July 18, 2024 2:32 am

Is Professional Learning the Antidote to Teacher Burnout?

Discover the hidden power of professional learning in addressing teacher burnout. This blog post explores how shifting from traditional professional development to a more collaborative, teacher-driven approach can rekindle educators’ passion and resilience, ultimately benefiting both teachers and students.

Before we dive into what makes professional learning effective, we need to address the elephant in the room: the difference between professional development and professional learning. Bradley et al describe them as two mindsets, with the professional learning mindset being one “in which professional learning and growth are centered around accelerating personal and collective learning.”

The shift from a PD to PL mindset means “moving from delivering information to intentionally co-designing, with educators, learning and growth opportunities that are grounded in the evidence about what is most needed and most effective.”

So, while at first it seems like a small difference in semantics, it’s really the key to this whole conversation — especially during a time when teacher burnout is high.

Addressing teacher burnout… with professional learning?

At this point, we know many of the causes of teacher burnout: heavy workloads, lack of funding, and classroom behavior issues, to name a few. But if these stressors don’t have an immediate fix, how do we help address the problem?

You might roll your eyes when I say professional learning. But keeping in mind the shift in mindset, more one-off PD days are not what we’re talking about — not even if the focus is on teacher wellness. We’ve looked before at how administrators can care for teachers, including offering mental health and wellness support. But frankly, teachers are tired of being told to prioritize self-care when they don’t have the time or bandwidth.

Educators go above and beyond for their students, ignoring their own well-being (inspiring the well-intentioned push to promote self-care) because teaching is a mission-driven craft. And because of that, we are seeing teachers burn out at rates that align with other service- and mission-oriented roles (e.g. nursing, social work, etc.).

At the beginning of their careers, teachers feel deeply rooted in their “why,” but as the daily stresses of the profession take over, they can start to feel distanced from that purpose. This is what psychologists call misalignment burnout, when “we constantly engage with environments and in activities that go against our innermost values and beliefs, leading to a disconnect between our true selves and professional identity.”

So how can we help teachers with this misalignment? That’s where professional learning comes in.

The key to effective PL: reconnecting teachers with their “why”

A critical aspect of effective professional learning is that it helps educators to reconnect with their “why” and refills the proverbial tank needed to keep giving and giving and giving in an increasingly skilled way. It also helps teachers to build a toolkit for how to respect their own barriers, keep their own well-being in check, and systematize the individualized support that they want to offer each student.

Effective professional learning is teacher-driven, and therefore tailored by grade level, content area, career stage, and specific interests or passions. Teachers are professionals and should be treated as such, with autonomy and choice over how they hone their skills and stay informed about current research.

We know that professional learning should be enduring, ongoing, job-embedded, and relevant, but if the main goal isn’t to get teachers back to that “why,” it’s missing a critical element. The goal is of course to build and strengthen skills, but the other, equally important outcome is to help teachers rekindle motivation and strengthen resilience.

PL ideas that bring focus back to the “why”:

Provide ample time to connect with colleagues

Spend time digging into (and rethinking) content and how it’s delivered

Focus on new ways to build connections with students

New challenges arise and best practices evolve, “but one thing that has never altered is educators’ desire to affect positive change in the classroom.” So, if professional learning can tap into that in a meaningful way, it can make huge strides toward reinvigorating teachers.

About the Author — Krysia Lazarewicz

Krysia Lazarewicz is Vice President of Professional Learning and Development at Imagine Learning, where she leads the vision, strategy, and execution of our professional learning. Before joining the Imagine Learning team, Krysia was Vice President of Business Development at Wiley University Services, where she partnered with over 100 institutions to develop and launch new online programs, focusing on helping educators and learners achieve their goals. Krysia’s background includes teaching middle school math and science and working in content development for Pearson. She has a strong passion for improving lives through education.

July 16, 2024 6:30 am

Imagine Learning Introduces AI Grading Assistant for Writing in Imagine EdgeEX

Leading K–12 Curriculum Solutions Provider Uses AI to Empower Teachers and Enhance Education

Tempe, Arizona, July 16, 2024 – Imagine Learning, the largest provider of digital curriculum solutions in the U.S., serving 15 million students in more than half the school districts nationwide, today announced a newly developed AI tool within the Imagine EdgeEX curriculum offering, available in beta to all current customers. Imagine EdgeEX is the next generation of Imagine Edgenuity, designed to engage students and to help teachers streamline their work with actionable data and easy-to-use, customizable tools, an easy-to-navigate dashboard, and accessible features.

