Not only did teacher Kevin Hodgson get to talk about games and learning by keynoting at the K12 Online Conference, he and fellow presenters created a game for teachers who want to learn more about gamifying the classroom. Watch his keynote and play here!
Reading comprehension is a primary goal in Aaron Brock’s middle school history classroom. Building on last year’s annotation experiments, Brock has adapted the familiar 5 W’s strategy to help students pay closer attention to the meaning behind the words. It’s working.
Kevin Hodgson assumed his students would enjoy writing Six Word Memoirs, particularly within a comic site. What he didn’t expect was the level of enthusiasm, as even struggling writers dove into the concept, creating a wide range of (very) short stories.
Teachers in grades 3-5 will treasure The Common Core Companion: The Standards Decoded by Leslie Blauman with Jim Burke. The content, the layout and the companion website make clear what the standards say, what they mean, and how to use them.
When youth in the middle know their “sparks” – their inner energizing interests – they’re more likely to stay engaged in school and develop a sense of purpose. Expert Susan Ragsdale shares motivational research & activities to help uncover those sparks.
Future of History / History Resources
by Jody & Shara · Published 09/03/2014 · Last modified 11/12/2019
Pressed for time at the end of the year but determined to engage her history students in the post-Civil War era, Jody Passanisi turned to a pre-made lesson from SHEG. Before long her students were debating the impact of Reconstruction on American history.
Digital housekeeping is becoming part of every teacher’s back-to-school preparation. As Kevin Hodgson spruces up his classroom websites for the new term, he reflects on the year just past and revs up for some exciting teaching and learning in 2014-15.
Professional community / Working Draft
by MiddleWeb · Published 08/13/2014 · Last modified 11/19/2019
Kevin Hodgson joined teacher playmates this summer for a wide-ranging exploration of making and connected learning that, while professional in purpose, reminded participants “of the nature of childhood inquisitiveness and the power of play.”
Teachers, coaches, administrators, and teacher educators will want to keep Nancy Boyles’ Closer Reading Grades 3-6 nearby, says reviewer Linda Biondi, because it shows “how to teach the art of close reading” from start to finish across content areas.
In their book Engaged, Connected, Empowered, Ben Curran and Neil Wetherbee examine five major shifts needed in education to provide students with 21st century skills. Reviewer Laura Von Staden found their work easy to follow with lots teachers can use right away.
