School Systems Blog
Recent Posts
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What I Did on My Summer Vacation: I Went to PowerSchool University!
Remember that age-old, first-week-back-to-school writing assignment, “What I Did on My Summer Vacation”? To be perfectly frank, my summers growing up were usually filled with yard work and babysitting my younger siblings. I was always jealous of the “my-family-went-to-Disneyland” kids…
Another summer approaches, and if you had to write an essay at the end of it, what would you want to say you accomplished? If you join us at PowerSchool University (PSU), you could say something like:
This summer I was able to visit _________ (fill in the blank: St. Louis, Disneyland/Anaheim, … -
End of Year Teacher Reflection
Self-reflection at the end of each year is an important part of professional development. Teaching is a unique profession in that it allows us a fresh slate at the start of each new school year. We can keep what has worked in the past, toss the failures, and implement new strategies and approaches.
If you have time, you might ask your students what worked for them this year. Were there any units or activities that really stood out to them? Was there anything they would not do over even if they …
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Awesome Android™ Apps for Education
Tech news sites love to debate Apple® apps versus Android™, and just about everyone you ask (your students included!) will have an opinion on which is better. Apple® products gained an early foothold in education, but Android™ is not far behind and they’re gaining fast.
Google Play now offers a wide variety of excellent education apps for Android™ smart devices. Here are a few worth sharing with your students:
Oregon Trail: American Settler– If you grew up playing this classic game in your elementary school computer lab, you’ll be glad to see …
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Encouraging Summer Reading
According to Commissioner of the New York State Education Department, John B. King, Jr., “Statistics point to the disappointing loss of learning that takes place when young people are not in school during the summer. The effects of summer learning loss are especially dramatic for students from high-needs communities.” One study showed that students lost up to one full month of learning during their summer break. Creating solid summer reading habits can greatly reduce “summer slide.”
Many public libraries offer fun summer reading programs for kids and teens. Encourage students to …
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Teacher Appreciation Week 2012
A leader is someone who influences a group of people towards the achievement of a goal. When one reflects about whom a leader is, he or she may be quick to think of a CEO of a large corporation, a president or prime minister of a country, or a modern day coach of a major professional sport. However, while these leaders are spectacular, some of the most underexposed and unspoken leaders of our time are those who stand in front of a classroom.
I want you to think of a small …