Learning for Life

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My kids are at summer camp this week, and as I write this, I can't believe how quiet and empty the house is. They look forward to camp the whole year and I'm sure they are having a blast.

For many teachers, July feels like the last month of summer as August holds meetings and in-service days. Make sure you take your naps, go on some adventures, and soak up some rays so your batteries can power you through the beginning of another school year.

Have a great weekend!

In today’s newsletter…

• Math achievement gap in the US persists, and educators consider a learner-centered approach to close gap.
• Schools debate what to teach about AI, free lessons provided by tech giants, universities, and nonprofits.
• Tips for teachers to make personal finance education more engaging and effective.

The News

Here are some articles that grabbed my attention.

• Math Gap - The math achievement gap in the US is a persistent issue. Only a small percentage of students are proficient in the subject. Educators might shift their approach to be more learner-centered and leverage the knowledge and skills schools bring to the classroom. The Second Order Model can help with this shift.
• A.I. Education - Schools are debating what to teach students about AI while tech giants, universities, and nonprofits are providing free lessons. Millions of new jobs in AI are predicted, and Amazon's Rohit Prasad believes that students need to be educated about AI at the grassroots level. Schools are considering whether to teach students to use and program AI tools or to anticipate and mitigate the potential harms of AI. This debate is also taking place on a larger scale in the United States.
• Supportive Colleagues - “Creating a culture of support and empathy in schools can go a long way in building a more caring and compassionate community," says Allyson Apsey, a principal who shares her insights on supporting colleagues dealing with students in crisis. Providing practical help, acknowledging their work, and encouraging self-care are among the five ways to support colleagues in such situations. One of the best investments you can make in your workplace well-being is to nurture supportive relationships with your colleagues. This is one of the main reasons I’ve made it through 24 years of teaching.
• Resource - Personal finance education is an essential part of preparing students for the real world. Here are some tips for teachers to make personal finance education more engaging and effective.

Growth

Personal Development and Wellness Resources

• Resilience - One certainty of life is that challenges will arise, and stress will follow. To build resilience, you can change your perception, find ways to be mindful, practice emotional first aid, cultivate grit, and harness the power of vulnerability. Here are five TED Talks that can help you achieve these goals.
• Sticky Habits - To adopt good habits, try identity-based habits. These habits aim to change your beliefs, personality, and DNA by declaring and embodying the type of person you want to become. This creates daily routines reinforcing your desired identity and leading to lasting change.
• Learning for Life - Learning is good for you, and you don’t need a classroom to do it. It can happen anywhere. If you want to build a new skillset find a way to discuss and share what you’ve been learning with others. This is one of the personal benefits I get from sending out this weekly newsletter. Learning as you age is good for your cognitive function.

Inspiration

"In order to design successful habits and change your behaviors, you should do three things. Stop judging yourself. Take your aspirations and break them down into tiny behaviors. Embrace mistakes as discoveries and use them to move forward." — B.J. Fogg (Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything)*

Favorite Things

• Showerthought - A few more generations and no one will know what clockwise is anymore. [source]
• Documentaries - Here are 12 documentaries that might make you see the world differently.

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