Hi.

Welcome to The EDU Files, bringing education insights, stories, and vibes to your inbox every Tuesday.

This weekend, I was in beautiful Destin, Florida, to stop in at a NASSP event - a quick, intense trip that was long on inspiration and a little short on sleep. Between travel, listening to important policy barriers, and trying to remember what coast I was on, I’m officially feeling the effects (even though I barely left Florida!).☀️

So if this week’s edition sounds a bit like it was written by someone who could use a power nap, well, that's because it was. Here’s to great ideas and a few extra Z’s!

Now, shall we?

Deep Dive 🤿

Creating Schools Students Choose: Engagement Strategies That Work

I want to start by thanking my incredible colleague, Janice Case, for her inspiration, which has become this week’s EDU Files.

Here’s a question that hits at the heart of schooling today: Are students choosing to be here? Because more than ever, kids have options. Whether it’s alternative education, charter schools, online programs, or school choice options - traditional schools have some real competition.

So, what do students actually want from us? A fair guess: they’re not clamoring for more practice tests, lectures on obscure historical figures, or “trust us, you’ll need this one-day” math. No, they’re searching for relevance and connection right now. And if they don’t find it at their school, they may look elsewhere - or worse, show up in body but check out mentally.

Building Meaningful Teacher-Student Connections

To meet today’s students where they are, we have to give them something to connect with - something that feels meaningful, important, now. Here’s what they’re asking for:

Teachers who know and care about them - Let’s be real: kids can tell if we’re just checking the boxes. They want teachers who ask about their interests, know their strengths, and understand their quirks. Research shows that students who feel known and supported are way more likely to be engaged and show up every day. When you know a student’s big soccer game is this weekend and can ask them how it went on Monday, that small connection can make a world of difference.

Learning they can use today - Students have heard the “you’ll need this someday” line a million times, but it’s the “today” that keeps them interested. Imagine a class where students design solutions for real-life community issues - like creating more green spaces or finding ways to reduce local pollution. That’s learning with immediate relevance. According to research, project-based and real-world learning are highly effective at boosting both engagement and understanding. Students are far more excited to solve a problem in their neighborhood than to calculate the number of apples Susan has left if she gives half to Bob.

Choice and agency in how they show what they’ve learned - Imagine giving students the option to submit a video, design a project, or even create a digital story rather than defaulting to the traditional test or essay. When they’re given real choices, students gain confidence in their learning and begin to see themselves as capable learners. Research consistently backs this up: when students have agency, they’re more invested and engaged in their work.

Implementing Relevant, Real-World Learning Experiences

What if schools shifted to prioritize these principles? Schools would become not just places students go to but places they choose - a space where they feel a sense of belonging, relevance, and value. In districts across the nation, we’re seeing this shift. Schools are inviting students to co-create their learning experiences, giving them a voice, and building learning environments where students want to be.

The truth is, if schools don’t adapt, students will “un-choose” them, plain and simple. And we don’t have to take this personally - kids aren’t rebelling; they’re just smart. They know a good opportunity when they see it, and they’ll go where they feel respected, connected, and inspired.

Are you ready to make this shift?

Track of the Week 💿

Turn on, tune in, and check out…

Click the iPod to check out the track I have on repeat this week. Check out The EDU Files playlist for tunes to keep you rockin’ throughout the week.

Surfing the Web 🌊

Here is my favorite EDU content from the web this week.

• The Urgent Need for a Relevant Curriculum by Larry Ferlazzo

• Keeping Learning Real, Relevant, and Relatable by Peg Grafwallner

• Cultivating a Pedagogy of Student Voice by Shane Safir

Be sure to check these out…

Feedback 💭

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Thanks for spreading the word, and keep up the good fight. The work you do matters.

See ya next Tuesday! 🍏

PS: If you are interested in supporting your school or district with any of the content or strategies in The EDU Files, click here to drop me a note or to talk more.