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What Do We Mean by “Engagement”?
A closer look at one of education’s most-used buzzwords
One of educators’ biggest frustrations is helping students get engaged—and stay engaged—in their learning. While trying to wrangle a room full of students to care not only about today’s lesson but also their futures has always... Read More
The Skills We Say We Value — and How Rarely We Actually Teach Them
Life is complicated, unpredictable, and sometimes messy — beautiful too, if you slow down enough to notice. Navigating that mess without a script is a skill in itself. I've spent decades asking some version of the same question: Are... Read More
From Compliance to Owning the Future
A Q&A with engagement researcher Amy Berry
For as long as classrooms have existed, teachers have tried to figure out ways to get students engaged in their classwork—and if they’re lucky, get them curious and excited about it, too. But a lot of the advice teachers get on... Read More
The Numbers Don’t Lie: What 1,000 Iowa Students Revealed About Student Engagement
Over the past 18 months, we partnered with Gallup to examine what's at the heart of our mission: student engagement. Their findings from nearly 1,000 Iowa students in grades 5-12 reveal a troubling reality—and validate everything we... Read More
Enhancing Students’ Interviewing and Writing Skills
The best writing often begins with a single, powerful question. Our new Oral History Interview Guide and Biographical Narrative Guide are designed to help students ask better questions, listen deeply, and transform real... Read More
Growth Mindset: Moving From “I Can’t” to “I Can!”
Helping struggling students can be one of the most challenging yet rewarding things you will do as a teacher. Sometimes you have students who just can’t seem to grasp that tricky math equation or understand the deeper context of... Read More
Opportunity Education to Open Three Schools in Iowa
It’s an exciting time for Opportunity Education and our network of schools, as we prepare to open three schools in Iowa: Des Moines Prep, Cedar Rapids Prep, and Davenport Prep. Des Moines Prep and Cedar Rapids Prep will welcome... Read More
Making the Most of Your Winter Break
The final school days in December can feel a bit like the end of a marathon — you’ve come a long way and now you need that final push to get past the finish line. Teachers are stretched to the limit with finishing content and... Read More