List of buzzwords used in education

AI Literacy
Definition: The knowledge and skills needed to understand, create, and interact with artificial intelligence tools and systems.
Example: “Students in the AI Literacy module learned how chatbots are trained and practiced building a basic one themselves.”

Blended Learning
Definition: A teaching model that mixes in-person and online instruction to give a flexible learning experience.
Example: “Their blended learning course had students attend virtual lectures twice a week and meet in person for hands-on projects.”

Culturally Responsive Pedagogy
Definition: Teaching that acknowledges and leverages students’ cultural backgrounds and experiences to make learning more meaningful.
Example: “Ms. Alvarez used culturally responsive pedagogy by incorporating local community stories into her literature curriculum.”

Digital Citizenship
Definition: The responsible and ethical use of technology and online spaces.
Example: “Before assigning research projects, the teacher held a digital citizenship lesson on citing sources and cyber etiquette.”

Dual Language Immersion
Definition: A program in which students are taught academic content in two languages to promote bilingualism.
Example: “The dual language immersion kindergarten class split instruction between English and Spanish each day.”

Educational Equity
Definition: Ensuring all students - regardless of background - have access to resources and opportunities needed to succeed.
Example: “The school board’s new policy was designed to improve educational equity by funding under-resourced schools.”

Flipped Classroom
Definition: A model where students first engage with lecture material at home (e.g., via video), and class time is used for interactive activities.
Example: “In the flipped classroom, students watched the geometry lecture at night and came prepared to solve problems in class.”

Growth Mindset
Definition: The belief that abilities can be developed through effort and persistence rather than being fixed traits.
Example: “Coach Davis encouraged a growth mindset by praising persistence instead of innate talent.”

Microlearning
Definition: Short, focused learning segments designed to teach a single idea quickly.
Example: “She used microlearning modules - each 5 minutes long - to help staff quickly grasp new software.”

Personalized Learning
Definition: Tailoring instruction to meet each student’s strengths, needs, skills, and interests.
Example: “Through personalized learning, Jamie could explore math topics at his own pace using adaptive software.”

Project-Based Learning (PBL)
Definition: Students learn by actively engaging in real-world and meaningful projects over time.
Example: “The PBL unit on renewable energy had students design and build their own solar-powered ovens.”

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
Definition: The process through which students acquire skills to recognize/manage emotions, set goals, show empathy, and build relationships.
Example: “Every morning started with a 10-minute SEL reflection activity to help students center themselves.”

STEM/STEAM
Definition: An educational focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math - often adding Art (STEAM) to foster creativity.
Example: “The school introduced a STEAM fair where students exhibited projects ranging from robots to digital paintings.”

Trauma-Informed Teaching
Definition: An approach that recognizes the impact of trauma on learning and creates a safe, supportive classroom environment.
Example: “After training in trauma-informed teaching, Mr. Chen began each class with a calm check-in ritual.”

Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
Definition: A framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people, based on scientific insights into how humans learn.
Example: “Using UDL, the teacher offered materials in text, audio, and visual formats so every student could access the content.”

Key Catholic vocabulary

Following are brief definitions/explanations for 10 words or phrases as they pertain to Roman Catholic beliefs. They are written in a style that fifth grade students studying the Catholic faith can understand. Here are the words/terms that will be defined: Incarnation; Sacrifice; Parable; Miracle; Annunciation; Immaculate; Eternal; Ascension; Resurrection; Anno Domini.

Incarnation: This means God became human. We believe that Jesus is God who came to Earth in human form to live among people.

Sacrifice: A sacrifice is giving up something valuable to show love or devotion. In our faith, Jesus' death on the cross is held as the greatest of all sacrifices, as He gave His life to save others.

Parable: Parables are simple stories that Jesus told to teach important lessons. These stories often have a message about faith, compassion, and/or forgiveness.

Miracle: A miracle is an amazing act that cannot be explained by science. Jesus performed many miracles, like healing the sick and feeding thousands, showing God's power and love.

Annunciation: The Annunciation is when the archangel Gabriel told Mary she would be the mother of Jesus. This was a special message from God, celebrated as the start of Jesus' life on Earth.

Immaculate: Immaculate means "without sin" or perfectly pure. We believe Mary, the mother of Jesus, was free from sin from the moment she was conceived, which is called the Immaculate Conception.

Eternal: Eternal means lasting forever. In our faith, God, Heaven, and the soul are eternal, meaning they exist without any end.

Ascension: The Ascension is when Jesus went up to Heaven, body and soul, 40 days after His Resurrection. It shows Jesus returning to God after completing his mission on Earth.

Resurrection: The Resurrection is when Jesus rose from the dead three days after His crucifixion. We celebrate this on Easter, believing it shows Jesus’ victory over death.

Anno Domini: This Latin phrase means "In the year of our Lord." It’s used to label years after Jesus' birth, showing how His life changed history.

Vocabulary terms from Roman times

Following are brief definitions/explanations for 14 words or phrases as they pertain to studying the Roman Republic and, later, the Roman Empire. They are written in a style that fifth grade history students studying Roman times can understand. Here are the words/terms that will be defined: Centurion; Legion; Consul; Dictator; Republic; Imperator; Paterfamilias; Patrician; Plebian; Pax Romana; Tribute; Tribune; Triumvirate; Veni, vidi, vici.

Centurion: A centurion was a Roman army officer in charge of about 100 soldiers. They were brave leaders and helped keep the soldiers organized.

Legion: A legion was a large group of Roman soldiers, usually about 5,000 men. It was the main fighting force of the Roman army.

Consul: A consul was one of two leaders elected each year to run the Roman Republic. They made important decisions and led the army.

Dictator: In ancient Rome, a dictator was a leader given full control for a short time during emergencies. They had a lot of power but only for a limited time, like six months.

Republic: The Roman Republic was a time when Rome was ruled by elected officials, not by kings. Citizens voted to choose their leaders.

Imperator: Imperator was a title given to Roman generals after a big military victory. Later, it became a title for emperors.

Paterfamilias: The paterfamilias was the head of a Roman family, usually the oldest man. He had control over the family and made important decisions.

Patrician: Patricians were the wealthy, noble families in Rome. They had a lot of power and were often the leaders of the government.

Plebeian: Plebeians were the common people of Rome. They were farmers, merchants, and workers who didn’t have as much power as the patricians.

Pax Romana: Pax Romana means "Roman Peace." It was a period of about 200 years when Rome was mostly peaceful and stable.

Tribute: A tribute was a payment made to Rome by a conquered area or group. It could be money, crops, or other goods.

Tribune: A tribune was an official who represented the plebeians. They protected the rights of the common people and could veto unfair laws.

Triumvirate: A triumvirate was a group of three powerful leaders who shared control of the Roman government for a period of time.

Veni, vidi, vici: This famous phrase means "I came, I saw, I conquered." It was said by Julius Caesar after a quick and easy victory in battle.