Rita Mae Brown’s quote demonstrates how learning a new language for English language learners (ELLs) is not just about communication but also about gaining insight into a new culture and way of life. Currently, ELLs are a growing population in U.S. public schools, with an average of 10 percent of students classified as ELLs nationwide … read more »
Poem in Your Pocket Day is celebrated annually as one of the culminating events of National Poetry Month. Observing this day is an excellent time to teach about and celebrate poetry. The premise is simple, carry a poem with you throughout the day and share your poem with others. This TeachersFirst collection of poetry resources … read more »
April 24th is the 223rd birthday of the Library of Congress! The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library and an agency of the legislative branch of the U.S. government. It serves as the main research arm of the U.S. Congress, is recognized as the national library of the United States, and is the … read more »
“It takes a village to raise a child. It takes a child with autism to raise the consciousness of the village.” Elaine Hall April is Autism Awareness Month when individuals, organizations, and communities unite to increase awareness and acceptance of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). As educators, it’s essential to support and celebrate autistic students and … read more »
The first Earth Day celebration took place on April 22, 1970. Senator Gaylord Nelson promoted the concept of Earth Day to encourage students to fight for environmental causes with the same kind of energy they used to fight the Vietnam War. Earth Day activities and events have seen over one billion people in one hundred … read more »
In Part 1 of this blog, we introduced you to FluentKey and discussed applying the SAMR Model and the Triple E Framework using FluentKey in your instruction. Learn more about this game-based learning interactive that uses video clips to engage students and helps them practice listening comprehension skills in 14 languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, American Sign … read more »
World Poetry Day is held every year on March 21. World Poetry Day was adopted by UNESCO in 1999 “to support linguistic diversity through poetic expression and increase the opportunity for endangered languages to be heard.” It is a day for people worldwide to appreciate poetry from around the world and bring people together around … read more »
Reflecting on the anniversary of Bloody Sunday, I’ve wondered what we as a society have learned and how those lessons can help our students today. Listening to some of the youngest participants in the march – children at the time – reminds me that our children need to see that they can “drive the change … read more »
“We need to encourage girls that their voice matters. I think there are hundreds and thousands of Malalas out there.” – Malala Yousafzai March is a special month for my family and me. I am honored to celebrate my birthday on March 8, International Women’s Day, during International Women’s Month. However, the most memorable part … read more »
You are in for a treat if you haven’t visited the National Park Service website. In addition to providing information for those looking for tips on visiting or enjoying national parks, the site shares an abundance of resources for classrooms and educators to use in many different lessons and activities. A visit to the website … read more »