Contact us: www.mcrel.org | info@mcrel.org
September 2015
Fill the pail, light a fire  

W.B. Yeats once wrote, "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." Actually, we think it's both, but accomplishing both requires us, as educators, to present content to our students in a compelling way, helping students make connections between their learning and their lives, and encouraging them to fill their buckets of knowledge. 

Ultimately, we want to help students find fulfillment through their learning, applying the knowledge they gain to real-world challenges and opportunities. A growth mindset, as psychologist Carol Dweck points out, is a lit flame. It sparks students' and educators' innate curiosity, and helps students build on what they already know. It helps students flourish. 

That is why McREL is here. We exist to challenge mindsets and share better ways to help students flourish. 

If you need a partner to help your improvement initiatives soar, call us at 800.858.6830 or email us today!
Research Roundup
Extra screen time drags down teenagers' exam grades, study finds  
Reuters

In a recent study of more than 800 students, researchers from Cambridge University determined that British teenagers (ages 14-15) who spent an hour more than the average four hours in front of the TV or online scored the equivalent of two letter grades lower on the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) exam, an exam taken by most British students at the end of their compulsory education, than their peers. Read the study.
10 years in, Tulsa's pre-K investment is paying off 
NPR
  
Ten years into a study of the effects of a Tulsa, Okla., preschool program on long-term student achievement, researchers from Georgetown University have found that 8th-grade students who attended preschool show greater gains in math and literacy, and higher levels of classroom engagement than peers who did not attend preschool.
Study: Middle school students want recognition, not money 
Chalkbeat Tennessee
  
Results from a study out of Vanderbilt University showed that middle school students who were promised mailed certificates of recognition to their homes for consistent attendance in after-school tutoring programs showed better attendance rates in those programs than students promised nothing for attending or those who were offered $100 in cash.
Technology in classrooms doesn't always boost education results, OECD says 
The Wall Street Journal
  
Technology use in classrooms appears to have a diminishing rate of return----in terms of educational outcomes----as student use-time increases, according to a new study from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The study found that, among students in more than 40 countries, those who used school-based technology for a slightly below-average amount of time performed better on written and reading tests than students who were overexposed to technology.
Events and Opportunities
Connect with us at the following conferences

Our staff and partners will present at the following conferences:
 
Colorado Council of Teachers of Mathematics Conference in Denver, Colo., Sept. 24-25. Follow @cctmath on Twitter for conference updates.

TASA/TASB Convention in Austin, Texas, Oct. 2-4. Follow the conference hashtag #TASATASB on social media for updates.

National Indian Education Association Conference in Portland, Ore., Oct. 14-17. Follow the conference hashtag #NIEA2015 on social media for updates.

National Dropout Prevention Network Conference in San Antonio, Texas, Oct. 25-28. Follow the hashtag #NDPCn on social media for updates.

ASCD Conference on Educational Leadership in San Diego, Calif., Oct. 30-Nov. 1. Follow the conference hashtag #ASCDEL15 on social media for updates.
Perspectives
Helping students train their inner voices
 
When it comes to asking questions in the classroom, the most important voice may be the one that you don't hear. As McREL President and CEO Bryan Goodwin writes on the McREL blog, while we know teacher questioning is key to student learning, research suggests what matters more are the questions that students ask themselves.
Righting your RtI/MTSS triangle
 
The three-tiered Response to Instruction/Intervention (RtI) triangle----which shows 80-90% of students mastering academic standards with Tier 1 core instruction----illustrates an ideal that is, unfortunately, not reality for most schools. When looking to implement RtI in your school, are you finding that your triangle is upside-down, and you don't know where to begin? In her new blog post, McREL's Adena Miller offers some advice on how to right your triangle, which, she says, all starts with data.
Headlines
McREL's new Balanced Leadership book helps school leaders go the distance

Balanced Leadership for Powerful Learning: Tools for Achieving Success in Your School (ASCD, 2015) describes the leadership practices that research shows positively affect student achievement. Learn how a balanced approach----melding purposeful change with continuous maintenance----makes school leaders more effective in implementing three fundamental components of leadership: a clear focus on issues that matter most, managing change to improve your school, and creating a sense of investment in student outcomes among teachers and staff. Order your copy today!
McREL Solutions Portal: Powerful PD resources built on reliable strategies

 
For decades, we've created research-based materials to help teachers and leaders hone their professional practice and support higher levels of student growth. Until now, these materials have been available only through our consultants working directly with client districts.
 
The McREL Solutions Portal now gives district staff direct access to these materials----including training materials, presentations, videos, activity and planning guides, and much more. Our materials address a wide scope of subjects, from research-based instructional strategies and leadership development to educational technology, formative assessment, and math and science education.
 
We update our Portal monthly with new tools and materials to supplement our direct service to districts. Our skilled education consultants also continue to provide client schools and districts with strategic consulting and onsite training and support.

In This Issue
Connect with Us on Social Media
    

For the latest in professional development opportunities, education news, research, and McREL employment opportunities, follow us on our social media channels.

 

Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter View our profile on LinkedIn

 

Find us on Google+ View our videos on YouTube Visit our blog

 

 

REL Pacific on Twitter 
 

Follow @RELPacific on Twitter for the latest on education research, the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, and Institute of Education Sciences projects in the Pacific region, plus engaging infographics, videos, and more.

 

North Central Comprehensive Center on Twitter

 

Follow @NorthCentralCC on Twitter for updates on work with state education agencies in Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.

Testimonial
" My training through McREL has made my lesson planning more purposeful and intentional. I have seen growth in my skills as a teacher, which is reflected in the growth I see in my students."

----Jackie Warren
Francis Howell School District, Missouri
McREL International | 1.800.858.6830 | Fax 303.337.3005
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Denver, CO 80237