Author and consultant Barbara Blackburn emphasises the crucial role teachers play in their students' success, acknowledging the challenges and emotional toll educators face. Blackburn encourages teachers to maintain enthusiasm and positivity, as students are deeply influenced by their teachers' attitudes.

Incorporating sensory activities into writing lessons can significantly enhance students' descriptive abilities, educator Donna Paul writes. Activities such as sensory walks, using nature trays and playing the "Guess the Object" game can prompt students to engage their senses, making their writing more vivid and detailed, Paul writes.

Teachers in the United Arab Emirates have returned to schools a week early for professional development sessions on child protection, AI integration and a new planning model. Schools including the American Academy for Girls, Brighton College Dubai, Diyafah International School, Uptown International School and Credence High School are focusing on innovative teaching practices and community building to ensure a smooth start to the academic year.

Rob Ford, a seasoned international school leader, offers advice for new school heads, including researching the school's history and values before starting and avoiding making changes for the sake of it. Ford also recommends listening to everyone in the school community, having a clear plan and timeline for your tenure and emphasising the importance of building trust and stability over making immediate, flashy changes.

Duolingo has expanded into maths education with lessons for elementary- and middle-school students that are aligned with the Common Core standards. The app aims to alleviate maths anxiety and make learning fun through real-world problems and personalised lessons, but some educators and experts question the depth of understanding that app-based learning can provide.

A study by the Center for Countering Digital Hate has found that ChatGPT often gives harmful advice to teens on sensitive topics such as self-harm, eating disorders and substance abuse. The study found that ChatGPT responded in a harmful way more than half the time, despite having safeguards in place.