As teachers, we curate things all of the time. Our Pinterest accounts have boards like “Makerspace Ideas”, “STEM Challenges”, “Bulletin Board Ideas”, and “Word Walls”. Gathering, selecting, and organizing resources takes time, but allows you to hone in on the important nuances of a big idea that you are wrestling with. It took me a … read more »
In part 1 of this blog, you were introduced to Adobe Spark Video. This amazing and free tool allows you to create beautiful and brilliant videos in a few minutes. There are prompts to follow as you begin to create and add slides, text, videos, photos, music, and more. You have options for the font, … read more »
February 27 is International Polar Bear Day. This day offers an opportunity to pay attention to polar bears and the dangers they face due to climate warming. It is also an excellent way to engage students with real-world connections to animals, climate, environment, habitats, and more. One way to engage students in learning is by … read more »
This year Digital Learning Day takes place on February 27! According to the Alliance for Excellent Education, “Digital Learning Day was started as a way to actively spread innovative practices and ensure that all youth have access to high-quality digital learning no matter where they live.” They define digital learning as “any instructional practice … read more »
Each year the Association for the Study of African American History (ASALH) announces a theme for Black History Month. The theme serves as a spotlight for historical issues and developments that are important for race relations in America. ASALH encourages those with interest in black history to use the month of February as a time … read more »
“Social studies is like the lima beans on the curricular plate of the elementary student’s day” Paul Fitchett Wow! Just think about the above quote and how depressing that sounds. It came from an article on the Hechinger Report website titled “How social studies can help young kids make sense of the world.” The article … read more »
Mission US is a collection of free interactive games to engage students in learning US History. This tool was created for upper elementary and middle school students to learn about transitional times in US history. The missions immerse students in historical settings and empower students to make choices about how everyday people lived in the … read more »
African American History Month began when Carter G. Woodson created Negro History Week in 1926. It is always celebrated in February. According to the Library of Congress, it “celebrates the contributions that African Americans have made to American history in their struggles for freedom and equality and deepens our understanding of our Nation’s history.” … read more »
A new year is a time for reflection and resolutions. Perhaps you have taken the time to reflect upon your teaching and want to make some changes. One area all teachers should think about is how well they effectively communicate with parents and family members as part of their ongoing efforts to make all students … read more »
In Part 1 of this blog, you were introduced to TES Blendspace. This free tool allows you to create interactive, online lessons. Yesterday we shared an overview of the tool. We also discussed the application of both the SAMR model and the TRIPLE E Frameworks as you integrate TES Blendspace into your instruction. Today’s post … read more »