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Categories: Tech Tool of the Month
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In honor of World Storytelling Day (celebrated on March 20th), the tech tool of the month for March is WriteReader. If you aren’t familiar with World Storytelling Day, it is a global celebration of oral storytelling! On this day, people are encouraged to tell and listen to stories in as many languages as possible (and … read more »
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Categories: Media Literacy5 Comments
Media Literacy is an important topic that all teachers should be involved in teaching. According to Common Sense Media, media literacy is the ability to identify different types of media and understand the messages they’re sending. A more detailed definition of media literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate and create media in a … read more »
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Categories: Professional Learning
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Rhetorical question alert! Have you gotten on the social media bandwagon? How about Twitter Chats?! I’m thinking the percentage of those who answered “yes” to my second question may be less than the first! But don’t stress— I’m here to help you take that leap and fully engage in a Twitter Chat. And hey, guess … read more »
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Categories: Classroom Application1 Comment
April is Math Awareness Month, a celebration of the study of math and its relevance to modern life. It provides a perfect opportunity to reflect on your math teaching practices and resources and give them a good spring cleaning. Think about lessons and units you use that are stale, assessments that need refreshing, and your … read more »
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Categories: Let's Talk About1 Comment
Edtech tools can be a great way to strengthen connection, participation, and involvement within a school community. It is important in this time of “viral information” and storytelling for educators to contribute to the dialog about education. They also need to provide a window into the classroom for their community. Years ago, what happened in … read more »
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Categories: What's the Buzz3 Comments
Instructional scaffolding is a support structure that good teachers use all of the time. We design lessons in a number of ways to encourage students as they try to attain the lesson’s goals. Scaffolding lessons requires additional effort during the planning phase. The extra preparation affords you the opportunity to take on the role of facilitator during … read more »
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Categories: Classroom Application
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It never fails! It is Digital Learning Day; you’ve planned your lessons and excitement is building for all of your well thought out activities implementing technology. You prepared carefully, making sure websites work, student passwords and logins are readily available, nothing is forgotten. Then what happens? The internet is down for the day, smart boards … read more »
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Categories: Tech Tool of the Month10 Comments
Cast your imagination out and think about what it would be like to LIVE as a cell or a tsunami or a liver. This month’s tech tool encourages students to think about this type of question. MySciLife is a free social learning platform, created for grades 6-9. Participation is entirely FREE, and MySciLife offers educators … read more »
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Categories: Classroom Application
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On February 19, 1942, FDR signed Executive Order 9066 which paved the way for Japanese internment camps. Teaching sensitive and complicated topics like this one is made easier with the use of primary sources. In this article entitled Teaching Difficult Topics with Primary Sources from the National Council of the Social Studies journal Social Education, … read more »
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Categories: Classroom Application
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I’m going to start this post with a quick story: Let me set the scene… we’re in the middle of a polar vortex here in the east; it’s snowing outside, and cold (at least by Washington, D.C. standards). I’m coming into work with my hands full, but still a good 50 feet (think a basketball … read more »