Imagine EdgeEX’s new AI Grading Assistant for writing provides teachers with actionable, context-specific feedback on submitted writing activities. The feature evaluates student writing, providing suggestions on clarity of thought, alignment to the learning objective, quality of writing, and more. This innovation saves educators time and significantly scales their impact, allowing them to devote more time to meaningful interactions with students. This tool will soon be complemented by additional AI-powered tools to help learners and teachers work more effectively and efficiently. Amid the shifts in education with the advent of generative AI, ongoing teacher shortages, and hurdles those in the profession face daily, there is a critical need to make teachers’ lives easier.

“At Imagine Learning, our priority has always been to create innovative, digital-first solutions that enhance the classroom experience for teachers and learners,” said Kinsey Rawe, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Imagine Learning. “Teachers are under so much pressure in today’s educational landscape. In a time where turnover and shortages continue to plague districts across the nation, we’re proud to launch Imagine EdgeEX’s first AI tool to not only lighten their workloads but also provide them with the support and empowerment they need.”

“When we set out to bring the power of generative AI to Imagine EdgeEX, protecting our customers’ data and privacy had to be our top priority. That’s why we intentionally designed our short-writing feedback with a privacy-first architecture, minimizing the data collected and shared, ensuring that our AI partners cannot use students’ submissions to train their models. Our customers can enjoy the personalized, intelligent experiences enabled by AI while having peace of mind that their data is fully protected and used only in accordance with our strict privacy policies,” said Jason Fournier, Vice President of AI Initiatives at Imagine Learning.

The new AI tool keeps the teacher in control while keeping security and privacy at its core. Teachers have the freedom to use, modify, or ignore the AI-suggested comments at their discretion. Another important goal was to make it convenient, so the tool is integrated into teachers’ feedback workflow within Imagine EdgeEX. Teachers can quickly choose, edit, or discard feedback without copying and pasting or moving between systems.

Along with Imagine Learning’s previously announced AI enhancements like the AI-tutoring assistant within Imagine Learning Sessions and the acquisition of Cue Think, this latest development reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to integrating AI into the education experience to enhance personalized learning and educator support.

To learn more about Imagine EdgeEX’s new AI feature and offerings for teachers, visit imaginelearning.com/edgeEX-ai.

About Imagine Learning

Every classroom, every student is bursting with potential. That’s why we pursue relentless innovation at the intersection of technology, people, and curricula. Imagine Learning creates K–12 digital-first solutions, working alongside teachers to support 15 million students in over half of the districts nationwide. Our core portfolio includes Imagine IM, Imagine Learning EL Education, Twig^® Science, and Traverse^®. Our robust supplemental and intervention suite equips learners with personalized instruction for English and Spanish literacy, math, coding, and more. Imagine Edgenuity^® and Imagine EdgeEX offer innovative courseware solutions, complemented by Imagine School Services’ Certified Teachers. Imagine Learning. Empower potential. Learn more: imaginelearning.com.

U.S. History

The Declaration of Independence

Explore the events that led to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Write a poem based on the document.

Engage

Learn about notable events in the American Revolution through this Interactive Time Line.

Analyze

Genre: Document | Creator: Thomas Jefferson | Date: 1776

Background

Thomas Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. The document declares the colonies’ independence from Great Britain. Jefferson wrote the first draft and submitted it to Congress. The Committee of Five and Congress then made revisions before adopting and signing the document. The following excerpt is the preamble to the Declaration.

Read this excerpt of the Declaration of Independence

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. —That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, —That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. —Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

Excerpted from The Declaration of Independence.

Collaborate

Found Poem

Have students select and rearrange words, phrases, or lines from each source in the chapter to write a found poem. The poem should

be composed entirely from language from the sources; and
communicate an understanding or idea connected to the chapter.

Partner students to share their poems and discuss similarities, differences, surprises, and takeaways.

Call on several students to share how writing or discussing their poems shaped their understanding of the chapter.

Teacher Resources

Think Like a Historian

Use this additional sourcing information to further contextualize the source in order to deepen students’ analysis and evaluation.

Summary

The Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. It announced the separation of the 13 colonies from Great Britain and outlined the reasons why. This excerpt is the preamble.

Purpose

The Declaration of Independence explains the ideals of a democratic government, lists the reasons for the colonists’ decision to separate from Great Britain, and formally declares the colonies an independent nation.

Intended Audience

The immediate audience for the Declaration of Independence was King George III, colonists, and the international community.

Source Considerations

This excerpt from the Declaration outlines the ideals of a democratic government.

Scaffolding and Differentiation

Use the following information to provide reading comprehension support.

Style

The Declaration uses long, complex sentences that students may find difficult to understand. Encourage students to pause frequently and use the annotation tool to summarize the main points.

Organization

Students may not recognize that the Declaration has three parts. Explain that this excerpt is from the preamble, which comes before the list of grievances.

Analyze and Discuss

To extend discussions, consider asking the following questions.

