The international schools network Globeducate has launched a comprehensive strategy to address declining reading proficiency among students, focusing on priorities such as integrating literacy across all subjects, leveraging digital resources and fostering professional collaboration, writes Oanh Crouch, education director. The aim is to not only improve literacy but also to develop critically minded global citizens, Crouch writes.

Woldingham School in the UK has adopted neuroarchitecture, transforming its learning spaces based on the four elements -- air, earth, fire and water -- to enhance student engagement and well-being. The redesign, rooted in neuroscience, has led to increased independence, focus and resilience among students, and has been mapped to desired learning behaviours and could serve as a model for other schools.

Jewel Benty, an English-language teacher at a K-12 international school in Harbin, China, describes how her fear of public speaking has become an asset in the classroom. By openly sharing her anxiety, she empathises with students who are shy and afraid to speak up, and encourages them to embrace their vulnerabilities.

HR professionals from independent schools in the UK recently discussed the evolving role of HR in managing people and culture amid sector changes such as mergers and acquisitions. The consensus was that support staff are critical to a school's identity and success, and leaders must champion a cohesive, inclusive culture that includes every colleague.

Teachers Chey Cheney and Pawan "Pav" Wander at Beaumonde Heights Junior Middle School in Toronto use podcasting to enhance students' oral communication, digital literacy and storytelling abilities. They have created an eight-step guide to help teachers integrate podcasting into their classrooms, emphasising the importance of starting simple, selecting various podcast styles and using accessible recording tools.

The OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) program at Firthmoor Primary in the United Kingdom emphasizes the importance of purposeful play in child development, contrasting with the increasing push for early technology use in education, writes educator Nesren El-Baz. Research supports the need for this balance, highlighting potential negative effects of excessive screen time on children's well-being.