National Library Week is more than a date on the calendar—it’s an open invitation to build a culture of reading, curiosity, and community that lasts well beyond seven days. Sponsored annually by the American Library Association (ALA) and typically held during the second week of April, National Library Week overlaps with School Library Month. Each … read more »
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” —Will Durant, summarizing Aristotle If you’ve ever looked out at your classroom and felt like you were competing with a dozen glowing rectangles for your students’ attention, you are in good company. We’ve all been there: a student nodding along … read more »
If you’ve ever held a well-worn suitcase—one with scuffs, scratches, maybe even a frayed handle—you know it carries more than just belongings. Suitcases hold stories. Memories. Hope. And for millions of immigrants who arrived through Ellis Island after it opened on January 1, 1892, that suitcase represented the bridge between the lives they left behind … read more »
What if the best way to help students understand history — and the issues we’re still grappling with today — was to hand them a novel and ask them to try on someone else’s life? That’s exactly what Margaret Peterson Haddix had in mind when she wrote Uprising. In a video conversation about the book, … read more »
You’re staring at a new unit plan, trying to figure out how to weave in media literacy, find credible primary sources, and keep thirty different students engaged—all while hitting your state standards. It feels like a solo mountain climb. But here’s the thing: you aren’t alone on that mountain. Just down the hall—or perhaps right … read more »
“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.”—Albert Einstein February is full of love, pride, historical connection, celebration, and the annual observation of a precognitive weather-forecasting rodent—but it’s also the birth month of a storytelling legend. Whilem Carl … read more »
In Part 1 of this blog, we introduced you to Adobe Podcast and discussed how to use the SAMR Model and the Triple E Framework with Adobe Podcast in your instruction. Today’s post offers detailed instructions for using this resource and shares classroom ideas that support all student learners. Adobe Podcast’s free version offers a … read more »
Adobe Podcast gives students a powerful way to capture, create, and share their ideas in meaningful and engaging formats. This free, web‑based tool allows learners to produce professional‑quality audio without needing specialized equipment, making podcasting accessible to classrooms of all kinds. With features like automatic noise removal, editable transcripts, and intuitive editing tools, Adobe Podcast … read more »
When teaching children, especially young learners, questions are more than just a way to check for understanding. They’re a gateway to deeper thinking, richer conversations, and meaningful learning. But not all questions are created equal. Open-ended questions, which invite more than a simple “yes” or “no,” encourage children to reflect, express themselves, and explore ideas. … read more »
“The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part.” Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympics Children and adults worldwide look forward to the Winter Olympic Games, an event that brings together athletes from across the globe to compete, inspire, and showcase their skill, determination, and creativity. The Winter … read more »