Editor's note: Our “Unpacking” Series provides a deeper look into the ideas of transparency, one of JumpRope’s Core Values. Know where to go; know how to get there. This is very good advice for any journey, including the metaphorical journey of teaching and learning. I am increasingly aware, though, that knowing these things in the abstract is very different from embedding them into our day-to-day practice. If the standards we work with are (one of the) destinations, the path

Editor's note: Our “Unpacking” Series provides a deeper look into the ideas of transparency, one of JumpRope’s Core Values. Since the US started its journey to standards-based teaching and learning, national organizations and states have created, adopted, and revised academic standards documents to outline what students should know and be able to do upon leaving school. So, if these documents are meant to tell us what students are supposed to be able to do and know, why shoul

Editor's Note: This post first ran in January 2020. We are reposting it now to launch the 2020-2021 school year with a new series. The content in this post is Part 1 in the series. Our “Unpacking” Series provides a deeper look into the ideas of transparency, one of JumpRope’s Core Values. At JumpRope and in the field of education in general, we talk a lot about transparency. To me transparency means providing an unobstructed view or clear access, no hidden surprises or secre