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Why AI in Education Isn’t the Threat You Think It Is

“We didn’t ban calculators. We taught math differently. We didn’t ban the internet. We taught research differently. So why are we trying to ban AI instead of doing the same?” We’ve been here before. I was a young teacher when the internet showed up in classrooms in the 90s. Educators panicked. Teachers worried it would make students lazy, that it would only be used for cheating, and that memorizing facts and dates would go out the window. They were right. Sort of. The internet did change things. But it didn’t destroy learning. It made us rethink what was worth teaching and how we wanted to spend instructional time. It pushed us away from memorizing trivia and toward analyzing, questioning, creating, and connecting. The same thing happened with calculators decades before. There was real fear that students would lose the ability to compute. But what actually happened was that students stopped getting stuck in multi-digit calculations and started spending more time doing real math. They m...

Preparing for the 2025 Math Textbook Adoption: A Pathway to Equity and Excellence

A Summary of California Mathematics Textbook Adoption Preparation Available from Equivale Alliance To Request a Copy of the 77-page Guidebook, Please Click This Link. No Cost. No Commitment. As California’s 2025 math textbook adoption approaches, districts have a crucial opportunity to shape the future of their students’ education. The decisions made now will affect how math is taught and learned for years. This guidebook by Equivale Alliance highlights why preparation must start now, outlining eight critical considerations that will ensure the selection of high-quality, equitable instructional materials. Here’s why districts should begin planning and a snapshot of the guide’s key strategies. Why Prepare Now? Textbook adoption isn’t just about picking a new set of books; it’s a significant decision that impacts every classroom and student. By preparing early, districts can align instructional materials with both state priorities and the needs of their students. The updated California M...

“One Team, One Dream: And a Whole Lot of Coffee”

  “Beyond Slogans: Our Commitment to EVERY Student’s Achievement” or “One Team, One Dream: And a Whole Lot of Coffee” “Education is not just an opportunity; it is a fundamental right that demands our unwavering commitment to every child’s success.” So, I have a plan with over 200 topics mapped out for blog posts, but sometimes I see something or think of something that I need to write about immediately. That was my experience this afternoon…  I walked past this school district vehicle from a rural district in California. “Whatever it takes…our kids are worth it,” embodies a powerful commitment to student success. This mindset is essential in education, where the stakes are incredibly high. To honor this commitment, we must recognize that achieving proficiency in literacy and numeracy is not just a lofty goal but a fundamental RIGHT for every student. Education must be held to the highest standards, much like any critical profession. Just as we expect a surgeon to h...

Breaking News: Silver Bullets for Student Learning Found! (Spoiler: They're Actually All Glitter)

  Breaking News: Silver Bullets for Student Learning Found! (Spoiler: They're Actually All Glitter) Or Marketing vs Research: How Do Educators Make PL&D Decisions? Or Why We Need to Rethink How We Support Professional Learning for Schools and Educators Part One! “When all is said and done, more is usually said than done.” -Lou Holtz Part of the “Barriers to Professional Learning & Doing” series… In my almost three decades in education and with the many schools I’ve worked with, it’s obvious that almost every education organization out there is seeking the “Silver Bullet” to support increased student learning. We seem to be enamored by the “newest thing” in education, usually some type of curriculum or approach that promises big returns. These “Silver Bullets” tend to be 1) flashy (or glittery!) or 2) have deep marketing budgets (hello big publishers!). Unfortunately, the marketing and excitement often overshadows the research and effectiveness behind the newest thing. ...

"Embracing Change in Education: Overcoming Contraction Bias” Or "Future-Proofing the Flock: When Sheep in Educator's Clothing Resist the New Wool"

  "In the classroom, the only constant is change, but our brains might be playing tricks on us, convincing us that new teaching strategies are just old wine in new bottles. Let's debunk this myth and dive into the curious world of contraction bias—where progress may be more than we think." Part of the “Barriers to Professional Learning & Doing” series… First, my introduction to the Contraction Bias (CB) Support Group:   Me: “Hello, my name is Robb and I have CB”   You: “Hello, Robb”   What the heck is CB? It stands for “Contraction Bias” and it’s one of the reasons why we aren’t making headway in education reform in our districts and schools. I’m worried that I may have been part of the problem! [Enter sad face here!]   Let’s talk about this for a second…   What is Contraction Bias?   According to ScienceDirect, “One commonly observed perceptual distortion is the contraction bias - the tendency of observers to underestimate stimuli that are larger ...