using Pop Music to Build Content Understanding What kind of music motivates you? What does it motivate you to do? Sing? Dance? Think? Connect with others? Each of these actions (well, especially the last two) are the kinds of things we see students engage in each day in our classrooms. Yet, we…
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Unlocking Every Learner’s Potential
Every classroom is unique. Each group of students brings different skills, interests, and needs, which can make planning, instruction, and assessment feel like a constant balancing act. As educators, it’s our responsibility to meet every student where they are. This means becoming adept at scaffolding and differentiation. To tailor our teaching effectively, we start by…
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Creating an Engaging Learning Environment: Strategies for New Teachers
As a beginning teacher, it is necessary to understand how creating an engaging learning environment is crucial for students. When learners feel connected to their environment, they are more likely to participate actively, retain information, and develop critical thinking skills. An engaging atmosphere encourages curiosity, collaboration, and creativity, making learning not just a task, but…
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Strategic Review Tactics: Purposeful Strategies for End-of-Year Success
Preparing students for the end-of-year assessments is a massive endeavor for all educators. Teachers have worked hard all year to arm their students with the skills essential for success, and the final hurdle is right around the corner. Every year during this time, teachers seek strategies to be the cornerstone of well-balanced review sessions. However,…
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Lesson Planning: Being an Efficient Planner to Meet Students’ Needs
To focus our efforts on being an efficient planner, preparing effective lesson plans provide a framework and process for engaging and challenging all students while allowing flexibility to accommodate their unique needs. “Teachers are expected to assimilate and integrate dozens of individually worthy, yet disparate ideas…These may be fine ideas but without some scheme for…
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