Blogs

KDP Wins ISAE STAR Award for Innovation of the Year – Thanks to You, KDP Members!

By Raevyn Harris posted 2 days ago
Be the first person to recommend this.
KDP Wins ISAE STAR Award for Innovation of the Year – Thanks to You, KDP Members! We're excited to announce that KDP has been honored with the ISAE STAR Award for Innovation of the Year ! Presented by the Indiana Society of Association Executives (ISAE), this award celebrates groundbreaking achievements that enhance operations, member services, and overall impact. This recognition is especially meaningful because it reflects our dedication to you, our valued members. At KDP, our mission is to inspire and equip teachers to thrive. We believe excellent teachers build strong communities through quality, equitable education. ...
0 comments

Member Spotlight: Christina Sluyter

By Raevyn Harris posted 5 days ago
Be the first person to recommend this.
Member Spotlight: Christina Sluyter We’re excited to spotlight Christina Sluyter , a passionate educator and mother of nine who transforms challenges into triumphs with the support of her KDP community. Q: How has your KDP community helped you thrive in the classroom? A: KDP significantly enhances my teaching journey by providing a wealth of resources and opportunities. KDP offers access to professional development tools, networking with fellow educators. I also benefit from valuable publications, scholarships, and grants to support my future classroom. Q: What inspires you to teach? A: As a stay-at-home mother of nine ...
0 comments

Unlocking Literacy with the Power of Names

By Kevin Wong posted 11 days ago
Be the first person to recommend this.
Unlocking Literacy with the Power of Names By Denise M. McDonald Literacy instruction is complex and a significant challenge in meeting the diverse needs of learners (Gunning, 2013). Educators are constantly searching for effective strategies and tactics that support learners’ acquisition and proficiency of reading skills. Although not every learner may find this name game engaging , m any will relish the opportunity to find their own name in a game with clues . This process pique s students' interest s by generating meaningful connections to phonics . ...
0 comments

Programming Excitement: Educational Robots in an Elementary STEM Classroom

By Kevin Wong posted 12-10-2024
Be the first person to recommend this.
Programming Excitement: Educational Robots in an Elementary STEM Classroom By Adam Finkle My fifth - grade mathematics and science classroom is always abuzz with different activities and content-based games designed to make the curriculum come alive . As a result , students are highly engaged and motivated to learn. I'm always looking for new idea s to spark and sustain excitement in my classroom and recently introduced an educational robot t o inspire students to engage with mathematics (see Figure 1) . This article explores my journey of using ...
0 comments

KDP Spotlight: Calvalyn Day

By Raevyn Harris posted 12-02-2024
Be the first person to recommend this.
KDP Spotlight: Calvalyn Day, MsEd, TICC Meet Calvalyn Day, MsEd, TICC: the inspiring host of The Rooted Teacher Podcast by KDP ! With a passion for supporting personal well-being and growth, Calvalyn is a nationally published author, coach, and speaker. Renowned for her trauma-informed and culturally competent approach, she’s a go-to expert in staff development, especially for Pre-K through 12th-grade educators. Tune in to learn from her wealth of knowledge and practical insights designed to empower teachers every step of the way! Listen to the Podcast! Q: Can you share your journey of becoming a coach and expert in ...
0 comments

Member Spotlight: Sarah Levinson

By Raevyn Harris posted 12-02-2024
Be the first person to recommend this.
Member Spotlight: Sarah Levinson We’re excited to spotlight Sarah Levinson , who finds joy in seeing students grasp concepts, grow socially, and build confidence. Q: How has your KDP community helped you thrive in the classroom? A: KDP has helped me thrive by reading the stories that other people have shared in their experiences and what they did inside their classroom. Also looking at the resources that are provided really goes a long way for me. Q: What inspires you to teach? A: W hat inspires me to teach is seeing when the students understand the concepts of different subjects ...
0 comments

Pause Before You Pin!

By Kevin Wong posted 11-26-2024
1 person recommends this.
Pause Before You Pin! By Nicole Hansen Ask nearly any teacher about Pinterest (http://www.pinterest.com) and they'll likely tell you how invaluable it is. The website allows users to collect and post ("pin") images extracted from the Internet to a virtual "board" for later viewing, as well as browse the "pins" of others. Though Pinterest can be used for everything from sharing recipes to planning weddings, it is the fifth most popular website among teachers (Scholastic, 2014) because it is a rich source of lesson plans, classroom decorations, and teaching tips. Why Use Pinterest? Pinterest allows you to take your professional education ...
0 comments

