Green STEM Projects / STEM By Design
by Anne Jolly · Published 04/06/2014 · Last modified 11/24/2019
Earth Day: Science educator Anne Jolly remembers her first and best STEM project, when disengaged 8th graders learned how cool math, science and engineering could be by constructing a wetlands to reduce the environmental impact of a new school.
Blending fiction, mystery and scientific investigation can be an effective way to excite tweens and young teens about science topics, says former teacher and NSTA trade book award winner Gail Hedrick, who shares her own writing & publishing story.
In a concise and enjoyable book, Meenoo Rami invites educators to reinvigorate their professional lives through mentors, networks, intellectual growth, and by empowering students to become more passionate learners, says reviewer Jessica Valenti.
With its thorough discussion of the impact that teacher language can have on children’s learning, the 2nd edition of The Power of Our Words is a thought-provoking read no matter what grade or subject you teach, says reviewer Jennifer Jankowski.
Book Reviews / Race, Class and School
by John Norton · Published 04/03/2014 · Last modified 11/24/2019
Teacher José Vilson’s must-read book, This Is Not A Test, cuts through political platitudes into the heart of America’s unresolved contradictions: public education and democratic principles; equity and privilege, race and class, says reviewer John Norton.
Metaphorically speaking, classrooms need an upgrade, leaving the traditional campfire and launching onto the holodeck with its whiz-bang tech ready to boost learning. Reviewer Andrea Long recommends following futurist David Thornburg’s lead.
If persistent inequalities in urban and rural classrooms continue across the public system, reading expert Laura Robb says, it will be impossible for many children in poverty to achieve the deeper levels of learning anticipated by the Common Core.
Kids on the Cusp / Teacher Evaluation
by Mary Tarashuk · Published 04/01/2014 · Last modified 11/22/2019
How to cope with teacher evaluation rubrics that don’t work in the real world? Shift your thinking and find one that does. That’s what Mary Tarashuk is doing by adapting a student rubric created by Michael Fisher & Nancy Cook to reflect on her own practice.
In Reading Unbound, reviewer Alexa Patterson says, Jeff Wilhelm and Michael Smith share student attitudes about reading and suggest ways to add favorite genres in the classroom, boost student interest in books, and make ties to the Common Core.
Future of History / Lesson Planning
by Jody & Shara · Published 03/30/2014 · Last modified 12/04/2019
Ever struggle to find a balance between crafting good lessons and staying spontaneous? History teachers Jody and Shara describe their well-honed four step process that begins with backward design and ends with reflections in their purple notebook.
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