1️⃣ Strategies That Work
Peer tutoring is emerging as a cost-free, high-impact option as federal tutoring funds end. Student tutors offer relatable, subject-specific help while building their own skills and confidence. Research shows benefits for both tutors and tutees, while districts can lighten teacher workloads and expand support without adding new hires, making it a sustainable model in tighter budget years.
2️⃣ The Latest in AI
Resistance to AI remains strong among English and humanities teachers, often because of high rates of AI-assisted cheating in writing classes. Experts suggest three ways to move forward:
Acknowledge the unique challenges that AI brings to writing instruction and address them openly.
Explore thoughtful uses such as simplifying texts, creating accessible summaries, and supporting comprehension.
Set clear boundaries to protect authentic writing while giving students guided practice with AI for academic and professional success.
3️⃣ Teaching & Learning
In Utah’s Alpine School District, leaders are centering professional learning on teacher clarity, relationships, and student voice. Through the yearlong Student Engagement Academy, teachers join PLCs, observe peers, and use student surveys to align learning intentions with meaningful success criteria. Findings show students stay more engaged when expectations are clear, instruction is intentional, and relationships are strong.
At a recent webinar, educators shared how AI can support math instruction by refining curriculum, streamlining tasks, and identifying learning patterns. Practical uses include generating quizzes, giving automated lesson feedback, and even simulating student interactions for preservice teachers. Speakers stressed that effective use starts with clear instructional goals, targeted PD, and helping students critically assess AI outputs.
4️⃣ A Look at the Numbers
A review of 132 long-term studies tracking 300,000 children found that limited daily screen use carries minimal risk, while 3+ hours a day increases anxiety, aggression, and attention problems, especially with gaming. Researchers also found a two-way link: screens can contribute to emotional problems, but struggling kids may also turn to screens as a coping tool, highlighting the need to address both screen habits and underlying well-being.
5️⃣ Policy Watch
A new report from UC Riverside and NYU links recent immigration enforcement changes to absenteeism, disengagement, and emotional distress among immigrant and mixed-status students. Researchers recommend three key responses for schools:
Adopt trauma-informed practices
Limit punitive discipline
Provide mental health supports tailored to immigration-related stress
6️⃣ Mental Health
Student mental health support works best when it’s accessible, creative, and rooted in connection. Integrating telehealth, opportunities for self-expression, and strong peer and adult relationships into learning environments makes care part of daily life rather than an isolated appointment. When all these pieces work together, schools can shift from crisis response to creating spaces where students thrive.
7️⃣ Quick Hits
[Feds Push Career Prep to Start by 5th Grade] A new federal workforce strategy calls for career exploration to begin in elementary school, with 5th graders gaining exposure to high-demand fields through partnerships between schools and employers. The plan prioritizes work-based learning, industry-aligned programs, and alternatives to four-year degrees to better match education with workforce needs.
[Schools Get Creative to Curb Absenteeism] Chronic absenteeism remains 50% higher than before the pandemic, prompting districts to try targeted, relationship-based solutions in the year ahead. Examples include adding bus stops and weekend food bags in Providence, offering breakfast incentives in Indianapolis, and assigning every student to a caring adult in Kansas City. Leaders say these approaches work because they help create a stronger sense of connection at school.
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