When students don’t pay attention, they’re often misperceived as distracted, lacking interest, or not trying hard enough. Sometimes this couldn’t be further from the truth, writes coach Elizabeth Stein. Instead, they may need support to sharpen executive function skills.
Learning to read hard nonfiction is a life skill, says principal Rita Platt. It allows students to dive deep into content, enriches vocabulary, and can be a jumping-off point for developing lifelong pursuits. Platt shares strategies her school uses to spark interest.
Future of History / Writing in Social Studies
by Sarah Cooper · Published 02/10/2020 · Last modified 03/23/2020
Writing a letter to a politician is about as “civic” an assignment as we can do within our classroom walls, and it feels so relevant in our polarized political climate. After 3 years of tweaking her project, teacher Sarah Cooper shares tips to boost the response rate.
Looking for more ways to have your kids “speak” to real audiences beyond your classroom? NBCT Marilyn Pryle, the 2019-20 Pennsylvania TOY, describes how she added community displays and a Vocaroo/QR code strategy to one of her major ELA projects. Student handout included!
Close Reading the Media / Influencers
by Frank Baker · Published 01/08/2020 · Last modified 02/14/2020
In today’s online marketing environment, everybody seems to be after the attention of young people, writes media literacy expert Frank Baker. Many tweens and teens have money and may not see through all the strategies and tactics of influencers. Educators need to help.
As schools ring in the New Year, instructional coach Elizabeth Stein urges co-teachers to use “crystal clear 20/20 vision” to examine their shared co-teaching experiences. How can they can bring it all into focus? Heighten awareness and consider multiple perspectives.
Future of History / US Constitution
by Sarah Cooper · Published 01/06/2020 · Last modified 04/17/2024
Sarah Cooper is always searching for ways to strengthen her eighth grade unit on the Constitution. This year she deepened her exploration of iCivics and found visually appealing readings and games her students enjoyed. She added sparkle with video and other fun activities.
Middle school principal Evan Robb’s Six Pillars of Leadership work in concert to form a solid and lasting foundation for shared decision making. The result: a student-centered culture that values collective vision, empowerment, risk-taking, kindness, trust, equity and more.
When we give in and teach students to “write for the test,” Brent Gilson says, we force them into a writing box that many kids come to hate. Learn how he’s reinventing his writing instruction so students discover their truth, expressed through their own words and ideas.
Cultural constructs and limited school resources can impact our ability to discover gifted and talented English learners. Despite these barriers, determined teachers can help close the EL representation gap in gifted programs. Specialist Valentina Gonzalez offers her ideas.
