Illuminate Blog
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How Does Technology Supercharge the Formative Process?
How to Support Student Engagement at the Universal Tier
When students are engaged in the classroom, their academic and socio-emotional growth thrives. However, as every educator knows, supporting student engagement doesn’t necessarily come easily. In this article, we will…
Oral Language and Written Language Are Not the Same Things: Why the Distinction Really Matters When Teaching Literacy to English Learners
An Educator’s Guide to Non-Traditional Assessment Item Types: What They Are and When to Use Them
Everyone in education is well-versed in the traditional item types that have been used on assessments for decades: multiple choice and open response. Multiple-choice items present a question and a…
What Are Norm-Referenced Assessments and Why Do We Use Them?
The Connection Between MTSS and Special Education: Why It Matters
Many still consider a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) to be a framework applicable only to a general education setting, while Individual Education Plans (IEPs) are reserved for special education…
The Importance of Identifying Historical Trends in Student Data
Assessment data can give educators crucial information to help guide instructional decisions. However, knowing which data to use and understanding how to interpret historical trends in student data can be…
Using Data to Identify and Monitor Progress for Students with a Specific Learning Disability
Data on student progress play a key role in identifying students who have a specific learning disability, and also in ensuring these students are making fast enough progress toward the…
How to Set Up Classwide Positive Behavioral Support: A Guide to Establishing Proactive Management
Components of positive behavior support systems are part of all elementary school classrooms. Educators routinely use creative and effective ways to support student social and emotional behavior. Yet, enhancing current…
Strategies for Engaging Families with End of Year Data
Family involvement plays a foundational part in a student’s success and well-being. When engaging families, oftentimes classroom teachers have a lot of direct communication with families. However, intervention teachers, ESL…