What words, phrases, or quotations from the document illustrate the authors’ perspective?
- (Answers will vary but may include “all men are created equal,” “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,” “under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government.”)
How does this demonstrate the authors’ perspective?
- (Answers will vary.)
What is it about these words, phrases, or sentences that you think make them the most significant ones in the document?
- (Answers will vary but may include that these words or phrases have become well- known and frequently quoted today, or that they are the most powerful words or phrases.)

June 28, 2024 6:30 am

School District of Philadelphia Advances Literacy with Science of Reading Focus

SDP Hosts Summer Institute with Support from Imagine Learning to Equip Educators with Innovative Literacy Training and Resources

Philadelphia, PA – June 27, 2024 – The School District of Philadelphia (SDP) recently hosted an innovative, in-person educator training focused on the implementation of high-quality instructional materials and practices aligned with science of reading research. This four-day Summer Institute, held from June 24–27, equipped over 800 educators and administrators with the tools and knowledge needed to enhance literacy instruction in the upcoming school year.

Importance of the Event

This training event marked a significant step in the District’s commitment to improving literacy outcomes and ensuring all students have access to high-quality learning experiences. By equipping educators to use the science of reading principles with Imagine Learning EL Education, the District aims to transform literacy instruction. The Summer Institute provided educators with in-depth training on evidence-based practices crucial for helping students develop strong literacy skills. This approach supports personalized learning and promotes equitable access to educational resources, addressing current challenges and ensuring all students can thrive academically.

“Embracing the science of reading is a testament to our commitment to accelerating our students’ academic achievement,” said Tony B. Watlington Sr. Ed.D., Superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia. “The School District of Philadelphia had the second-fastest recovery for reading in grades three through eight among all large urban peer districts included in the Education Recovery Scorecard released by the Harvard University Center for Education Policy Research and The Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University. We are excited to continue leading the way in literacy education and empowering our educators to transform their classrooms with this Summer Institute.”

Event Details:

The Summer Institute offered educators hands-on training, interactive sessions, and opportunities to explore and implement science of reading principles in their classrooms. Keynote speakers Nicole Ormandy, Senior Director of Content Development at AIM Institute for Learning and Research, and Dr. Megan Gierka, Senior Content Developer at AIM Institute for Learning and Research, highlighted best practices, leveraging their expertise and insights.

District educators examined the structure and design of Imagine Learning EL Education, gained insights into year-long planning, and learned effective strategies to engage students and enhance their literacy skills. Participants built their understanding and application of effective literacy practices to support students as they learn to read and, ultimately, read to learn.

“Imagine Learning is proud to support the School District of Philadelphia in this transformative initiative,” said Terry Gilligan, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Core Curriculum at Imagine Learning. “Our role is to provide the necessary tools and resources along with strategic professional learning to ensure educators can effectively implement the science of reading and foster a love for learning that extends beyond the classroom.”

The Summer Institute was a significant milestone in SDP’s ongoing efforts to enhance teaching and learning through innovative educational solutions.

Main Takeaways:

The Summer Institute emphasized the critical role of evidence-based practices in literacy instruction, equipping educators with strategies to enhance phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
This initiative was deeply personal for the leaders and teachers at the School District of Philadelphia. Participants expressed a strong commitment to creating better futures for SDP students, recognizing that it all starts with teaching every student to read proficiently.
The overarching goal is clear: to ensure that every student in the district achieves reading proficiency. SDP’s excellent educators are dedicated to pursuing this ambitious endeavor, supported by the high-quality curricular materials and practices provided by Imagine Learning EL Education.

For the full agenda or additional information, please contact:

Aileen McNelis

NextTech Communications

Amcnelis@nexttechcomms.com

About the School District of Philadelphia

The School District of Philadelphia is the eighth-largest school district in the nation and the largest school district in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Enrollment includes nearly 198,000 students in public, charter, and alternative schools, and approximately 19,000 employees. Under the leadership of Superintendent Dr. Tony B. Watlington Sr., the School District’s vision is to prepare students to imagine and realize any future they desire. For more information about the School District, visit www.philasd.org.

About Imagine Learning

Every classroom, every student is bursting with potential. That’s why we pursue relentless innovation at the intersection of people, curricula, and technology. Imagine Learning creates K–12 digital-first solutions working alongside educators to support 15 million students in over half of the districts nationwide. Our core portfolio includes Imagine IM, Imagine Learning EL Education, Twig^® Science, and Traverse^®. Our robust supplemental and intervention suite equips learners with personalized instruction for English and Spanish literacy, math, coding, and more. Imagine Edgenuity^® is our flagship courseware solution, complemented by Imagine School Services’ Certified Teachers. Imagine Learning. Empower potential. Learn more at imaginelearning.com.

