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Register Now! Join Dr. Doug Reeves Online This Saturday for the 3rd Alabama Conference on Grading and Assessment for Learning

ABPC November 3, 2020

Registration is open for the 3rd Annual Alabama Conference on Grading and Assessment for Learning, taking place online this Saturday – November 7 – with national assessment-for-learning expert Dr. Douglas Reeves as the keynote speaker. REGISTER NOW and read a personal message from Dr. Reeves. We’ve also included links to more details about the conference. We hope you’ll join us for this deep dive into how we grade and assess our students.

Reading for Pleasure Is an Academic Essential!

ABPC September 8, 2020

Recent research from PISA reveals a “reading-for-pleasure gap” between students in the United States and countries like China. ARI Director Tracye Strichik and ABPC’s Cathy Gassenheimer are encouraging teachers and parents to help children, tweens and teens discover the joy of devoting time each day to reading just for fun. (They don’t even have to know it’s good for them!)

Together: Cathy and Kisha Reflect on the Healing Power of Human Connection

ABPC July 7, 2020

In a time of social isolation and feelings of loneliness among many children and adults, ABPC’s Cathy Gassenheimer and education consultant Dr. Kisha Tolbert Simmons discovered they were both reading an insightful book: Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World, by Vivek Murthy, MD, the 19th U.S. Surgeon General. They’ve teamed up to share their reflections in this joint blog post.

Our PCN Focus Book for 2020-2021 Explores “Trauma-Invested Practices” for Fostering Resilient Learners

ABPC May 7, 2020

This past year, participants in ABPC’s Powerful Conversations Network dove deep into Fisher, Frey, and Smith’s All Learning is Social and Emotional. In 2020-21, we’ll extended this work with a new text by Kristin Souers and Pete Hall, Relationship, Responsibility, and Regulation, a book that provides concrete approaches for helping learners develop resiliency. Stoney Beavers has an overview.

Looking at Our Instructional Rounds from a Social Distance

ABPC March 31, 2020

While ABPC Instructional Rounds are not exactly like medical rounds, writes Assistant Director Stoney Beavers, they are amazing learning and collaborative opportunities. Reflecting on several rounds he participated in just before social distancing began, Stoney expresses his hope that more schools “will plan on joining us in the future for a truly one-of-a-kind, wonderful learning experience.”

Our 2020-21 KLN Focus Book Coherent School Leadership Offers Strategies for Building Coherence in a Complex Education World

ABPC March 26, 2020

ABPC is excited about the choice of Michael Fullan’s Coherent School Leadership as the focus text for the Key Leaders Network learning experience during the 2020-21 school year. “Finding clarity in a complex education world is a common goal for school leaders,” writes Assistant Director Stoney Beavers, “and we should all be able to see how more clarity and focus will have a powerful impact on students and adults alike.”

Meet Our New ABPC Program Coodinator – Dakota Punzel

ABPC March 18, 2020

Dakota Punzel is our new ABPC Program Coordinator. Please welcome him in the comments and on social media! Dakota is a graduate of Cleveland High School (Blount County) and Troy University and comes to us from the Edmundite Missions in Selma, where he served as Executive Assistant to the CEO and facilitated organizational events throughout the year. Read his first post to learn more!

Are We Using “Turn and Talk” to Promote Learning As Well As Engagement?

ABPC February 27, 2020

Over the past decade we have seen a surging interest in having our students “turn and talk” to each other about what they are studying, writes ABPC Assistant Director Stoney Beavers. Many educators agree peer conversation can increase student engagement in the learning process. But does Turn and Talk really boost learning? It all depends, according to Natalie Wexler – author of The Knowledge Gap – in a new Forbes article.

The Proposed New Math Course of Study Promises More Rigor and More Access for All Our Alabama Students

ABPC January 24, 2019

The proposed new Mathematics Course of Study has the potential “to give ALL students, not just the brightest ones, more access to rigorous standards and quality math education.” Tammy Dunn, Vice President for Academic Affairs for A+ College Ready, shares insights from committee members.

Celebrating National Principals Month: Robbie Smith, Hartselle City

ABPC October 31, 2018

October is National Principals Month and A+ Education Partnership has been recognizing a representative sample of our many great principals across Alabama. Today, in our final post for 2018, we feature Robbie Smith, principal of Hartselle Junior High in the Hartselle City Schools.

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