Member Spotlight: Kristin Collette

By Raevyn Harris posted 11-18-2024
1 person recommends this.
Member Spotlight: Kristin Collette, NCC MA We’re excited to spotlight Kristin Collette , a passionate educator who credits her KDP chapter with reigniting her purpose and helping her navigate the challenges of burnout. Q: How has your KDP community helped you thrive in the classroom? A: Over the course of the past decade, I have battled burnout. However, the support I’ve found in my KDP chapter and recently becoming an officer has really encouraged me to continue work in this field. Additionally, the support groups and podcasts have validated many of my everyday struggles. The KDP community has also ...
0 comments

Supporting Grieving Students During the Holiday Season: A Teacher’s Guide

By Michelle Melani posted 11-18-2024
Be the first person to recommend this.
As an educator, you know the holiday season brings a special energy to your classrooms. There are classroom parties, arts and crafts, holiday concerts, and festive decorations. But for students who have lost a loved one, this typically joyful time can be especially challenging. With Children’s Grief Awareness Day approaching on November 21, let’s explore how to better support grieving students during the holiday season and beyond. Understanding Holiday Grief During the holidays, grieving students may experience: Sudden reminders of their loved one (grief triggers) Powerful emotional responses to holiday events or traditions A renewal of their ...
0 comments

Member Spotlight: Douglass Bailey

By Raevyn Harris posted 11-05-2024
Be the first person to recommend this.
Member Spotlight: Douglass Bailey We’re excited to spotlight Douglass Bailey , a passionate educator and entertainer with over 20 years of experience. As a STEM academic advisor and a doctoral student in Educational Technology Leadership at New Jersey City University, Douglass values the growing KDP community and the support it provides. Q: How has your KDP community helped you thrive in the classroom? A: The KDP community here at New Jersey City University is still developing and growing, but I will say the standards to join KDP, really helped me to thrive during graduate studies. I was seeking a honor ...
0 comments

Supporting Grieving Students: What Every Teacher Needs to Know

By Michelle Melani posted 11-04-2024
Be the first person to recommend this.
Picture this: You’re in your classroom when you learn that one of your students has lost a parent. Your heart sinks. You want to help, but you’re not sure how. You’re not alone—many teachers feel this way, yet supporting grieving students is one of the most important things we do as educators. The Reality of Grief in Our Classrooms Here’s something that might surprise you: In every classroom of 24 students, an average of 2 children will lose a parent or sibling before they turn 18. Nearly all students—about 90%—will experience the death of a close family member or friend during their school years. These aren’t just statistics; these are our students. ...
0 comments

Mentor Texts as a Gateway to Writing

By Natalie Pemberton posted 10-28-2024
1 person recommends this.
Mentor Texts as a Gateway to Writing By Julie Wasmund Hoffman Chances are, the first time you wrote a business letter or resumé, you looked at an example. We study exemplars. We learn new dance moves by watching other dancers and practicing what we see. We search for decoration ideas on Pinterest. We learn by observing the greats, mimicking what we observe, and then finding our own style. So it is with writing. When we share a text with our students, and then give them the opportunity to try writing in that style or format, we are providing a mentor text (Gallagher, 2011). One way to encourage reluctant writers is through the use of picture ...
0 comments

“This Is for Everyone’s Wellbeing”: Recognizing an Un/Documented Latina Mother’s Community Activism as Parent Engagement

By Michelle Melani posted 10-23-2024
Be the first person to recommend this.
“This Is for Everyone’s Well-being”: Recognizing an Un/Documented Latina Mother’s Community Activism as Parent Engagement By Grace Cornell Gonzales and Alicia Rusoja María and her daughter host a protest to shut down the Berks Family Detention Center in Pennsylvania. Photo by Steve Pavey. Grace Cornell Gonzales and Alicia Rusoja wrote the article “'I Have Been Getting Involved for My Children:' An Un/documented Latina Mother’s Immigrant Rights Practice as Family Engagement" in the latest quarterly issue of The Educational Forum . Often, educators think about family involvement as a checklist of sorts. Do parents come to ...
0 comments

Member Spotlight: Carolyn Case

By Raevyn Harris posted 10-21-2024
Be the first person to recommend this.
Member Spotlight: Carolyn Case We’re thrilled to feature Carolyn Case , President of KDP’s Kappa Tau Chapter at the University of Tampa. Carolyn has been a driving force in creating a close-knit, family-like environment within her chapter, where everyone feels welcome and supported. As a passionate future educator, Carolyn credits her KDP community with providing her with the resources, friendships, and mentorship opportunities that have helped her thrive both inside and outside the classroom. Q: How has your KDP community helped you thrive in the classroom? A: My KDP community has been a tremendous support ...
0 comments

