2016 Year In Review: Edmentum’s Top 10 Blog Posts

Big reforms in education, lots of focus on personalized learning, the launch of our new Individualized Learning Solution, and of course, countless opportunities to work with and learn from dedicated educators like you—2016 has certainly been an eventful year! As we look forward to time off with family and friends for the holidays and a fresh start in 2017, what better time to reflect on all the exciting happenings this past year has brought?

So, without further ado, we’d like to share our top 10 most popular blog posts of the past year. We hope they help you glean a few new tips, tricks, and strategies to add to your toolbox!

1. [Infographic] Defining Personalized Learning

Personalized? Blended? Individualized? Differentiated? Throw any more buzzwords into the mix, and your head may start to spin (if it hasn’t already). What do these terms really mean, and why do they matter when we’re talking about the future of education? No matter what terms you prefer to use, education is moving away from the one-size-fits-all approach to one that utilizes technology and expert teaching practices to focus on each unique learner and his or her specific needs. Take a look at the simplified definition and corresponding infographic we’ve created to help unpack this concept.

2. 5 Literacy Tips Straight from Elementary Educators

At Edmentum, we work with outstanding educators everyday—and we learn so much in the process! So, last fall we turned to some of our customers in elementary classrooms and asked them to share their top tips and best practices for teaching early literacy skills. Here’s a few of our favorite ideas, along with resources to help you implement them!

3. 5 Unique Ways to Formatively Assess Your Class

Formative assessment is a great strategy to quickly receive feedback from your class, and modify lesson plans and teaching strategies to make sure students are truly comprehending the material. It’s the foundation of a feedback loop that makes learning easier and more effective, and a key component in improved learning and student outcomes. Here’s five simple and creative activities to make formative assessment work in your classroom.

4. Four Inspiring TED Talks for Educators

Teaching is an incredibly rewarding job, but we know how stressful it can get too! If you’re in need of a little jolt of inspiration, watching one of these four TED Talks from educators might be just the ticket to offer some fresh perspectives, creative strategies, and meaningful insights to get you reenergized!

5. 21 Tips, Tricks, and Ideas Every 21^st Century Teacher Should Try

Technology has transformed the day-to-day routine for everyone in recent years, and teachers are no exception. What’s the best way to handle all of this change? Embrace it! To help you get started, we’ve put together this list of 21 tips, tricks, and ideas for 21st century teaching and learning!

6. 5 Tips and Tricks for Google Drive in the Classroom

The Google Drive suite of productivity apps, including Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides, have become indispensable in many classrooms across the country. Learn how you can get the most out of these powerful (and free!) programs with these five tips.

7. [Elementary Learning] A Unique Approach for Differentiation

One of our favorite strategies for differentiating instruction at the elementary level is something we very commonly associate with middle schools—switching classes. How on earth is it possible to overcome the focus and attention-span challenges that early elementary teachers are all-too-familiar with, and help students benefit from regular changes of pace and grouping that come with changing classrooms throughout the day? Here’s three ways teachers can make it work.

8. [ESSA Authorization] What Will 2016 Bring for Education?

2016 opened with a new federal policy, the Every Study Succeeds Act (ESSA), guaranteeing significant changes ahead in the world of education. While details of the transition away from No Child Left Behind (NCLB) are still emerging, this post offers a good high-level overview of what changes education experienced in the past year, and what you can continue to expect.

9. Three Blended Learning Models That Don’t Require 1:1

A common barrier to entry for teachers who are considering blended learning is the misconception that you need a device for every one of your students to make it work. Luckily, that’s not the case! Here’s how to implement three common blended learning models—station rotation, flipped classroom, and lab rotation—without a 1:1 program.

10. Simple Tips to Create a Blended Learning Classroom

Blended learning programs combine classroom time with online learning and provide some element of student control over time, place, path, or pace. This model is becoming the rule rather than the exception in 21st century classrooms, but getting a blended learning initiative off the ground can feel intimidating. So, where can you begin—without feeling overwhelmed? We’ve compiled this list of five easy ways to start incorporating technology into your classroom and building a blended environment! 

We’d like to thank all of you amazing educators out there for a great 2016—we can’t wait to see what kind of inspired teaching and learning is in store for 2017. Happy holidays!