The word assessment comes from the Latin assidere, meaning “to sit beside.” That image—teacher and learner side by side—captures what true assessment is meant to be: not judgment, but partnership. As Dr. Nancy Sulla said, “Assessment should not be about what teachers do to students but what students do for themselves.” When we sit beside…
Blog Posts
Practical Classroom Scaffolds: Bridging Success for English Language Learners
The Challenge of Access Imagine walking across a bridge that isn’t quite finished, where the planks are missing, gaps widen the farther you go, and every step feels uncertain. For many English Language Learners (ELLs), that’s what daily classroom experiences can feel like. The content is there, the destination is in sight, but without the…
One School’s Story: Executive Function
At a Florida high school, the leadership team set out to strengthen problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills, not only for students but also for teachers. Their goal was simple: Prepare students for future careers by building strong foundations of executive function. To support this mission, the school embraced the Professional Learning Experience (PLE) Executive Function: The…
Formative Assessment That Works: Essential Strategies to Drive Student Growth
The GPS-Formative Assessment Link Think about the last time you used GPS to get somewhere. Maybe it was a new spot across town, or maybe it was a place you’ve been before, but you still wanted a little backup. GPS doesn’t just hand you directions and hope for the best. It checks in along the…
Understanding the Link Between MTSS and Executive Function
Part 1 of our Blog Series on the Components of Intentional Instructional Planning Building students’ executive function and strengthening a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) are inextricably linked — one builds the other and vice versa. A culture committed to the success of MTSS reflects the belief that all systems and structures aimed at meeting…