Author: studyblog

Chicago, (February 1, 2026) — Avantis Education, a global leader in virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) technology for K-12 schools, is showcasing its newest product EduverseTHRIVE for the first time in the U.S. at TCEA 2026 (ClassVR booth 1873). The conference takes place January 31-February 4, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas. EduverseTHRIVE is a purpose-built wellbeing and inclusion solution that combines a dedicated set of VR headsets with immersive, educator-led virtual experiences designed to support sensory regulation, emotional readiness, and inclusive learning in mainstream classrooms. Designed to support students with differing sensory needs, emotional states, and energy levels. EduverseTHRIVE gives…

Greenville, Wis. – February 3, 2026 – As educators look for meaningful ways to balance digital learning with hands-on experiences,  School Specialty®, a leading provider of learning environments and supplies for preK-12 education, today announced the official launch of its new Childcraft Out2Grow Outdoor Furniture line. Designed to extend learning beyond the traditional classroom, the innovative collection offers a durable, sustainable and economical way for schools to create engaging, learning environments rooted in exploration, movement and real-world discovery. As outdoor learning continues to gain traction in early childhood education, Childcraft is answering the call for equipment that supports gross motor…

Key points: As we continue to make strides in understanding the brain–its strengths and weaknesses, how it develops, and its incredible potential–one idea has continued to strike conversation: the profound benefits of cognitive training. Cognitive training involves exercises that target core skills like working memory, attention, and processing speed. While much of the research in this field has focused on its applications for the elderly, the greatest promise may lie in starting cognitive training early and establishing a foundation for lifelong brain health, rather than simply addressing decline later in life. Research consistently shows that daily cognitive training exercises can…

Key points: Rather than replacing student thinking, when teachers design and guide AI experiences, the technology is most often used to deepen critical thinking and strengthen instruction, according to new insights from SchoolAI. The research, AI isn’t replacing thinking: Teachers are using SchoolAI to deepen it and boost engagement, offers educators, school leaders, and policymakers large-scale evidence of how AI is actually being used in classrooms. The report analyzed more than 23,000 teacher-created SchoolAI ‘Spaces’ used during the 2024-25 school year. These Spaces span English language arts, math, science, and social studies across elementary, middle, and high school classrooms. To…

Key points: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which prohibits discrimination against students and other individuals with disabilities, is far less visible than the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in school districts.  Largely neglected in comparison to the IDEA, it poses growing problems and hidden costs on the general education side of the ledger.  In comparison to students with IEPs under the IDEA, students eligible under only the overlapping coverage of Section 504 are the responsibility of general education. The problems and costs start with mis-identification under Section 504’s definition of disability, which is broader than that under the…

Key points: One day, something clicked for Jacob Griffin’s students. Mr. Griffin, a teacher at the NAF Academy of Engineering at Southeast Raleigh High School in North Carolina, found that students who had previously been going through the motions were coming to class more engaged, more driven, and more confident about the potential futures that lay beyond high school.  Across the country, hundreds of teachers have seen these same changes: Students who come to class excited about what they are going to achieve each and every day.  What changed? These teachers brought work-based learning into the classroom. They were not…

Key points: When students learn to read in the early elementary years, developing phonemic awareness, decoding skills, and blending typically take priority. Another essential component of fluent reading, however, is learning to read high-frequency and irregular words. While most phonics programs do address these words, instruction often stops at introduction or, at best, includes a single exposure activity embedded within a larger lesson. As the Science of Reading continues to gain traction, educators must look beyond repetition and memorization and adopt strategies that help students understand why words sound the way they do. Before outlining five such strategies, it is…

Decentralized approach increases participation among rural and underserved populations ROCHESTER, Minn. — A Mayo Clinic study published in JAMA Network Open found that bringing some or all clinical trial-related activities directly to patients can help overcome barriers that prevent many people from participating. Increased participation and expanded access to research was observed for people in rural communities and underserved populations. The study evaluated Mayo Clinic’s decentralized clinical trials program, which allows many research activities to take place outside a traditional research site through services such as remote informed consent, video visits, in-home blood draws, remote monitoring and home delivery of…

Key points: The conversation around literacy instruction has reached a turning point. After decades of debate, we’re finally seeing a broad consensus around evidence-based practices–but the challenge now is moving from understanding what works to actually implementing it in classrooms. As we enter 2026, educators are shifting from superficial adoption of buzzwords to deeper, more integrated approaches that reflect the complexity of how children actually learn to read. The “Science of Reading” has never been just about phonics–it’s about building comprehensive literacy through strategic, research-backed instruction that addresses the whole child. Here’s what’s in and out in literacy instruction in…

Key points: In early literacy, the goal is simple but urgent: Help students become independent readers and writers. Every instructional decision we make either moves them closer to that goal or keeps them circling the mountain instead of climbing it. As literacy researcher Timothy Shanahan reminds us, “If a mountain is high, we should help children to climb that mountain. With appropriate supports and scaffolds it can be done.” As an early literacy coach specializing in pre-K to grade five, I work with teachers and districts to accelerate access so all students can become independent, empowered readers. I focus on…