RESOURCE

Amplifying the Curriculum: Designing Quality Learning Opportunities for English Learners

It’s summer and we hope this time of year brings expanded opportunities for reflection for our readers. The resources on our Summer Reading list are designed to support educators in their efforts to improve outcomes for children, youth, and adults.

Our top free downloads explore everything from leadership standards to restorative-justice practices.

And visit our best-sellers list for insights on teaching English learner students, mentoring new teachers, and more.

Safety drills, metal detectors, and surveillance cameras are some of the approaches educators use to try to keep schools safe. What’s the evidence behind these strategies? Three briefs from WestEd’s Justice & Prevention Research Center explore the research:

What Do We Know About the Effects of School-Based Law Enforcement on School Safety? presents a definition of school-based law enforcement and summarizes relevant research about its effects on students and schools.

Five Misconceptions About School Shootings describes and refutes common misconceptions about school shootings and suggests an evidence-based strategy to reduce the probability of attacks.

Are Metal Detectors Effective at Making Schools Safer? summarizes what is known about metal detectors in schools, including their prevalence, financial cost, and effects on students and learning environments.

The impact of trauma can negatively affect learning, making it difficult for students to pay attention, regulate their emotions and behaviors, and even develop positive relationships with adults and peers. These two resources share insights and specific steps for creating safe spaces.

In Trauma-Informed Practices from Prenatal to Young Adulthood: Voices from the Field, experts and practitioners in early childhood and K–12 education, health, mental health, and social services discuss how trauma-informed practices help to shape their work.

Creating Trauma-Informed Learning Environments describes five actions teachers can take to design trauma-sensitive classrooms.

This new protocol provides a detailed set of steps and resources to support teachers in professional learning communities (PLCs) working to implement next-generation classroom practices. Together, teachers explore bite-sized innovations, discuss implementation strategies, and problem-solve difficult teaching situations.