Future of History / Project Based Learning
by Aaron Brock · Published 06/21/2015 · Last modified 11/21/2019
Inner-city history teacher Aaron Brock has developed a childrens’ book project for eighth graders, many of whom struggle with academic literacy. He details how his step-by-step approach addresses important skills and serves as a synthesis and assessment tool.
Getting Started with STEM / STEM By Design
by Anne Jolly · Published 06/21/2015 · Last modified 11/26/2019
How do you get ready to teach STEM? Anne Jolly reviews key points to consider if you are spending time this summer planning for STEM classes in the fall. By thinking through some fundamentals now, Jolly says, you’ll be in great shape for the school year ahead.
Homa Sabet Tavangar and Becky Mladic-Morales have created the ideal global education toolkit for any teacher, K-12, to bring the world into their classroom. The resource packed book is well written and easy to navigate, says 5th grade teacher Jennifer Druffel.
Many students don’t expect math to make sense and learn to disengage their reasoning and even distrust it. Teacher-experts Cathy Humphreys & Ruth Parker highlight an 8-step “Number Talks” process that can promote deeper discussions about how numbers work.
Herding educators together for one-size-fits-all professional development often misses the mark of teachers’ real work, says Emily Vickery. Teachers now have tools to tailor their own professional learning “to maximize our growth.” Helpful resources included!
Articles / Teaching the Whole Adolescent
by MiddleWeb · Published 06/07/2015 · Last modified 11/29/2019
After a decade teaching third and fourth graders, Patti Grayson ventured into middle school this past year. She has come away from her first year in the middle with several gleanings about the most effective ways to work with unpredictable, sensitive tweens.
Making Number Talks Matter guides teachers in implementing frequent 15-minute conversations that help students make sense of math relationships and apply strategies to manipulate numbers mentally. Reviewer Jennifer Druffel is planning Number Talks in her classroom next year.
Mary Tarashuk looks beyond her formal annual review to consider her personal assessment portfolio. Her students have learned “a bit about compassion, sympathy, empathy, the importance of friendship and community. This is the true measure of my Affectiveness.”
At Kevin Hodgson’s school, Quidditch is not just a fun game created by its sixth graders 15 years ago. Quidditch is also a path to learning many cross-curricula skills. See how Harry Potter’s magical game becomes part of the real curriculum each Spring.
Current Events / Future of History
by Sarah Cooper · Published 05/31/2015 · Last modified 12/03/2019
Social studies teacher Sarah Cooper has found it “heartening to talk about the news every day” with history students this school year and wonders about activities that might engage next year’s kids even more deeply in the important questions facing the world.
