Focus Areas

September kicked off with a big-picture look at Executive Functioning Skills, then zoomed in on task initiation. Now it’s time to unpack another powerhouse skill: working memory.  Working Memory What is it? Working memory is our ability to hold information in our head long enough to work with it before letting it go or connecting it to something…

A simple way families can support math learning during the winter season As the weather turns colder, winter provides the perfect opportunity for families to explore math in hands-on, cozy ways. The Concrete Representational Abstract (CRA) approach, a research-supported strategy used in classrooms, helps students build deep, flexible understanding of math concepts. The best part?…

Literacy has always been more than an academic skill—it’s the foundation for learning, independence, self-advocacy and opportunity. The International Dyslexia Association’s (IDA) newly released definition of dyslexia emphasizes this by situating literacy as critical to lifelong success, not just academic achievement. “Psychological well-being and employment opportunities also may be affected.”— International Dyslexia Association, 2025 When…

New Resource Available for Instant Download! CLASS Aligned Lesson Plan Pack (see more details below). In early childhood education, process-oriented experiences are far more than simple art activities—they reflect developmentally appropriate practice and the way young children learn best. MaryAnn Kohl (1994) reminds us that when children engage in open-ended exploration, they discover ideas, experiment…

What’s the October Catch?  Check out this article, No Easy Button? No Problem: Four Decision Rules Every Team Should Know, which highlights how the end of the first quarter is a critical time to take a look at students who already have received office discipline referrals to determine whether there is a need for intervention. As…

#5: Family-School Collaboration in Multi-Tiered Systems of Support by Garbacz, Minch, & Weist Research abounds on the benefits of family-school collaboration for students’ social, emotional, behavioral, and academic functioning. The book Family-School Collaboration in Multi-Tiered Systems of Support by Garbacz, Minch, and Weist provides clear guidance for embedding family-school collaboration within a school’s multi-tiered framework.…

#4: MTSS for Reading Improvement: A Leader’s Tool Kit for Schoolwide Success by Brown & Stollar Are you looking for a resource to guide the systematic approach to supporting literacy in your division or school that aligns with the requirements of VLA and doesn’t feel like “one more thing”?  If so, we have a resource…

#3: Untangling Data-Based Decision Making by Harlacher, Potter, & Collins If you’re looking for something engaging to add to your reading list this Fall, we have you covered. All month long, our Friday 5s have been spotlighting MTSS-focused titles from our ODU T-TAC Lending Library. This week, we highlight Untangling Data-Based Decision Making by Jason…

#2: The Art of Coaching Teams by Elena Aguilar For our second book in this month’s Friday 5, we highlight The Art of Coaching Teams by Elena Aguilar, which can be checked out free of charge from our ODU T-TAC Lending Library.  Simply sign up for a free account and have it delivered on your…