Winning at Parent Conferences

By Natalie Pemberton posted 10-15-2024
5 people recommend this.
Winning at Parent Conferences By Jeanne Anne Craig One of the scariest things that faced me as a brand-new teacher (besides the kids!) was parent conferences. Especially the ones that involved difficult issues such as an under-performing or misbehaving child, an unpopular or smelly child —their child! How could I share this news without seeming to point the finger or coming off as a know-it-all? Somehow, I stumbled through those first years. Then, a few years later, I found myself seated on the other side of the table, when I was called in for a conference to deal with my own under-performing (thankfully not smelly) child. What an ordeal! ...
0 comments

Member Spotlight: Sofia E. Hardman

By Raevyn Harris posted 10-08-2024
Be the first person to recommend this.
Member Spotlight: Sofia E. Hardman We’re thrilled to feature Sofia E. Hardman , President of the Theta Alpha Chapter at Howard University. Sofia shares her experiences as a chapter president and the impact KDP has had on her growth as a future educator and leader. Read more about her inspiring journey and impact in the education community. Q: How has your KDP community helped you thrive in the classroom? A: I recognized early on that being an exceptional educator requires more than just passion and inspiration—it also demands a solid academic and professional foundation. Kappa Delta Pi National Honor Society ...
0 comments

Families as Researchers and Intellectual Activists

By Michelle Melani posted 10-01-2024
Be the first person to recommend this.
Families as Researchers and Intellectual Activists By María Paula Ghiso and Gerald Campano María Paula Ghiso and Gerald Campano wrote the article, “ Care, Support, and Solidarity: Families Demanding a Universal Vision of Student Flourishing ” in the latest quarterly issue of The Educational Forum . We’ve heard the adage many times—for teachers to just close the classroom door and do what they need to do to support their students. Amid the pressures of escalating mandates, high stakes accountability, curriculum wars, and the many precarities that students face, including from forced displacement and migration, teaching can seem like an impossible ...
0 comments

“He did what?!” 6 Tips to Heading Off an Aggressive Meltdown

By Natalie Pemberton posted 10-01-2024
2 people recommend this.
“He did what?!” 6 Tips to Heading Off an Aggressive Meltdown By Charlene Blair Tolley Bobby walked into my class, a student I will never forget. He had long hair and didn’t look me in the face. He didn’t say hello; he didn’t say good morning; he simply walked in, picked a chair in the shadows at the back of the classroom, and sat alone. At the time, he was a sixth grader, new to the middle school world. I hadn’t heard a peep from him since the beginning of class and, about 30 minutes in, we began a game of Kahoot. To my surprise, the quiet, unsocial Bobby decided that he did not like to lose. I was standing with one set of desks ...
0 comments

7 Tips (and Helpful Links) for Organizing Your Classroom and Staying Sane

By Natalie Pemberton posted 09-17-2024
4 people recommend this.
7 Tips (and Helpful Links) for Organizing Your Classroom and Staying Sane By Joyce Wilson Teaching is a challenging profession, especially if you’re a new teacher. Fortunately, you can implement strategies to stay organized, focused, and effective in your teaching career. I’m going to share seven practical tips that can help you keep up. 1. Meet individual needs. The first step to staying organized as a teacher is to keep up with individual student needs and progress. This requires you to set up a system for tracking and monitoring individual student progress . You can use a grading system or a student monitoring tool to monitor individual ...
0 comments

Identity Journey Mapping in Study Abroad: An Instructional Activity to Explore One’s Identity

By Natalie Pemberton posted 08-01-2024
1 person recommends this.
Identity Journey Mapping in Study Abroad : A n Instructional Activity to Explore One’s Identity By Hyesun Cho & Josh Hayes Hyesun Cho and Josh Hayes wrote the article “ I Hold the Key to the Cage and Nothing Can Keep Me There Without My Permission”: Exploring Gender Identity Through Identity Journey Mapping in a Study Abroad Program in the latest quarterly issue of The Educational Forum . Study ing abroad can be an eye-opening and exciting opportunity to enrich one’s life , expand one’s career goals , and cultivate intercultural awareness . However, i t can also be a time ...
0 comments

previous daynext daytoday

Select date
Calendar
Title and navigation
Title and navigation
<<<January 2025><<
January 2025
SMTWTFS
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
       

Jan, 2025

Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
29
30
31
1 Jan
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
Student Teacher Boot Camp Session 2delete
23
24
25
26
27
28
January Virtual Initiation - Register by 1/27 at 12 p.m. ET!delete
29
Student Teacher Boot Camp Session 3delete
30
31
1 Feb