April is Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month. The Joint Policy Board for Mathematics (JPBM) created this effort to build awareness of the importance of math and statistics in addressing real world problems like immigration and climate change. Even our youngest students understand statistics when we use age-appropriate lessons such as this one from the National Council of … read more »
Teachers around the world celebrate Pi Day each March 14. Although the concept of Pi is typically taught beginning late elementary school, this doesn’t prevent students of any age from participating in and enjoying Pi Day events Although younger students don’t understand the concept of Pi, they do know some information about circles. Using circles … read more »
This month’s ‘EdTech Temperature Check’ in five questions takes us to a famous little rural borough in the Keystone State of Pennsylvania. Early in February, the eyes of the nation were focused on Gobbler’s Knob and whether Punxsutawney Phil, a groundhog, would see his shadow…or not. Well, he did and so foretold six more weeks … read more »
People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing. Dale Carnegie Many years ago, Volkswagen presented an initiative called The Fun Theory Award. The premise behind the award is that fun is the easiest way to change people’s behavior for the better. The competition encouraged participants to submit entries demonstrating how … read more »
Mark your calendar to celebrate Digital Learning Day this February 23 with educators from around the globe. This day highlights excellent teaching with technology and promotes the use of digital learning tools to improve the learning experience of our students. Digital Learning Day 2017 (#DLDay) provides an excellent opportunity to try a new digital tool … read more »
Evaluating resources, in any medium, is a critical thinking skill for information literacy, media literacy, or digital citizenship. Of course, it is also part of educational state standards patterned after the Common Core. They emphasize reading, writing, and speaking grounded in evidence from texts. In a discussion of the key shifts in the standards, the … read more »
This month’s ‘EdTech Temperature Check’ in five questions takes us to the Volunteer State, Tennessee. I’d like you to meet Andrea Tolley, a 15-year veteran middle school educator at Greeneville Middle School. Andrea is a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert (MIEE) and an Ambassador for ClassFlow, ClassDojo, and GoNoodle. Additionally, we are proud to have Andrea … read more »
Every year, on the third Monday of January, our nation stops to honor and recognize the contributions of Martin Luther King Jr. His “I Have a Dream” speech urging all people to fight peacefully for democracy and brotherhood is known by all, and is the basis for many classroom lessons on MLK and Civil Rights. … read more »
I recently read an article with this question as it pertains to women’s roles in our National Park Service, and I began thinking about how this issue would be an excellent theme for many classrooms. Instead of just focusing on women’s history in March, what would happen if we raised this question throughout the year … read more »
“Silently like thoughts that come and go, the snowflakes fall, each one a gem.” William Hamilton Gibson Some of us anticipate the first snow of the year, others dread it, and still others live in areas that never experience even one snowfall during the winter. Whatever your situation, now is the time to learn more … read more »