At this time last year, when we were planning 2020’s issues of The Learning Professional, we never could have predicted that the most popular articles of the next year would have titles like “Professional learning in a pandemic” and “Long distance leadership.” But as we all found ourselves confronting new realities and challenges, The Learning…

There’s no question that teaching young children is a challenge right now. Whether classrooms are remote or in-person with physical distancing measures, it takes even more planning and creativity than usual to facilitate the kinds of hands-on, collaborative learning that are the hallmarks of high-quality early childhood education. But teachers of young children are rising…

Educators across the country have implemented new innovative strategies, lessons, and projects to ensure that learning continues for families, students, and educators. Many of these new innovations are learning experiences that provide a variety of sessions that are meaningful, engaging, and collaborative, much like Learning Forward’s Annual Conference. To help you experience the joy of learning…

Attending a large conference often leaves me excited and overwhelmed all at once. A couple of years ago I realized that I needed a better post-conference routine and plan because I just wasn’t making the most out of my conference experience when I returned to my school district. I spent days learning so many new…

Over the next year the conferences you attend, much like Learning Forward’s upcoming Annual Conference, will look and feel noticeably different. However, attending a virtual conference allows you to still get all the amazing information and insights from speakers, reduce the time and financial commitments required to attend these events, and you can attend the…

On the first Monday after Election Day and more than two months late, the Senate Appropriations Committee finally introduced its versions of all twelve FY21 Appropriations bills, including Labor HHS Education Appropriations. Overall, the Senate education spending bill provides somewhat less money for the Department of Education and its programs than does the House version,…

Congratulations to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. Election 2020 is drawing to a close. It has been a long campaign season and regardless of your political views, it is time to come together around our shared commitment to preK-12 education. Our children are the future and our educators are their mentors and…

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many changes in the way K-12 schooling happens in the United States. Two of the most central changes are the shift to digital curriculum and instruction, and the evolving role of parents and caregivers into co-teachers. We want to imagine ways in which the nexus of these shifts could be…

Attending a Learning Forward conference, or almost any conference, is a perfect way to engage in focused learning; you get away from the office, your family, and oftentimes your city or state. This allows you to leave most of the cares, concerns, and distractions of your everyday life behind. There is something about making and securing your…

What does it mean to support learning in challenging times? It means listening, communicating, and leading with empathy. It means committing to anti-racism and breaking down structural barriers to equity. This issue examines ways to do so in professional learning.