Edit and Share Assessments in Twig Science

June 2024

Educators can now collaborate more easily on assessments

Educators can now edit and share assessments with their colleagues — saving time, allowing for flexibility, and making collaboration with colleagues more efficient. Administrators in the program can toggle this feature on or off depending on district needs.

Edit and Share Assessments in Twig Science

Updated Dashboard Growth Widget in Imagine Language & Literacy

June 2024

Filter Growth Report data directly from your dashboard

In addition to the new Growth Report, our updated Growth Report Widget found on your dashboard now offers data visualizations that provide a quick snapshot of student performance on the benchmark tests. Now you can filter the data by test window and navigate to scores for literacy, oral vocab, and Lexile using the tabs at the bottom of the widget. Additionally, you can see students tested, test dates, and performance breakdowns.

Updated Progress by Lesson Report in Imagine Language & Literacy

June 2024

New feature added to the Progress by Lesson Report

We’ve updated the Progress by Lesson Report to streamline your experience. Now you can hover over Lesson Groups to see all the lessons covered in that lesson group. Read more about this great new feature here.

Updated Student Rating Scale in Imagine Language & Literacy

June 2024

Student rating system changing from smiley faces to stars

Our teams really use student rating information to inform decisions on updates and improvements. We are updating the rating scale from 3 smiley faces to 5 stars based on user research and feedback. Students can now give more granular feedback on their activities to help us plan for future enhancements.

New Imagine Language & Literacy Homepage Coming August 2024

June 2024

Homepage redesign coming this fall

This August Imagine Language & Literacy will have a brand new and exciting homepage for you to enjoy. Stay informed about all our continuous updates, access recommended resources, and track your district, school, group, or student’s progress all in one redesigned and beautiful homepage.

June 20, 2024 9:00 am

Imagine MyPath Awarded Evidence-Based Edtech: ESSA Tier 3 Product Certification

Product Certification Ratifies Evidence of Effectiveness

TEMPE, Arizona. – June 20, 2024 – Imagine Learning announced today that Imagine MyPath^®, its diagnostic-driven, personalized learning program for grades K–12, has earned the Evidence-Based Edtech: ESSA Tier 3 product certification from Digital Promise. This product certification serves as a rigorous, reliable signal for district and school leaders, educators, and families looking for education technology (edtech) products with a confirmed basis in research about learning and evidence from a well-designed study that shows the product has positively impacted learners. Imagine MyPath is one of only three products to receive product certification in this brand-new category from Digital Promise.

After review, Digital Promise confirmed that a well-designed study submitted by Imagine Learning qualified as Tier 3 ESSA evidence by demonstrating a significant, positive impact on student outcomes. The study found that kindergarten students who used Imagine MyPath outperformed comparison students on the NWEA MAP Growth math assessment. These results add to the portfolio of research demonstrating that Imagine MyPath positively impacts student learning. Read the full study.

“Receiving the ESSA Tier 3 certification is an honor and a testament to Imagine Learning’s ongoing commitment to high-quality evidence-based research in the interest of continuous improvement and innovation that supports improved outcomes for learners,” said Sarah Anderson, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Supplemental. “Our goal is not just to address learning gaps, but to empower educators and students with the tools they need to exceed their growth expectations.”

Digital Promise launched the Evidence-Based Edtech product certification in April 2024 to help educators identify rigorous, research-based products before introducing them into the classroom. “At Digital Promise, we are excited to support educational leaders in using evidence to inform their selection of edtech systems and tools,” said Dr. Pati Ruiz, Senior Director of Edtech and Emerging Technologies at Digital Promise. “These Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)-aligned product certifications will help educational leaders easily identify edtech products that leverage evidence-building activities to meet the needs of teachers, students, and their families.”

Today’s teachers are tasked with helping diverse learners keep pace with learning goals. Imagine MyPath offers efficient, effective intervention support that empowers teachers and saves them time in differentiating and delivering instruction that accelerates students back to grade level. Imagine MyPath’s assessment-informed personalized learning paths engage students and move them forward, faster, through prioritizing essential content and delivering adaptive lessons at a developmentally appropriate level. For Back-to-School 2024, Imagine MyPath Math will further enhance personalized support by adding On-Demand Tutoring, where students can access real-time, one-on-one guidance from live teachers.

Imagine Learning is seeking district partners interested in experiencing the impact of Imagine MyPath by participating in a research study during the 2024–2025 school year. Learn more and sign up at https://www.imaginelearning.com/research-partner/mypath/.

About Imagine Learning

About Digital Promise

Digital Promise is a nonprofit organization that builds powerful networks and takes on grand challenges by working at the intersection of researchers, entrepreneurs, and educators. Our vision is that all people, at every stage of their lives, have access to learning experiences that help them acquire the knowledge and skills they need to thrive and continuously learn in an ever-changing world. For more information, visit the Digital Promise website and follow @digitalpromise for updates