Research, Resources, and Reflections to Support Teachers in Problem-Solving Throughout the School Day

Note: These web pages are currently under construction. They will continue to be an evolving work in progress.

How SEL can promote hard conversations about mental health
McMahon, Wendy (April 15, 2019).
Website. EdSurge (edsurge.com).
Topic review. Examines how compiling and analyzing attendance, behavior, academic, and social emotional learning data for individual students can help teachers understand students’ full situation, what struggles they are facing, and how they might be supported.

How to reduce barriers to family engagement
Breese, Elizabeth (March 25, 2017).
Website. Getting Smart (gettingsmart.com)
Topic review. Reviews ideas, data, and trends around the importance of family engagement in schools and common barriers. Suggests approaches school staff can take to promote family engagement.

How to forge a solid parent-teacher relationship
Cusumano, Katherine. The New York Times, August 29, 2020.
Popular press. Explains how the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of parent-teacher relationships and communications. Provides suggestions on how strong parent-teacher collaborations can be established.

Blog Posts on Problem Solving

Exploring the teacher’s role in problem solving
Origo Education Staff (2024).
Website. Origo Education (origoeducation.com).
Blog post. Practical suggestions for problem-solving strategies for teachers.

Teaching problem-solving skills
Centre for Teaching Excellence Staff (2024).
Website. Centre for Teaching Excellence, University of Waterloo.
Blog post. Reviews basic principles for teaching students problem solving skills as well as a model for implementation.

Four tips on teaching problem solving (from a student)
Pelletiere, Anna (November 1, 2016).
Website. Edutopia (edutopia.org).
Blog post. Provides a student perspective on problem solving in the classroom, with a suggestion for the "single most important problem-solving skill" (Hint: It’s not related to perseverance).

Reducing power struggles in the classroom
Titus, Lindsay (October 15, 2020).
Website. Teach Better(teachbetter.com).
Blog post. States as a premise that many of the interpersonal problems to solve in the classroom are related to power struggles. Provides suggestions for teachers on how to identify such power struggles and avoid entering into them, and how to defuse power struggle situations when they arise.

If you know of additional resources you think ought to be featured on these pages, feel free to contact pmartin@ithaca.edu