As you relax into summer break, keep an eye on what’s up with STEM learning. Expert Anne Jolly shares resources for keeping up with STEM news and lesson ideas as you reflect on what worked (and didn’t) last year and consider how to amp things up for next fall’s students.
What a difference a year makes! Rita Platt reflects on takeaways from her first year as a principal with observations that may buoy other new and aspiring school leaders: avoid your office, encourage laughter, recognize that all staffers play essential roles, and much more.
Before she finally produced a successful manuscript, Dr. Malayna Evans had to think long and hard about how to integrate ancient Egyptian history into a story that would appeal to today’s kids. So she turned down her “scholar” and turned up her passion for the subject.
International Teaching / Wide Open Learning
by Megan Kelly · Published 05/26/2019 · Last modified 11/17/2019
The effort it takes to make yourself an appealing candidate for a teaching job overseas also makes you a better educator wherever you teach, says veteran international teacher Megan Kelly. Ready to pursue the dream? Follow Megan’s insider tips to maximize your chances.
Wondering how to set up your new classroom? Or just ready to make some changes in your familiar space? Creating Your Dream Elementary Classroom is the book for you, writes teacher educator Linda Biondi. It’s filled with ideas from pros to benefit newbies and vets in grades K-6.
Close Reading the Media / Visual Literacy
by Frank Baker · Published 05/15/2019 · Last modified 11/25/2019
It’s not a simple matter to separate photojournalism from visual propaganda intended to sway emotions and opinions. Drawing in part on iconic images from Dorothea Lange’s career, expert Frank Baker explores the question and shares SEL and media literacy lesson resources.
Assessment / It's Not Easy Being Tween
by Cheryl Mizerny · Published 05/13/2019 · Last modified 11/24/2019
There’s lots to know about the art of assessment, writes master teacher Cheryl Mizerny, but the main goal is to provide opportunities for all kids to show their understanding to the best of their ability. Her before, during, and after assessment tips can make things fair.
The final bell of the year will soon ring, but teachers still have the opportunity to provide students with encouragement, tools, and an expectation to play, explore, and discover the world outside school. Curtis Chandler’s post overflows with STEM resources to do just that.
Low expectations and inequitable classrooms persist in many of America’s public schools, writes Regie Routman, author of Literacy Essentials: Engagement, Excellence and Equity for All Learners. Here’s what Routman believes educators must do to address this moral dilemma.
Last Weeks of School / The Unstoppable ML Teacher
by Valentina Gonzalez · Published 04/22/2019 · Last modified 11/24/2019
End of year is an optimal time for educators to step out of our comfort zones and try innovative techniques with our students. Don’t fall into “countdown mode.” Think of this time as a gift, without the pressure of state testing. Give Valentina Gonzalez’s strategies a try!
