Do’s and Don’ts for Better Project-Based Learning
What to keep in mind when planning and executing PBL: Education Week article linked here. Resources: Buck Institute for Education Explore the Curriculum Library High Tech High
“Newtown, You Are Not Alone”
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/12/16/president-obama-speaks-prayer-vigil-victims-shooting-connecticut President Obama’s speech yesterday in Newtown, CT.
Helping Educators Impacted by Hurricane Sandy
The following post is from Teachercast. Please consider organizing a support group in your school or district to bring awareness and aid to this cause. Thank you. Dear Friends, The last few days have seen some of the most heartbreaking photos and videos coming out of the state of New Jersey. Even days after the tragedy of Hurricane Sandy, over 1 million New Jersey residents are still without running water or power. Today, we are announcing, along with other great educators across the state the #NJED Hurricane Sandy Supply Relief program. This program demonstrates the positive power of Social Media and it’s effectiveness in helping those during their time of need. School Districts affected by Sandy can simply fill out more »
Digital Writing Conference
I recently attended the Digital Writing Conference, held at Central Connecticut State University on October 25th. In 100 words, here is the most important aspect that I took away: Consider working a multimedia essay into your unit. This project weaves together oral and written narrative, music, images and video into one cohesive presentation. It is recommended that students write a rough draft of their essay first, and then turn the final product into a multimedia piece via a platform such as Google Docs or Prezi. For example, students can write about their family or community (two topics that typically hook kids!) and can include embedded audio interviews, photos of people, places and events, and background music that signifies the discussed more »
Using Film in The Classroom
The New York Times Learning Network is an invaluable resource to teachers. While its content is slim compared to similar sites, its quality is unmatched. I want to draw attention now to its Film in the Classroom page, which currently provides 18 fully vetted lesson plans on using film in language arts. The page, linked here, shows how you can turn film viewing from a lazy Friday activity to an engaging learning opportunity. The lessons provided here are (1) highly engaging; (2) show only brief video clips; (3) include targeted; higher-level thinking questions; and (4) align to standards.
Engage Me!
I came across an insightful video titled “Engage Me!” that was put together by students at Robin Hood primary school in Burmingham, Alabama. Here are four quotations that stuck out to me as a future—and current!—educator. “We use blogs & podcasts. Do our teachers?” “I love help buttons. They make me self-reliant.” “What if I could set my own homework using the tools I choose?” “Let me join in with other learners globally.” The first quote illuminates the technological divide that typically exists between students’ experiences in school and out. Students often engage in a variety of stimulations at home that include audio, visual and interactive, kinesthetic performance. Their motivation depends on us bringing as much of this alternate stimulation more »
Flip Your Classroom Already!
This post will be home to an organic discussion of the flipped classroom as my philosophy and findings grow. Watch the videos that interest you and provide new information; skip those that don’t. A Graphical Definition: If you are relatively new to the practice of flipping classrooms and lessons, this should be your first read, linked here. Why Flip? Here’s a graphically displayed, straight-forward and brief justification for flipping your classroom by Katie Gimbar, an eighth grade mathematics teacher: Goals of Flipping The major goals are to (a) take lecture out of the classroom and replace with differentiated lessons in which students apply the information; (b) provide a go-at-your-own-pace, always available learning resource (a “Help Button” of sorts); (c) address more »
Multiculturalism Conference @ CCSU
Isn’t our education already multicultural? In her opening speech at the October 18th New England Conference on Multicultural Education, Dr. Penelope Lisi discussed how multiculturalism is not an end-goal, but rather a “nomadic” or organic aspect of education in which we must always stay involved and instructed. Professional development will help partly in this, but educators must also reflect on their own experiences and multicultural environment to analyze where change is needed. CCSU President Jack Miller discussed how teachers should steer away from thinking of school graduation rates, but rather should look at every individual as having either a 0% or 100% graduation rate. Teachers should—and many already do—hold such a student-by-student caring philosophy and use culturally responsive teaching that more »
Culturally Responsive Pedagogy: 6 Practices
Culturally responsive pedagogy enhances student-achievement and can help close the achievement gap. It is not “a bag of tricks” ignorant of standards, but rather has a solid research base. At the October 18th New England Conference on Multicultural Education, Keynote Speaker Jacqueline Irvine noted that research has uncovered six key practices that culturally responsive teachers utilize: 1. Hold caring relationships with students, including high standards and high expectations. “Caring has many faces” “I have to care enough about them that they can’t fail” “I have to be tougher on them than those waiting outside to scoop them up.” 2. Motivate students Give them books in English as well as their native language. 3. Assess performance, both formatively and summatively. Open-ended more »
Presidential Debate Tonight! 9pm ET
Watch the live stream here: http://www.2012presidentialelectionnews.com/2012/10/town-hall-presidential-debate-tonight-at-9pm-et-6pm-pt/