Skip to content
Share your Impact Story
Posted
March 10, 2026
Category
Educators at Work

Shoutout to Westminster Expanded Learning for Leading the Way in Strengths-Based Learning

Shout out to the Westminster Expanded Learning Team (CA) for intentionally and creatively integrating Thrively into their daily programming. Frontline staff are actively bringing Thrively’s Core 4 learning conditions to life Strengths, Well-Being, Hope, and Connections by embedding them into routines, student recognition, and the physical learning environment. Across their programs, the team has made strengths visible through engaging initiatives such as strengths-themed bulletin boards, a Thrively room decoration contest, “Thrively Student of the Month” certificates, and information boards that help families understand the impact of strengths-based learning.

A special recognition goes to Mr. Ryan Nguyen and his team at the Fryberger Boys and Girls Club ASES afterschool program. As a dedicated Thrively Champion, Ryan has led his team to remarkable progress they are currently just 1% away from reaching 100% Strengths Assessment completion. Their commitment reflects how Expanded Learning programs can create powerful environments where students feel seen, supported, and empowered to thrive both during and beyond the school day.

Posted
February 27, 2026
Category
Whole Child

This New AI Training Hub Could Redefine Education Through Strengths-Based Learning, If Implemented Thoughtfully By Al Rabanera

AI Implementation in Strengths-Based Learning and Education : A Pivotal Moment for Schools

The American Federation of Teachers recently announced the launch of the National Academy of AI Instruction, a $23 million training hub funded by Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic. This represents a pivotal opportunity for schools. if AI in education is implemented thoughtfully and aligned with strengths-based learning, student engagement, and whole-child development.

As a high school math teacher, I’ve spent 21 years with alternative education students many navigating poverty, trauma, or systemic barriers who have often felt pushed to the margins. I’ve learned that education isn’t just about mastering content; it’s about connection, identity, and trust. True personalized learning begins when students feel seen.

I use AI not to replace connection, but to deepen it especially in math, where students too often feel unseen or unheard.

I routinely ask my students to keep journals. This may seem counterintuitive I teach math, not English. but I’ve learned that many students walk into my math class carrying untold stories of race, failure, shame, and invisibility. Supporting social-emotional learning (SEL) in academic spaces is critical to building both confidence and competence.

So when Jason, one of my 11th graders, wrote in his math journal: “It’s more important to me that my teacher sees me as a person than if I get all the answers right,” it stopped me in my tracks. Here was a teenager navigating complex equations and even more complex emotions, reminding me that meaningful learning is rooted in belonging.

Education isn’t about algorithms alone, it’s about student voice, identity, and trust.

I turned to ChatGPT to help summarize journal entries not to replace my professional judgment but to sharpen it. It surfaced patterns I might have missed: anxiety about speaking up, appreciation for kindness, and the importance of being seen. Used responsibly, AI can strengthen data-driven instruction by helping teachers recognize trends that support both academic growth and social-emotional development.

I first approached AI with skepticism. Would it replace teachers? Would students become over-dependent? But after two years of thoughtful use, I’ve discovered something unexpected: AI hasn’t made my teaching less human, it’s deepened it.

For example, AI helps me surface relevant data sets and generate student-centered questions, saving hours of prep time. That reclaimed time allows me to focus on building relationships, increasing student engagement, and helping students recognize their strengths as capable mathematicians. When implemented responsibly, AI can support college and career readiness by connecting classroom learning to real-world applications.

In a recent school-wide survey, my students showed striking awareness of the tool’s purpose. Luis shared, “I need to learn geometry to qualify for an electrician apprentice program, so I can’t have AI do the work for me. It’s something I need to understand.” Jeremiah reflected, “I know AI can help, but I have to be able to think for myself.”

These students understand what many adults are still realizing: AI is a tool, not a crutch.

When Myra asked, “When will we ever use math in real life?” instead of offering a generic example about calculating rate of change, I used AI to co-create a lesson using real data on gender, income, and education. AI pointed me to current datasets from the U.S. Department of Labor, but it was our class discussion that brought the data to life. Together, we explored economic mobility, opportunity, and choice.

The content mattered because it reflected their lived experiences a key component of personalized learning and whole-child development.

Any meaningful AI rollout must be driven by teachers and grounded in classroom realities. Thoughtful educator professional development is essential to ensure AI tools enhance instruction, support MTSS frameworks, and align with student strengths rather than replace human connection.

Jason’s voice is one of many calling us to rethink how we use AI in education. If we center students, elevate teacher expertise, and prioritize strengths-based learning, we won’t just innovate we’ll transform education.

About the Author

Al Rabanera teaches math at La Vista High School in Fullerton, California. He is a 2025-2026 Teach Plus Leading Edge Educator Fellow.

Posted
February 20, 2026
Category
Whole Child

Reimagining Special Education Through UDL and Thrively

Every classroom includes a diverse group of students. Each student has a unique wayof processing, connecting, and growing. 

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) shifts the focus from “fixing” the student to fixing the environment. It is more than simply a framework; it is a mindset. It is about creating learning experiences that work for all students from the start, particularly in Special Education (SpEd) settings where various needs are a standard rather than the exception.

This is where Universal Design for Learning (UDL) meets the power of Thrively.

Thrively: The UDL Game-Changer for SpEd

For SpEd educators, UDL can sometimes feel like “one more thing” on a crowded plate. Stop viewing UDL as a “special ed strategy” and start using it as Tier 1 empowerment. Thrively supports all educators by making UDL automatic and student-led. UDL focuses on three core principles:

  1. Engagement
  2. Representation
  3. Action & Expression

Thrively supports each of these through evidence and research-based resources:

Strengths-Based Insights

Thrively’s whole child assessments help educators to identify student strengths, interests, and learning preferences. By leading with what a student can do, you boost motivation and agency, ensuring every learner is seen and valued from the start.  Read More HERE.

Personalized Learning Pathways

To address variability, Thrively provides tailored content pathways. These digital journeys allow students to engage with resources that are tailored to their unique interests, aspirations and skills. This improves engagement, particularly among students who struggle with standard one-size-fits-all learning and teaching approaches.

SEL + Academic Integration

By integrating executive functioning and SEL skills directly into academic instruction, students have the tools to set goals, track progress and express their knowledge in ways that honor their unique learning styles. In SpEd classes, this often involves promoting behavioral control, motivation, and self-awareness, all of which are essential for learner independence.

The Result: Being the Boss of Your Own Learning

Using Thrively to implement UDL empowers educators to do more than simply meet legal requirements; it’s a catalyst for true inclusion to create the conditions for learning that dramatically increases student academic outcomes.  When students recognize their own talents and have the tools to guide their learning, they don’t just survive; they thrive.

Universal Design for Learning works best when personalization is possible. Thrively transforms UDL from a theory to an everyday classroom reality, supporting educators in designing learning that is accessible, empowering, and meaningful for all students.

1 2 3 … 20