May, 2018

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Don’t add. Make better.

The Principal of Change

Having just received an email from someone starting a new “technology” position in their school, they asked me what advice I would give. I shared the following advice: My only suggestion for you is to start from the curriculum and work backwards from there, not try to force technology into the curriculum. If teachers can see a new and better way to teach, they are way more open to it.

MOOC 78
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Two studies point to the power of teacher-student relationships to boost learning

The Hechinger Report

Two studies on elementary schools published in June 2018 point to the importance giving teachers and students plenty of time to form relationships. Students may learn more. Photo: Jamie Martines. Two studies on how best to teach elementary schools students — one on the popular trend of “platooning” and one on the far less common practice of “looping” — at first would seem totally unrelated other than the fact that they both use silly words with double-o’s.

Study 111
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What 15,000 Kids Taught Me About Creativity

The Web20Classroom

When I walked into the Houston Convention Center a few weeks ago I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had never attended a FIRST LEGO League World Championship. Walking through the doors I was in awe. 15,000 kids from nations all over the world gathered to show off their robotic and LEGO creations and compete for the title of World Champion. I heard multiple languages, adults reminding kids about how they got there and some of the craziest chants you’ve ever heard.

Robotics 185
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10 great education books for summer reading

Ditch That Textbook

Summer … the time when all teachers spend carefree days sitting by the pool and drinking fruity drinks, right? Myth! Many teachers I know (especially the best ones!) spend at least part of their summers honing their craft. It’s a time to do things we were too busy to do during the school year, and […].

Education 195
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Behind the Bell: The Underlying Impact of Tardiness in K-12 Schools

Managing a K-12 campus with constant pressure to meet performance metrics is challenging. And tardiness can significantly limit a school from reaching these goals. Learn more about why chronic lateness matters, and key strategies to address the following impacts: Data errors caused by manual processes Low attendance and graduation rates that affect a school’s reputation Classroom disruption, which leads to poor academic performance High staff attrition and “The Teacher Exodus” Unmet LCAP goals t

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Tic Tack Toe in the Blended Classroom

A Principal's Reflections

The other day I was conducting some learning walks with the administrative team at Wells Elementary School in the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (CFISD). Throughout the school year, I have been assisting them with digital pedagogy as it relates to blended learning and the use of flex spaces. The primary goal has been to take a critical lens to instructional design with a focus on increasing the level of questioning, imparting relevance through authentic contexts and interdisciplin

Classroom 377
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How to Implement Library Makerspaces in STEM Programs

EdTech Magazine

How to Implement Library Makerspaces in STEM Programs. jena.passut_7651. Wed, 05/09/2018 - 11:57. What’s the best way to define a makerspace? For Laura Fleming, library media specialist at New Milford High School in New Jersey, a library makerspace is a unique learning environment that encourages tinkering, play and open-ended exploration for all. Fleming, who also runs and manages her own business, Worlds of Making , says too often schools build library makerspaces just for the top engineering

STEM 359

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STEAM Up Learning Outdoors! 15+ Ideas to Try Now or this Summer!

Teacher Reboot Camp

“[Science] is more than a school subject, or the periodic table, or the properties of waves. It is an approach to the world, a critical way to understand and explore and engage with the world, and then have the capacity to change that world.” – Barack Obama, Former U.S. President. Many of the missions in my new book, Hacking Digital Learning with Missions , are aimed at inspiring students to think critically, focus on questions versus answers, conduct hands-on research, and ma

Learning 283
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Hyperdocs Literacy Task Boards and Flipgrid Reading Circles

The CoolCatTeacher

Laura Dennis on episode 317 of the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter. Hyperdocs literacy task boards and Flipgrid are two favorite tools of Laura Dennis, third grade teacher. Learn more about how Laura’s classroom has become more modern and simplified with these valuable tools. Listen Now.

Classroom 270
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7 Ways to Close the Access Gap

Tom Murray

Over the past few years, districts have been working diligently to close the access gap (coined in D.C. as the “Homework Gap”) to support students, particularly those most in need. According to the Pew Research Center, approximately 5 million families do not have connectivity at home. According to the numbers, it’s our black and hispanic students that make up a disproportionate percentage.

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How PBL Changes the Teacher

Battelle for Kids

At the end of this school year, I will have finished my twentieth year in education and my tenth as a facilitator of Project-Based Learning. Practicing PBL as my “day job” has changed me in many ways that I absolutely did not expect. And I am not just talking about improving as an educator. So even though my PBL time is half of my career, it is definitely the case that far more than 50% of my personal and professional growth have occurred during the past decade.

Education 214
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Enhancing HyFlex Education through the PowerTeaching Framework

This whitepaper explores integrating the PowerTeaching pedagogical approach within a HyFlex (Hybrid Flexible) educational model, focusing on employing cooperative learning strategies and efficient classroom management techniques.

