Celebrate Bill of Rights Day December 15th!

December 15 is Bill of Rights Day! Students should be aware of what the Bill of Rights is and how it applies to their lives. What better way to make that happen than to celebrate this day in your classroom?!  There are many resources available to teachers to celebrate this day. The Bill of Rights … read more »

Last-Minute Ideas for Veterans Day

Each November 11, Americans observe Veterans Day. First started as Armistice Day to commemorate the end of World War I, Congress amended the proclamation after World War II and the Korean War to honor veterans of all wars, officially changing the name to Veterans Day. Educators around the country recognize this observance in many ways. … read more »

Differentiation for the School Librarian

Differentiating instruction is defined as “shaking up” what goes on in the classroom so that students have multiple options for taking in information, making sense of ideas, and expressing what they learn” according to Carol Ann Tomlinson. This can be achieved through a process called Universal Design for Learning (UDL). The UDL process emphasizes representation … read more »

Celebrate the Foundations of America in Your Classroom this Fall!

Celebrate the foundations of the United States during the lead-up to the election this fall! International Day of Democracy is celebrated on September 15th, United States Constitution Day and Citizenship Day are both held on September 17th, and our National Election Day is November 3rd. International Day of Democracy was started to give the world … read more »

Don’t Let a Pandemic Stop You From Being in the Room Where it Happens

August 31 is the 102nd anniversary of celebrated Broadway composer Alan Jay Lerner’s birth. Lerner is best known for his collaborations with Frederick Loewe on hits such as Brigadoon, My Fair Lady, and Camelot. Among other honors, he won three Tony Awards and three Academy Awards, making him one of Broadway’s most proficient and well-known … read more »

Let’s Talk About: Media Literacy

As we begin to resume our K-12 charge – educating the children of our nation – we will need to contend with the diverse issues that our students have been hearing about. From the Black Lives Matter movement to the upcoming presidential election and everything in between, students have been inundated with media. There is … read more »

School Librarians Stepping Up During Virtual Learning

School librarians and school libraries are essential in school buildings today. What happens when schools go virtual? School Librarians step up! How can you as a School Librarian step up your virtual learning game? Besides staying abreast of school library news and blogs, staying connected with your school community is fundamental. School Librarians are reimagining … read more »

Tech Tool of the Month: Flipgrid Part 2

In Part 1 of this blog, we introduced you to Flipgrid and discussed the application of both the SAMR Model and the Triple E Framework to help you integrate Flipgrid into your instruction. Today’s post offers detailed instructions about how to use this tool and also shares classroom use ideas by subject.   How to … read more »

Celebrate Juneteenth!

 Though slavery technically ended with the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863 and the Civil War effectively ended April 9, 1865, the announcement of the end of slavery did not reach Texas until June 19, 1865. On that day, General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, and announced that slavery had ended and that … read more »

Let’s Talk About: Using Cartoons to Empower Student Voice

The history of cartoons in American newsprint began on May 9th, 1754.  Benjamin Franklin had an idea about the need to unite the colonies.  A cartoon accompanied his editorial – a single panel image meant to persuade the colonies to work together against common enemies. The picture underscored the message and communicated it differently for those who … read more »