Student Motivation / Two Teachers in the Room
by Elizabeth Stein · Published 03/01/2016 · Last modified 11/25/2019
What instructional decisions and teaching techniques work best to move students beyond mere compliance to active and engaged learning? Elizabeth Stein shares some favorites, including regular movement, an inviting environment, and plenty of voice and choice.
Spring’s promise of renewal is just ahead. But for many educators, spring is also the season of testing anxiety. Curtis Chandler shares research and wisdom from fellow educators that can help turn angst into achievement for students and for their teachers.
Make the most of your digital Contacts app. In Part 3 of a productivity series for school leaders, organization consultant and former principal Frank Buck explains how to maximize such useful resources as contact notes, special ringtones, syncing, and more.
Research and Rhetoric, based on the CLEAR curriculum, is a must-read for teachers who have been wondering how to foster creativity and increase student engagement while teaching research and persuasive writing, says classroom teacher Linda Biondi.
Research Projects / Working Draft
by Kevin Hodgson · Published 02/09/2016 · Last modified 12/12/2019
Kevin Hodgson’s sixth graders are fresh off a research-based essay writing project. He describes the process they followed to choose their topics, use Google Research, manage citations, avoid plagiarism, include media, and pursue an optional extension project.
When U.S. history teachers Jody Passanisi and Shara Peters celebrate Presidents’ Day, all 43 presidents are featured. Eighth graders research and assume the identity of an assigned president, then campaign in costume for reelection among 6th & 7th grade “voters.”
Connecting Your Students with the World encourages teachers to step out of their comfort zones and incorporate do-able collaborative online projects to improve communications and encourage both student and teacher creativity, says MS educator Jennifer Wirtz.
Frank Buck is back with Part Two in his series for school leaders on developing a digital productivity suite. Keeping up with plans on a digital calendar or a smartphone Notes app is frustrating. Buck outlines what a full featured task app needs to do and suggests a free option.
It's Not Easy Being Tween / Social Skills
by Cheryl Mizerny · Published 01/24/2016 · Last modified 11/26/2019
Cheryl Mizerny considers the “soft” skills of social interaction to be as essential to success as the ELA skills she teaches. To help fill students’ wide social skill gaps, she’s identified problem behaviors and resources she’ll use to build a mini-curriculum.
STEM expert Anne Jolly takes a close look at the many well-funded STEM components found in ESSA, the new federal education act, and urges educators to remain true to the project learning and engineering elements that characterize authentic STEM curriculum.