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Digital Signage Growth Helps K–12 Schools Get Their Messages Out

EdTech Magazine

Digital Signage Growth Helps K–12 Schools Get Their Messages Out. jena.passut_7651. Mon, 05/21/2018 - 09:49. Cluttered bulletin boards, garbled loudspeaker announcements and missed memos are becoming a thing of the past as a growing number of schools turn to digital signage. The tools make communicating with students, staff and parents easier, more effective and even less expensive.

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Lesson reflection sheets

EdTech4Beginners

I have recently been looking for new ways to end lessons. Aiming for more of a focus on reflection, I created a poster for my classroom: *Click here for the high-quality, printable PDF version. I also wanted something to stick in the books, that children could self or peer assess work on, so I created this: *Click here for the high-quality, printable PDF.

Classroom 210
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9 Web Tools for Creating Digital Magazines

Teacher Reboot Camp

“Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it and, above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light.” – Joseph Pulitzer. When I was a child, my father only accepted homemade gifts. My sisters and I spent several days creating various publications with construction paper and markers, including magazines.

Tools 275
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20+ ways to supercharge your summer learning

Ditch That Textbook

Summer is a time for rejuvenation and relaxation. It’s a time to focus on our lives outside of education and recharge. It can also be an opportunity to grow as an educator. Whether it’s through professional development training, online courses (check out information on the NEW Tech to Learn course below) or tackling that pile of […].

Learning 204
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The Battle of the Authoring Tools: A 10-Point Comparison for Picking the Right One

Speaker: Chris Paxton McMillin, President of D3 Training Solutions

There are plenty of great authoring tools for developing eLearning, but the one you select could directly impact your course's outcomes. Depending upon your learners’ needs and your organization’s performance goals, you could be overlooking considerations that impact the both effectiveness of your courses and how long it takes to finish them. From general capabilities to specific workflow structures, some aspects are critical when it comes to learning objectives and deadlines.

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Digital citizenship lessons aren’t going to crack filter bubbles and echo chambers

Dangerously Irrelevant

C Thi Nguyen said: Jamieson and Cappella’s book is the first empirical study into how echo chambers function. In their analysis, echo chambers work by systematically alienating their members from all outside epistemic sources. Their research centres on Rush Limbaugh, a wildly successful conservative firebrand in the United States, along with Fox News and related media.

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Engaging Parents & Families in Language Learning: Lessons Learned the DCPS Way

Battelle for Kids

Scholars have long known that learning multiple languages benefits overall academic achievement. Research dating back as early as the 1960s demonstrates the positive impact of studying another language on cognitive function. The federal government recognized the critical need for world language in the 2005 Call to Action for National Foreign Language Capabilities , a historic gathering of minds from across government, industry, language associations, and academia that resulted in a shared vision

Learning 187
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This Is Why Education Begets Education

EdNews Daily

Welcome back to our “Teacher Feature Series,” where we chat with educators who work online across borders. Today, please read about Serena Bloom’s journey with 51Talk American Academy, or now known as HAWO American Academy. Serena, please tell us all about you and your work with 51Talk/HAWO American Academy. My name is Serena Dawn Bloom, and I’m an ESL Teacher, and I hold a BS in Human Development, and AS in Business Administration.

Education 180
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When Students Design Their Own Games They Learn Way More Than Coding

Edsurge

Last year, my eighth-grade student Nathan made a game that was banned from Scratch. If I stopped there that would sound bad of course, but hear me out. It wasn’t bad; in fact it was amazing. He wanted to make a jump scare game—and boy did he succeed. If you aren’t familiar with the genre, think of that moment in a movie when it’s dark, and the ominous music is playing, and it is eerily quiet. then BAM!

Learning 156
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The Roses and Thorns of an LMS Strategy: How to Flourish with the Right LMS

Speaker: Amanda Davis, Chief Experience Officer and Liam O'Malley, VP of Association Solutions

The "new normal" is now a little less new, a little more normal. Does that mean your current LMS strategy is in need of a refresh? Is your organization or association leaning into the always-evolving eLearning environment to ensure you have the tools and content to remain relevant through all this change? There are many complex decision-making processes within your learning & development strategy and LMS lifecycle management, including: Selection.

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Encourage Students to Reflect on Their Growth with This Free Slides Portfolio Template

Teacher Reboot Camp

“We do not learn from experience. We learn from reflecting on experience.” Paraphrase of John Dewey’s work . One of the most important ways to end the year is by getting students to reflect on the learning journey in your class. They need to reflect on the purpose of different tasks and projects. They need understand what learning they achieved and think about how to use this learning in their future classes and life.

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Awesome Teacher Summer: 12 ways to grow and learn

Ditch That Textbook

Our lives as educators totally change in the summer, don’t they? During the school year: hustle and bustle. Plan. Teach. Grade. Answer emails. Go to meetings. Collapse into bed. Repeat. In the summer, though, the pace changes. Many of us are still busy. (I’ve been to SO many baseball and softball games already!) But it’s […].

