Digging Deeper: Using Thinking Routines to Build Empathy During African-American History Month

Author: Sharon Hall | Posted:
Categories: Classroom Application | Tags: , , , ,
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As we celebrate and observe African-American History Month in February, we must recognize the importance of making this topic relevant to students beyond just learning about famous African Americans and their contributions to this country’s history. Including specific activities that promote deeper thinking allows us to deepen understanding while building empathy for others. Developing empathy … read more »

Let’s Talk About: Oral Language Development

Author: Ruth Okoye | Posted:
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Oral language development is a crucial part of the Science of Reading. The science tells us that while phonics, decoding, and sight recognition (the lower strands on Scarborough’s Reading Rope) are foundational, students will only become fluent readers with appropriate language development. Language skills help students to understand and discuss texts. Weaving oral language development … read more »

Captain Critique’s War on Fake News: Join the Fight!

Author: Kevin Bower | Posted:
Categories: Media Literacy | Tags: , , ,
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Technology has transformed how information is accessed and shared, bringing opportunities and challenges to our classrooms. In this wild west of the Internet, as educators, we find ourselves in serious need of superhero skills to empower students to thrive in a dynamic and interconnected world – where misinformation lurks in the shadows, emojis function as … read more »

Honoring Dr. King’s Legacy Year-Round: Bringing His Message of Peace and Justice Into the Classroom

Author: Darshell Silva | Posted:
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Martin Luther King Jr. Day was January 15th, but Dr King’s message and example have so much wisdom to offer students year-round! MLK Jr. was multifaceted. He was a family man, an organizer, an orator, and a hero to many. He won a Nobel Peace Prize and sparked a nonviolence movement that continues today. His life continues … read more »

Celebrating the Grand Canyon’s 105th Anniversary: Unleashing Nature’s Wonders in Your Classroom

Author: Erica De Los Santos | Posted:
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Did you know that on January 11th, 1919, the Grand Canyon achieved a historic milestone, transforming from a National Monument to a National Park? This pivotal transition showed a commitment to preserving and celebrating the canyon’s breathtaking beauty for generations to come. Another significance of this transition is that it embodies a higher level of … read more »

Save Time & Enhance Learning: A Guide to Time-Saving Resources on TeachersFirst

Author: Sharon Hall | Posted:
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TeachersFirst offers many helpful free resources created and curated for educators by educators. Are you familiar with our OK2Ask workshops that cover timely topics to contribute to your professional learning goals? Do you use the TeachersFirst calendar to find resources for upcoming holidays and events? Have you discovered our special topics collections that save time … read more »

Tech Tool of the Month: Google My Maps – Part 2

Author: Melissa Henning | Posted:
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Part 1 of this blog introduced you to Google My Maps 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.  Google My Maps:  The main page shares essential information about making … read more »

Tech Tool of the Month: Google My Maps – Part 1

Author: Melissa Henning | Posted:
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Google My Maps is a web-based tool that allows students and teachers to create and share custom maps. My Maps allows users to collaborate on maps in real time. Multiple users can simultaneously create and edit maps that incorporating markers, shapes, and lines to personalize the map and layers to help organize the map’s content. … read more »

Let’s Talk About: Maria Montessori

Author: Ruth Okoye | Posted:
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This school year, the TeachersFirst team has explored the notion of women as change-makers throughout history. In our quest to equip educators with enriching resources, we’re adding resource materials and lesson ideas that share the work of some of these leaders. Today, we’ll look at the inspiring journey of Maria Montessori—a true pioneer in the … read more »

Reflection as Our Compass

Author: Kevin Bower | Posted:
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Learning without reflection is a waste. Reflection without learning is dangerous. ~Confucious The complexities of navigating the teaching and learning landscape challenge students and teachers throughout the school year. In changing landscapes, where visual cues may be unreliable, a compass becomes a reliable tool for navigation. A compass determines your orientation and helps you make … read more »