Tech Tool of the Month: Argument Wars – Part 1

Argument Wars is a free, game-based simulation offered through iCivics that provides a creative way for students to learn about nine landmark Supreme Court cases (Brown v. Board of Education, Gideon v Wainwright, and others). Each case is a different immersive experience. Students play the role of a lawyer and choose what side to represent, … read more »

Infusing Current Events in the Classroom

Teachers can use the world around us to connect and integrate subject areas. Infusing current events into our instruction is necessary to teach our students how to participate in society. We must move students beyond merely consuming information and provide them with experiences to examine issues and develop critical thinking skills. Engaging with current events … read more »

Celebrating Human Rights – Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All!

My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together. – Desmond Tutu, South African Theologian and Human Activist In December, we celebrate Universal Human Rights Month, which honors the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), an international document adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 10, … read more »

Women as Leaders: Eleanor Roosevelt Biography Project

“I have spent many years of my life in opposition, and I rather like the role.” Eleanor Roosevelt In his March 2021 newsletter, Vivek Gambhir shared eight crucial lessons we can learn from successful women leaders. Although the article focuses on women’s leadership during the pandemic, the lessons learned relate to women as leaders in … read more »

Lewis and Clark’s Discovery Expedition

“Amazing the things you find when you bother to search for them.” Sacagawea Two hundred and fifteen years ago, on September 22, 1806, Lewis and Clark arrived in St Charles, MO—their last stop before reaching their final destination of St. Louis, ending the first recorded overland journey from the Mississippi River to the Pacific coast … read more »

Promote the International Week of Deaf People in your School Library

September 19th–25th is the International Week of Deaf People, an annual initiative to foster awareness and support of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. The 2022 theme is Building Inclusive Communities for All. The National Association of the Deaf (NAD), an affiliate of the World Federation of the Deaf, promotes the International Week of Deaf People … read more »

Let’s Talk About: 5 ways to extend National Read A Book Day

Today is National Read A Book Day, which gives us an extra reason to pick up a book and immerse ourselves in a new and different world. Sometimes, making a short stop in that alternate place is not enough. Students may need to extend the experience to learn about the text’s characters, periods, and themes. Here … read more »

Celebrate Navajo Code Talkers!

August 14th was National Navajo Code Talkers day! Celebrate the Navajo Code Talkers in your classroom this month or prepare lessons ahead of Native American Heritage Month in November. The Navajo Code Talkers are an interesting and engaging topic for students of all ages. Books and primary sources are a great way to hook students … read more »

Stay Up To Date With Microsoft Inclusive Tools

July 26 marked the thirty-second anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) signing and is recognized annually as National Disability Independence Day. The ADA ensures the rights of disabled people to access government, public establishments, transportation, and communication.  In the years since the signing of the ADA, communication is arguably the area with the … read more »