Whether we like it or not, high stakes testing has arrived. One of our main responsibilities as educators is to prepare students for success on these tests. For students to succeed, we must get students’ buy in on the importance of these tests. If students own their growth in their test scores, they are more likely to take the test seriously. They are also more likely to invest time into their education, which is what we ultimately are trying to achieve.

Students perform better when they feel like they are a part of a classroom and school community. Use culturally responsive practices to create a learning community where all students are engaged.

When you teach Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, high school students aren't exactly sitting on the edge of their chairs. In fact, they can be downright bored and frustrated.

There's nothing liike the anticipation of Homecoming Week! How does your school celebrate Homecoming Spirit Week? Do students dress for a different theme every day? Are there class competitions in addition to athletic competitions? One way to get everyone in the spirit is to transform the hallways! School staff and student groups can help make homecoming enjoyable for everyone this year by facilitating school-wide visuals.

Mission: 
To build a better life for our students by creating an environment of high academic achievement while preserving Hmong culture and literacy. 
Vision:
To close the achievement gap and be recognized as one of the top ten charter schools in Minnesota.

We were thrilled to be an Editor's Choice for TechFaster's preview of this year's ISTE conference. Ashley Allen, a staff writer for TechFaster, spoke to our Director of Marketing and New Product Development, Nina Swienton mid June. Check it out! You can see the original article here.

Sherman Oaks School is a TK-6 Two-Way Spanish Dual Immersion School located in San Jose, CA, the heart of Silicon Valley. The school has 520 students enrolled, including many out-of-district families who enroll for the dual language experience. With 72% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, the entire school is Title I funded. Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of this learning community, however, is the 70% of students who are English Language Learners, or, ELLs. This month we are thrilled to recognize Sherman Oaks for their commitment to student success and academic achievement.

This end-of-year idea is part of our partnership with educators from The Curriculum Corner, bringing you free Common Core-aligned lesson ideas, teacher resources, and templates you can easily print with your VariQuest Perfecta® Poster Design Systems - just be sure you have the latest VariQuest Software! Lesson: End-of-Year Celebration/Photo Booth Idea & Resources Level: K-12 Classrooms Objective: Students will celebrate the end of a successful school year by taking pictures with teachers and classmates. Materials: “Ready for ___ Grade” sign appropriate for grade level taught “School’s Out for the Summer” sign “Photo Booth” sign Photo Props – hats, scarves, sunglasses, headbands, etc. Smartphone or digital camera