“Since many students are in my class multiple times,” writes ELL teacher Wendi Pillars, “I’m always seeking new topics to tie literacy skills together.” This year one theme was “Zero Hunger” through sustainable agriculture. A perfect hook for a unit on eating insects.
Kevin Hodgson invites Troy Hicks and Kristen Hawley Turner to share their thinking about the need to teach argument in the context of students’ authentic digital lives, using the structure of a traditional argument approach with such texts as videos and social media.
Educator James Alan Sturtevant is ready with quick, low cost or free hacks for those days when teachers need to generate curiosity and enthusiasm. His 50 tips and tools are clearly laid out and further explained through individual podcasts, says teacher Linda Biondi.
Stephen Valentine and Reshan Richards outline core beliefs they believe can strengthen leadership by blending online and face-to-face communication. Mary L. Thompson notes the technical information may become dated quickly but finds the response to change valuable.
end-of-year learning / It's Not Easy Being Tween / Spring Learning
by Cheryl Mizerny · Published 05/07/2017 · Last modified 05/02/2024
As summer approaches, finding a balance between post-testing fluff and demanding, multi-week projects can be a challenge. Middle school teacher Cheryl Mizerny shares a bevy of her own classroom-tested activities that are brief, enjoyable and likely to spur learning.
Close Reading the Media / Quick Media Lit Lessons
by Frank Baker · Published 05/01/2017 · Last modified 11/24/2019
Consultant Frank Baker often hears teachers and media specialists raise concerns about the time it takes to facilitate a visual or media literacy lesson. In this post he shares several ideas for 15-minute lesson segments using familiar magazines for kids and adults.
Gerard Dawson packs his brief book about literacy with hacks (fixes) to implement immediately and have a positive impact on classroom reading culture, says educator Laura Von Staden. He includes five problem-solving blueprints and ways to overcome pushback.
end-of-year learning / Meaningful Math / Teacher Stamina
by Michelle Russell · Published 04/25/2017 · Last modified 11/17/2019
Standardized testing and the end-of-year rush leave Michelle Russell feeling low on energy, ideas and patience. She shares strategies she uses to bounce back and help her students do their best, starting with strengthening school relationships and having some fun.
Current Events / Future of History
by Sarah Cooper · Published 04/17/2017 · Last modified 11/23/2019
Bit by bit, during each Friday’s 43-minute current events session, Sarah Cooper’s eighth graders come closer to a democratic classroom culture that students really own – through their ideas, through their questions, through their wondering how the world works.
Class Apps / Understanding Learning
by Curtis Chandler · Published 04/09/2017 · Last modified 11/29/2019
Stressing learning styles and multiple intelligences has limited value in understanding what kids *need* to learn, says award winning teacher Dr. Curtis Chandler. He suggests strategies that emphasize a systematic focus on readiness and thinking metacognitively.
