Teaching and learning in grades 4-8

Campaign Ads: Helping Students Find the Truth

If politicians have a “license to lie” in campaign advertising, how are our students going to know who and what to believe? Critical thinking skills are paramount, says media literacy consultant Frank Baker, who shares insights and resources tied to Common Core and social studies standards.

A Halloween Teacher’s Self Evaluation

This Halloween, don’t miss 4th grade teacher Mary Tarashuk’s self-assessment of how she managed learning on a delightfully creepy day. First presented a year ago, still just as funny. “It’s not all about sugar, but sugar anticipation is in the air.”

Videogames in the Classroom?

Bridging Literacies with Videogames asks if students’ playing videogames in school can yield literacy skill acquisition, and looks at invented worlds, 2nd language learners in multiplayer games, and more. Kevin Hodgson suggests students build games.

How Do We Close the Coding Opportunity Gap?

Learning to code is an important new literacy. But how, wonders edtech coach Emily Vickery, do we close the opportunity gap between those who have access to coding instruction and those who don’t? Vickery suggests some resources that can help less advantaged students cross the divide.

Aha Moments on the Road to Better Teaching

Often what stands in the way of teacher change is a lack of awareness about what needs to improve. Sharing some aha moments, ‘Smarter Grading’ author Myron Dueck tells how he changed the way he tests and assesses students and manages project learning.