Learning 202
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10 of The Best Educational Apps for Learning Grammar

Educational Technology and Mobile Learning

Learning grammar can be more fun for students if it is taught through the use of interactive games and activities that both entertain and challenge students linguistic skills. Below are some popular.read more.

Learning 129
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The Digital Citizenship Curriculum: Digital Literacy, Cyber Hygiene and More

Battelle for Kids

From cyberbullying to cybersecurity, digital citizenship lessons help students navigate the internet effectively.

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Building the Foundation for a Modern K-12 Classroom

K-12 looks different these days. But one thing remains the same: you need a reliable learning platform that serves as the foundation for teaching and learning––for all students, in a variety of learning experiences. Discover how the Instructure Learning Platform supports today's K-12 classroom through: A central, consistent, connected hub of the digital learning environment.

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15 Ideas to Ensure That Project Based Learning is Grounded in Content And Standards

21st Century Educational Technology and Learning

You might know that I am a big proponent of PBL. I believe that as we work on helping students understand the content standards, PBL provides teachers with the how. I do hope you enjoy this content driven article. Also, please take a moment to subscribe to this blog by RSS or email and join me on twitter at mjgormans . I have some great posts coming your way involving PBL, STEM, tech integration, and a continuing series on Professional Learning Communities!

Learning 114
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The One-Teacher, One-Classroom Model Needs an Upgrade. Here’s What’s Next.

Edsurge

Emerging school models are supposed to ease the transition to personalized and blended instruction—or at least make it possible. But new ways of teaching like station rotation and fluid-schedule flex models can hit a snag when they run up against the familiar one-teacher-one-classroom setup. According to the authors of a new report, it’s not schools that need a “rethink” as much as school staffing.

Classroom 131
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A Better List Of Ideas For Project-Based Learning

TeachThought - Learn better.

A Better List Of Ideas For Project-Based Learning by TeachThought Staff At TeachThought, we’re huge fans of project-based learning. While there is no magic bullet of practice, program, or framework that automatically produces progressive and effective learning, what makes project-based learning exceptional is its flexibility. As it is, first and foremost, simply a curriculum planning […].

Learning 111
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30+ ways to Ditch That Textbook: Ideas for teachers by teachers

Ditch That Textbook

The best thing about Twitter is the community of educators who share freely with others. Aaron Hogan, the author of Shattering the Perfect Teacher Myth, wrote that “Twitter is not going to change your life, but the educators you meet there will.” It’s true, the connections you make on Twitter will help you create a […].

Twitter 201
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Transform Your Classroom with Apple

Speaker: Aaron Webb, Jamf

Apple empowers educators and students by design. Whether using Macs, iPads, or Apple TV, Apple devices encourage creativity and can simplify teaching with apps to make the classroom more flexible, collaborative and personalized for each student. To unleash the full potential of the technology and create the best learning environment, you need to understand the tools and resources available, and develop an education-focused, comprehensive plan, from equipment purchase to deployment, management an

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OPINION: We’re not doing enough to support teachers of color

The Hechinger Report

Sept. 14, 2016 — Former U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. visits a school in Tennessee during his tenure in the Obama administration. Photo: Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal/ZUMAPRESS.COM. Each year in May, America observes Teacher Appreciation Month — a time when we pause to reflect upon and honor the life-changing impact that educators have on our children, and the important contributions that educators make to our communities and our country.

Classroom 111
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8 apps and tools for classroom SEL

eSchool News

Social and emotional learning (SEL) has quickly become a cornerstone of K-12 education, because it helps students regulate their own emotions and teaches them to respond kindly to their peers. SEL helps students build intrapersonal and interpersonal competencies. When students cultivate important social and emotional skills, such as self-management and social awareness, they can improve their success along with the school climate.

Classroom 111
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Rethinking Revision: The Real Work of Writing

MiddleWeb

Teaching students to eagerly revise their first drafts is "the Mt. Everest of writing instruction," says renowned author Ruth Culham. The originator of the 6+1 Writing Traits program argues convincingly that revision must be the primary focus of the writing curriculum.

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As Expectations of Teachers Change, Administrators Rethink Their Observation Practices

Edsurge

Have you ever been in a classroom when a principal walks in? Planned or random, evaluative or not, the atmosphere changes. The entrance of an administrator can create tension where there was none, or it can relieve stress—but that depends on the relationship between the administrator and teacher as well as the culture and purpose of observations in a school.

Classroom 131
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How Formative Assessment Supports the Learning Journey

Speaker: Todd Theobald, Noel Gomez, Marcus Painter

Join educators and assessment experts as they discuss the role of formative assessment in student learning, how formative practices can guide the teaching and learning cycle, and the positive impact assessment can make on your classroom. We’ll cover topics including: Reframing the value of assessments and focusing on learning opportunities. Using assessment data to make informed decisions about instructional strategies.