Empowering Students Through Student-Led Assessment: Portfolios, Conferences, and Agency

Education / By

Book summary of Student-Led Assessment by Starr Sackstein Starr Sackstein presents a compelling argument for student-led assessment and portfolios in her book Student-Led Assessment. She challenges educators to rethink how they measure learning by putting students at the center of the process and reframe the idea of assigning grades by considering standards-based rubrics. In her book she makes recommendations and …

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To Read Well, Students Have to Know Things: Why Prior Knowledge Matters

Education, ELA, Uncategorized / By

 If you’ve ever spent any time trying to get students to read complex texts, whether it’s a poem, a novel, a primary source document, or an informational article, you’ve probably run into the same frustrating truth: it’s not just about understanding what the text says. It’s about what the text means, and to figure that out, the students need to …

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Designed to Learn

Education / By

In Designed to Learn, Lindsay Portnoy presents a compelling case for integrating design thinking into education, shifting from traditional instruction to student-centered, inquiry-driven learning. Through engaging stories, research-based strategies, and practical tools, the book provides a framework for fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and collaboration in the classroom. Below is a chapter-by-chapter summary of key insights. Understanding the Learning Process  Portnoy …

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