This fall, schools have the opportunity to start the year with a focus on both student and educator well-being. By prioritizing connections and authentic relationships when students return to the classroom, educators can help students stay engaged and motivated to learn throughout the year. This approach is backed by learning science research and the wisdom of educators, with 91% of teachers agreeing that when schools prioritize whole child learning, students perform better. At a recent conference, Dr. Stacey Perez, principal at Classical Academy High School’s Personalized Learning Campus (Escondido, California), shared how the Along tool helps teachers and students get to know each other through simple reflection questions.
We don’t know what the next school year will bring. That’s why it’s so important that we continue to bring together educators, researchers, and product developers to reimagine education and equip teachers with the research, partners, and tools they need to strengthen bonds and accelerate student learning.
Join CZI for a conversation between Sandra Liu Huang, CZI Head of Education, and Michael Horn about the challenges facing students today, what's needed to reinvent schooling and what supports children need to thrive.
Great teachers are essential to ensuring that all students reach their full potential. To be successful, educators need high-quality professional learning and development experiences that take a holistic view of students and help them tailor learning experiences on a student-to-student basis. Learn more about our work to support excellent teaching in our latest Medium post and follow for ongoing posts about our work.
During the recent National Charter Schools Conference in Washington, D.C., Dr. Joseph South, chief learning officer at International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) moderated a panel on Super-Powering Student Motivation and Engagement with principal, Dr. Stacey Perez, Staten Island Technical High School student, Selina Zheng, and senior researcher at the Clayton Christensen Institute, Julia Freeland Fisher. The panelists provided insight into how strong teacher-student relationships positively impact both academic achievement and student wellbeing.
A new blog post and video explains how Along, the teacher-student connection builder, keeps student information safe, secure, and private. As the Along community grows, building trust with educators and parents is essential to ensuring that all students have relationships that support their mental well-being and academic achievement.
A Forbes article written by Phyllis Lockett, CEO of LEAP Innovations, addresses the pressures and expectations on teachers, and highlights Priscilla’s thoughts on how to support educator well-being. The piece recaps the conversation between Phyllis and Priscilla at the 2022 New Schools Venture Fund Summit, including how CZI recently funded $4M in grants for teacher well-being initiatives.
Students at Rochester Public Schools recently shared feedback on Along, the teacher-student connection builder. Reported in the Rochester Bulletin Post, more than 82% of students across seven schools shared that Along helped their teacher get to know them.
EdSurge covered a rise of schools incorporating personal check-ins with students since returning to in-person teaching after pandemic lock-downs. Highlighted in the article is how some schools are adopting specialized software to create prompts. Thompson Independent School outside of Houston uses Along on Tuesdays during homeroom.
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