Viewing: Teacher Resources
The Common Core Tabloid: Truth vs. Hearsay
So much is hearsay right now about the Common Core, it feels like the educational system has become a tabloid in their interpretation of what does not even exist yet. In fact, from this level of speculation has sprouted a
CATE keynote: Project Based Writing
I recently presented at the CATE conference to a great audience of enthusiastic teachers. CATE, the California Association of Teachers of English, is a great organization with an amazingly supportive group whose heart beats with the love of the Writing
New Edutopia post: The Power of Project-Based Writing in the Classroom
It seems like it’s been forever since I wrote an actual post for my beloved Tweenteacher site! But I guess it’s a happy problem as I’ve been writing here and there in the edublogosphere for these past couple of weeks.
New Edutopia Post: 7 Tips for Digital Learners
My latest post on Edutopia just went live. “7 Tips for Digital Learners” picks apart some of the skills that students of any age should have in order to succeed online. Of course, that’s not to say that there aren’t
Tweenteacher Class on Project Based Writing
Hey all, Guess what? I’m going to be facilitating a class for Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach’s Powerful Learning Practice. The six-week course is on Project Based Writing, a strategic way to bring in authentic assessments and meaningful learning into any Language Arts
Edutopia Post: Trying Something New in Your Classroom for 30 Days
I’ve just recently posted a new article on my Edutopia blog, one that challenges teachers to try something new in their classroom for 30 days. As many of my readers know, my students are currently working on their Advocacy/Memoir speeches
Choosing a Topic for our Ted.com Speeches
I’m currently prepping my classes for another research unit, this one a blend of Memoir, Advocacy, and Speech Writing. After all, never in real life are genres categorized. They blend together; and the Common Core assessments to come recognize the
Free Tweenteacher Webinar: Moving Beyond the Bubble: 21st Century Assessments
On Monday, Oct 17, I will be presenting a free webinar for my publisher, Eye On Education. You can register here. In it, I’ll be sharing what I have learned about the upcoming Common Core standards and how they will
Teaching the Executive Summary: Applying Real Life to School Life
OK, so there they are: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. They are in your audience and have their checkbooks out looking for a new cause to fund. Will it be yours? So began my schpeel on writing an Executive Summary
Edutopia post: 20 Ways to Model Technology
My latest post on Edutopia is not just about using technology, but about modeling it as a means to teach it. After all, students need to be immersed in an environment of usage. So don’t feel bad if you don’t
DARPA project con’t: Research and Questioning
As my readers may know, my students are planning for the future of the human species. This year, as I have described in an earlier post, I am dedicating much of the year to Project-Based Learning and trying to make
Start of the Year Nuts and Bolts: Checklist for the First Day
Introduction Handout with expectations and grading procedures. Check. Publishing Release Form. Check. PG-13 Video/Clip Release Form to cover me for the whole school year. Check. Set up YouTube Channel even though I have no idea how to use it yet.
Frontloading for the school year: Setting up my classroom website
One of the things that many people don’t know about me is that, while I wear the costume of a tech savvy teacher, I’m really tech tentative at heart. In other words, I so recently became a convert to using
The Power of the Backchannel Discussion: Todaysmeet.com
Sometime ago, I began experimenting with Twitter in the classroom as a means to create a B-storyline of Think Alouds, questions, and Advice from students in different classrooms. The point was to create an academic-level note-passing environment that could function
Eye On Education Webinar: The Skills of Tomorrow for the Students of Today
I recently presented a webinar for my publisher, Eye on Education, about some of the topics in my new book, ‘Tween Crayons and Curfews: Tips for Middle School Teachers. It all started with a survey I conducted of my readers
Sexy Data Analysis: Google Motion Charts
My district has started up a great summer professional development workshop series this summer. They asked teachers all over the district if they would like to teach a skill to other teachers, and in so doing, we have a heck
The Equation of Student Success Webquest: Top 10 Responsibilities of Teachers to Avoid Student Failure
I have written before in the past on various blog sites and networks about the vital equation that must exist in order for a student not to fail in our schools: Family + Student + School + Policymakers/Voters = Student
Cybersafety and the Home/School Connection: Parent Tech Institute
I recently had our middle school Parent/Teacher conferences, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that 99% of my students (most of whom are Title I) have a computer in the home. However, there was absolutely no oversight of what
Tweenteacher Article on 21st Century Assessments
How do we teach and assess the skills for a 21st Century world and still cater to 20th Century assessments if testing dictates curriculum? This is the topic I tackle in this month’s edition of Education Week’s Teacher Professional Sourcebook.
What is a Teacher’s Shelf Life?
My OBGYN was running about 45 minutes late. I had no cell phone reception at the hospital and I had already read through the latest Entertainment Weekly, so I got out some paper and pen and started planning out my
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