Empowering Students through Transformative SEL

| Posted:
Categories:
Classroom Application
| Tags: , , , 1 Comment

“SEL is the universal life jacket, keeping students afloat and open to learning. Only when children learn in psychologically safe environments that nurture their emotion skills can they move from helplessness to resilience, from anxiety to action, from scattered to centered, from isolated to connected.” – Marc Brackett, Ph.D. Social and emotional learning (SEL) can … read more »


Using Thinking Routines to Apply Historical Context Through Music

| Posted:
Categories:
Classroom Application
| Tags: , ,
Leave a comment

In the 1930s, swing jazz emerged as a dominant form of music in the United States. The upbeat tempo of this music provided temporary relief from problems plaguing the country and the world—music and dance halls filled with people dancing to the big band sound. On January 16, 1938, Bennie Goodman performed the first jazz … read more »


Innovation Shines Bright

| Posted:
Categories:
Classroom Application
| Tags: , , , 1 Comment

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” – Thomas A. Edison As teachers, we strive to invent and implement engaging classroom experiences only to feel compelled to change and tweak them the following year to meet the needs of our new cadre of students. It’s challenging to reinvent classroom experiences, … read more »


Continuing Beyond the Hour of Code to Extend Computer Science Instruction

| Posted:
Categories:
Classroom Application
| Tags: , , ,
Leave a comment

Were you among the over 200,000 educators worldwide participating in the Hour of Code this year? This fabulous annual event provides information and inspiration for students of all ages to engage with coding, with no experience required. The benefits of coding and understanding computer science are well documented. Of all projected new jobs in STEM … read more »


Maker Education in Your Classroom

| Posted:
Categories:
Classroom Application
| Tags: , , , ,
Leave a comment

What is maker education? In maker education, “students imagine, design, and create projects that align the content of learning with hands-on application” (Makered.org). Maker education was born from the maker movement, which believes that we are all “makers” and can be creators—not just consumers—of things. Makerspaces are specific spaces in schools, libraries, and community organizations … read more »


Celebrating Human Rights – Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All!

| Posted:
Categories:
Classroom Application
| Tags: , , ,
Leave a comment

My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together. – Desmond Tutu, South African Theologian and Human Activist In December, we celebrate Universal Human Rights Month, which honors the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), an international document adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 10, … read more »


Winter Break Boredom Buster: No-Stress Activities for Students of Any Age

| Posted:
Categories:
Classroom Application
| Tags: , , ,
Leave a comment

Winter break is coming soon. It is a wonderful time to enjoy the holidays with family, clear the mind, and take stock of the upcoming new year. Most adults appreciate the opportunity to take some time off, but often we hear from our children that they are bored.  Here are some family-friendly, low-stress suggestions to … read more »


Bring NaNoWriMo to Your Classroom!

| Posted:
Categories:
Classroom Application
| Tags: , ,
Leave a comment

What is NaNoWriMo?!? NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month! Taking place every November since 1999, it is a challenge to would-be writers of all ages, including students. The adult challenge is to begin a novel on November 1 and have a 50,000-word novel by the end of the month. The young writers’ version challenges … read more »


Sesame Street’s Influence on Education: What Can Educators Learn?

| Posted:
Categories:
Classroom Application
| Tags: , ,
Leave a comment

“It’s not whether children learn from television, it’s what children learn from television…because everything that children see on television is teaching them something.” – Joan Ganz Cooney, co-creator of Sesame Street On November 10, 1969, Sesame Street made its television debut. Sesame Street. This revolutionary show has taught generations of young children various skills, from … read more »