Thomas School near Seattle has concentrated on beefing up the school’s science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education for the past several years and plans to strengthen it even more in the future. Research from School Library Journal indicates that maker activities at elementary and middle schools increased by 4 percent from 2014 to 2017. Thomas School Dedicates Space to Bolster STEM Learning. Foster interest by allowing students to create STEM clubs. MORE

It was a nod, in part, to Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking , a book that I’ve found useful in understanding how grief clouds our thinking, how grief makes use want to believe the unbelievable, how it “ruptures the rational,” as I wrote then. MORE

If nothing else, I’ve wanted as many days in December to pass as possible so that my calculations for the total amount of venture funding invested during the year were as accurate as I could get them to be when I hit ”publish.“ I think it’s safe to say, for example, that venture capital investment has fallen off rather precipitously this year. ” “ Crossing the chasm to profitability.” ” “ A path to profitability.” MORE

Pam Moran has been a leader in education reform in Virginia over the past several years as the state moved from testing to transformation. Built for Chromebooks, it saves all of your recordings directly to Google Drive. Listen to the show on iTunes or Stitcher. MORE

Luis Antonio Hernandez reads a story about Cinco de Mayo to students in Christy Crotwell’s first grade class at Morton Elementary School. He spends most days racing from class to class, helping out as needed. No one knows how many of Morton’s newest residents are undocumented. MORE

Code.org has created a great compilation of resources for how students can continue learning. In this post, I’d like to suggest some ideas for how teachers who are new(ish) to CS can go beyond the Hour of Code. Read a book, blog, or magazine. MORE

This story is part of a series that looks at what makes the 2-year-old year so critical and what could be done to better support toddlers in America. But then Jonathan’s mannerisms started to change. You have to overcome that to do what’s best for your child.”. MORE

Learn how students are teaching each other drone piloting and other examples from Albemarle County, Virginia with Superintendent Pam Moran. Listen to the show on iTunes or Stitcher. Link to show: www.coolcatteacher.com/e241. Vicki: Well, I have to tell you this, Pam. MORE

Children begin learning basic literacy skills, like which direction to turn the pages, around age 2. This story is part of a series that looks at what makes the 2-year-old year so critical and what could be done to better support toddlers in America. According to the U.S. MORE