A day camp hosted by the Autism Society of Central Virginia earlier this month provided a safe space for students to connect with nature and participate in a range of hands-on activities including tree identification, making s'mores and zip lining. The camp gave students a safe place to explore the outdoors, says Autism Society's Kaitlyn Kammerman, and adapted activities that ensure everyone gets to play.

Teachers can use grounding strategies, behavior modeling and open communication to help students address sensitive topics without triggering anxiety or trauma, says Heather Martin, an English teacher in the Denver suburb of Aurora. Martin, who survived the 1999 Columbine school shooting as a 12th-grader, says her trauma informs her approach to classroom dynamics and she prioritizes creating a safe and supportive environment for the emotional well-being of students.

A school district in Colorado plans to partner with Khan Academy to introduce the Khanmigo AI program in 28 schools, aiming to prepare students for the workforce by incorporating AI tools into education. Superintendent Erin Kane says while AI won't replace people, those who can leverage AI tools will replace those who can't.

High-school teachers are adopting audiobooks to engage students with classics like "The Odyssey," acknowledging the benefits of accessibility and immersive experiences. While some educators still debate the role of audiobooks in education, the growing popularity and research-supported benefits suggest audiobooks could be a valuable tool to improve student engagement and comprehension.

Illinois state Rep. Will Davis and Rep. Blaine Wilhour questioned a Teach for America official about continued state government financial assistance -- a recommended $2 million this year -- despite students' continually lower math and reading scores. Teach for America regional Executive Director Anajah Roberts defended the nonprofit's mission to develop high-impact teachers for high-needs areas, while Wilhour asserted that more money "is not the answer because we have been doing that for a very long time and our scores are going down not up."

Clinical guidelines for diagnosing and treating attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults may be released this fall. Margaret Sibley, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine, said many people see ADHD as a relevant diagnosis in children but "ADHD itself is still present and has unique problems associated with it in adults."