The Common Core expects students will support claims with evidence from a text. History teacher Aaron Brock shares an innovative technique he created to help weak readers in his under-resourced urban school develop an understanding of this process.
With listening now included among the CCSS anchor skills, how can educators help students become more adept at tuning in? Veteran public radio reporter Monica Brady-Myerov heads Listen Current, a service offering teachers free content and lessons plans.
Kids on the Cusp / Teaching writing
by Mary Tarashuk · Published 11/05/2014 · Last modified 11/29/2019
Leaping into writing with students can be almost as thrilling as sky-diving, says Mary Tarashuk, who has now tried both. Here she describes how she is modeling “the writer as reader” with her 4th graders and shares their organizer for narrative writing.
Even though the tragedy in Ferguson is fading from the headlines and our twitter feeds, the issues and social dynamics that led to it remain firmly in place and schools need to address them, says middle school dean Bill Ivey. He suggests an “incredible resource.”
When students are challenged to “close read” a movie, they must not only learn how to deconstruct the story, they must also understand the many techniques that are used by filmmakers to create the total effect, says expert Frank Baker.
Teaching experts Annette Breaux & Todd Whitaker are back with more teaching ideas from the 2nd edition of Seven Simple Secrets. This time it’s advice on keeping instruction real for today’s students. Read the classroom tales of Teacher A & Teacher B.
While most students understand how to operate smart phones, they understand far less about what they see on their digital devices. Learning visual literacy in school is a vital skill today, says Frank W. Baker.
The Co-Teaching Relationship / Two Teachers in the Room
by Elizabeth Stein · Published 06/01/2014 · Last modified 12/14/2019
Our Two Teachers in the Room blogger shares her expertise for an upcoming online course. How can teachers create and maintain a successful co-teaching relationship? Elizabeth Stein answers questions from learning consultant Barbara Flanagan.
When sixth grade ELA teacher Kevin Hodgson’s students were asked to help pilot new paper circuitry learning tools developed at the MIT Media Lab, they chose to illuminate haiku poems about light. The technology draws on the work of Jie Qi, a mechanical engineer and MIT doctoral student known for her work with electrified paper.
Kids on the Cusp / Standardized Testing
by Mary Tarashuk · Published 05/11/2014 · Last modified 11/15/2019
Now in her 16th year of teaching – and administering standardized tests – Mary Tarashuk questions their value in measuring student learning or judging teacher performance. She does not question their ability to suck the joy out of Springtime. Thank goodness for Miss Bonkers and Dr. Seuss.
