Summer Solstice or Meteorological Summer?

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Summer officially begins on June 21 at 12:24 AM EST. Or does it? Ask your local weatherman and he will probably say that meteorological summer began on June 1. Both explanations, based on data and science, offer interesting opportunities for exploring weather and seasons through a different perspective. To understand the difference between the two … read more »


Being Resourceful Part Five, Invisible Web of U.S. Government Information

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Several months back we began discussing research. Now, let’s take a look at the best resources that students and teachers can use to meet their information requirements. The research process begins with a motivation, either personal or external, such as a class assignment. The best class assignments are authentic tasks,  problems the learner must solve doing real-life activities … read more »


Celebrate Great Outdoors Month

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In all of nature there is something of the marvelous. Aristotle What is your favorite outdoor activity? Perhaps you enjoy swimming, hiking, boating, or another way to enjoy Mother Nature. Many others share your enthusiasm, in fact, June is Great Outdoors Month. Started in 1998, this celebration of the outdoors has grown from a weekly event … read more »


Tech Tool of the Month: Canva

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As teachers, our digital resiliency is usually put to the test quite often. I recently had one of those experiences when I had to write the TeachersFirst weekly update using a new template. The biggest challenge for me was making the images fit in the template and have it work in all different types of browsers … read more »


5 Sites for Teaching About Memorial Day with Primary Sources

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Memorial Day, formerly known as Decoration Day, is the time when Americans honor and recognize people who died while serving our country in the armed forces. Although historians dispute the birthplace of Memorial Day we know it began after the Civil War. This tradition continues to be held the last Monday of each May as communities … read more »


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

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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 »


Take Your Presentations to the Next Level!

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It took the better part of a school year, but now your classroom is moving along smoothly. Your class is familiar with your teaching style, you have learned the quirks of individual personalities, you and your students have mastered all of the “new” technologies and materials from the beginning of the year, and everyone is … read more »