INSIGHTS & IDEAS

The Education Table Blog

Practical strategies, research, and perspectives from the Novak Education team to help educators strengthen instruction, leadership, and inclusive systems.

parent teaching their kid to use ai
Mindsets

Why I am Teaching My Kids to Use AI

In my 20+ years as an educator, I’ve seen countless trends in education come and go—some transformative, others, as my Gram would say, were more flash than substance. Take ...
Katie Novak · January 15, 2025
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high expectations for students
Inclusive Practices

Communicating High Expectations to Learners

It was a day like any other in my classroom. My lesson was planned, my objectives were posted, and my trusty dry-erase markers were lined up like soldiers. Everything seemed on ...
Katie Novak · December 4, 2024
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urban classroom utilizing udl
Universal Design for Learning

UDL: A Dynamic Benefit for Urban Education

As someone who has dedicated the lion's share of my career to being a school teacher and leader in urban education, I can confidently say there is no other framework more aligned ...
Mirko Chardin · October 7, 2024
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student with a goal
Universal Design for Learning

Helping Students Set Goals in 5 Easy Steps

It’s the beginning of the year and I am sure we all have goal setting on our minds as educators. We set personal goals for our own teaching and learning and often encourage ...
Pam Tupy · September 4, 2024
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student learner agency
Universal Design for Learning

How to Cultivate Learner Agency

When I was little, I knew I wanted to be a teacher, so naturally, I would play school with my dolls. I would line each of them up in front of a small chalkboard, and then - ...
Katie Novak · August 29, 2024
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Pictures of colored pencils in different colors
Universal Design for Learning

Why UDL?

I often am asked the question, “Why UDL?” and my answer is simple. We are preparing students for their future. We are not preparing them for our past. The way that we have been ...
Katie Novak · August 15, 2024
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