Keeping the Focus on What’s Important

Plus, Avoiding Initiative Fatigue [George Lucas Educational Foundation]( [Logo] [Logo text] June 19, 2024 [icon]Supercharge your Edutopia experience. [Join our community!]( [lead article image]( [Keeping the Focus on What’s Important]( Fads in education come and go, but a relentless focus on the things proven to increase learning leads to success. [Avoiding Initiative Fatigue]( Here’s how a group of educators came together to ensure that they wouldn’t be overwhelmed by initiatives, to keep the joy in teaching. [Using Variety to Support Writing in Middle School]( Middle school students may get inspired about writing if they’re offered exercises that support different methods of expression. [Integrating Loose Parts Play Into Recess]( Providing materials such as milk crates, tires, and pieces of wood amplifies student curiosity and imaginative play at recess. [Social Media’s Favorite English Teacher]( ‘Taking the time to be engaging’ and setting high expectations are key to good teaching, says TikTok influencer and middle school teacher Claudine James. [Leading by Influence, Not Authority]( Administrators can be more effective when they focus on ways to help staff rather than ways to force compliance. [Creating Your Own Professional Learning Practice]( An instructional coach looks at several ways teachers can take ownership of their professional development. [A Guide to Teaching Effective Note-Taking]( Teachers often expect older students to know how to take notes, but most need explicit instruction to develop this skill. [Working With a Mentor as a New Principal]( These ideas can guide novice or even seasoned principals facing the challenges of working at a new school. [An Entry Plan for New Administrators]( School leaders—new to the job or to a school—will find it useful to spend the first part of the year listening and immersing themselves in the school’s culture and values. [ THE RESEARCH IS IN ]( [Logo]( [Logo]( Follow Us [Follow Edutopia on Facebook]( [Follow Edutopia on Twitter]( [Follow Edutopia on Instagram]( [Follow Edutopia on YouTube]( [Edutopia.org]( | [Unsubscribe]( George Lucas Educational Foundation P.O. Box 3494 San Rafael, CA 94912-3494