Celebrate Bill of Rights Day December 15th!

December 15 is Bill of Rights Day! Students should be aware of what the Bill of Rights is and how it applies to their lives. What better way to make that happen than to celebrate this day in your classroom?!  There are many resources available to teachers to celebrate this day. The Bill of Rights … read more »

Tech Tool of the Month: Do I Have a Right? – Part 2

Part 1 of this blog introduced you to Do I Have a Right? and discussed applying the SAMR Model and the Triple E Framework to using it in your instruction. Today’s post offers detailed instructions for this tool and ideas for using it in the classroom. Do I Have a Right? : When you arrive … read more »

Tech Tool of the Month: Do I Have a Right? – Part 1

iCivics’s Do I Have a Right? is an immersive role-playing experience designed to help students deepen their understanding of constitutional law. During the game, students assume the role of a lawyer establishing their own legal firm and get an opportunity to apply legal principles to real-life situations. Players delve into the intricacies of constitutional amendments … read more »

Tech Tool of the Month: Tynker (Part 2)

In Part 1 of this blog, we introduced you to Tynker and discussed the application of both the SAMR Model and the Triple E Framework to help you integrate Tynker into your instruction. Today’s post offers detailed instructions about how to use this tool and also shares classroom use ideas by subject. Tynker: To begin … read more »

The First Amendment and Digital Citizens

“Amendment I: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” In these few, brief written words, the First Amendment protects so … read more »

Two Sides to Students’ Right to Privacy: Safety vs. Intellectual Freedom

This week is Choose Privacy Week , an event sponsored by the American Library Association. While privacy has been part of our recent national discussion, privacy issues are nothing new to K-12 public education, which must follow at least three privacy rules and laws.  These include the 1974 Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a … read more »

Deeper Thinking with Perspective-Taking Routines

In today’s interconnected world, developing perspective-taking skills in high school students is not just a pedagogical goal; it’s essential for fostering critical thinking, empathy, and digital citizenship. These skills are integral to shaping today’s high school graduates, and educators play a significant role in turning this abstract goal into concrete instructional practices that encourage students … read more »

Tech Tool of the Month: Padlet – Part 2

In Part 1 of this blog, we introduced you to Padlet and discussed applying the SAMR Model and the Triple E Framework using Padlet in your instruction. This simple web application allows you to create digital bulletin boards from seven easy layouts. Users can add images, links, videos, texts, drawings, and more to their virtual … read more »

Tech Tool of the Month: Microsoft Forms – Part 2

In Part 1 of this blog, we introduced you to Microsoft Forms and discussed applying the SAMR Model and the Triple E Framework using Microsoft Forms in your instruction. This simple web tool/app allows you to easily create polls, quizzes, and surveys and collect real-time data. Teachers can use this tool to collect feedback from … read more »