We used a poem and picture of a lion for this versatile lesson, but don’t limit yourself. This lesson lets you practice lots of basic computer skills and end up with a cool product. See our elephant example, too! eletelephony-pdf Continue reading
The stock market is an important part of American economic life, and affords lots of teachable moments. It’s a terrific long-term study, which makes it good for the beginning of the school year, and for encouraging responsibility and consistent work habits. It can also be exciting, as you watch “your”… Continue reading
Google Earth is a terrific resource for your science classroom, even when you’re studying space rather than Earth. Start by downloading Google Earth. It’s fast and free. Once it’s installed on your computer (fairly automatic — you might have to give permission, but otherwise it’ll install itself), just open… Continue reading
There are so many ways to use video in the classroom! It’s easier than ever to make video recordings and to share them, so much so that video can now be part of your standard repertoire for assessment and instruction. film student projects correspond with video pen pals write… Continue reading
My first day of class had some unusual moments. For example, when I arrived in my classroom, it had apparently been having a party over the weekend. There were stacks of cardboard, folders, CD players and CDs, and enormous canvases strewn hither and yon. The tables had gouges in their… Continue reading
Reading online is different from reading physical books. Note how these students interact with mouse and keyboard immediately. Continue reading
For Halloween, for a new way to get reluctant readers to enjoy the classics, or just for fun, try some vampire lessons. English Start with vampire literature: Vunce Upon a Time is a heartwarming story from the illustrator of Olive, the Other Reindeer. Vampires Don’t Wear Polka Dots is part… Continue reading
Google Earth is a wonderful free tool for the classroom. Use it for studying your community. Click on the link to download it. A couple of years ago I asked Josepha how she used Google Earth and she said that she looked at stuff and said, “Ooooh!” This is… Continue reading
Teachers can tell when that kindergartener needs to be rushed into the bathroom, and we can also tell when that older student is texting under the table. There are some expressions you get to know. But in many classrooms across the country, cell phones are no longer confiscated. Instead,… Continue reading
I find myself in a lot of conversations on 21st Century skills — the things our students will need to know to compete in the global marketplace in the 21st century. The thing that strikes me about these conversations is how few of the people in them actually compete in… Continue reading
