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More School Time, Well Spent, Boosts Academic Achievement and Engagement at Edwards Middle School

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Blogs on Current Events

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Free iPad Apps to Teach Current Events

Monica BurnsMay 17, 2013

Tags 1:1 Implementation, Current Events, Open Education Resources, Technology Integration, All Grades

My students use their iPads as creators every day, whether they are recording their thoughts, using virtual tools or publishing authentic assessments. Content can be both created and consumed using an iPad, and my students take on both roles. There are abundant resources for content consumption, and these apps can be used to teach current events. Many schools are increasing their use of informational and multimedia texts in order to align their instruction to the Common Core Learning Standards. It's important to acknowledge that current events are more than just articles in a newspaper. There are a variety of free iPad apps that students and teachers can use to access high-interest texts and video clips that will connect your classroom to the world.

Celebrate Educators on National Teacher Day 2013

Matt DavisApril 30, 2013

Tags Current Events

National Teacher Day is May 7th! There are so many different ways to show teacher appreciation, from poems, to thank-you notes and gifts. But I thought I'd put together a little bit of everything. Here, there are inspirational teaching quotes, fun video clips, and a database of educator discounts, to name a few.

But these are just a couple of ideas; let us know how you're celebrating this year. Here’s one from the Edutopia vault: last year’s Five-Minute Film Festival for Teacher Appreciation Week.

Teaching and the Environmental Crisis: Resources and Models

Mark PhillipsApril 17, 2013

Tags Current Events, Curriculum, Environmental Education, All Grades, Science

I'm not an alarmist, but we truly are in an environmental crisis, headlined by, but not limited to, global warming. Given the importance of the challenge, I'd like to see a National Environmental Education Year -- setting aside a week seems like a drop in the bucket. But since we have this week, National Environmental Education Week, let’s make the most of it.

Earth Day 2013: Lesson Plans, Reading Lists and Classroom Ideas

Matt DavisApril 16, 2013

Tags Current Events, Environmental Education, Open Education Resources

Earth Day 2013 is right around the corner. Are you planning on incorporating the annual event in your classroom?

How Fourth Graders Are Achieving World Peace

Homa TavangarApril 15, 2013

Tags Current Events, Game-Based Learning, Project-Based Learning, Student Engagement, Upper Elementary (3-5)

In 1978, John Hunter introduced a complex, immersive, interactive, collaborative, geopolitical game to his elementary school students. In 2011, he gained a global following when he delivered a TED talk about his 30-year experience of "Teaching with the World Peace Game." The talk was shared far and wide as millions were moved by his example of hands-on teaching. And millions began thinking about how to bring out the best in every child through an aspiration for something greater than even the most powerful on earth have yet to achieve -- peace.

Six Science Project Resources for Parents and Students

Matt DavisApril 5, 2013

Tags Classroom Technology, Current Events, Open Education Resources

Putting together this list, I could only think one thing. The Internet would have been a great tool when I was working on my science fair project way back when. There are so many great resources for students, parents, and teachers online, and maybe the project I did as a third grader -- measuring various climates effect on the growth of mold on apples -- might have been helped out a bit with some of these online resources.

Seven Free Jazz Resources and Websites for Educators

Matt DavisApril 3, 2013

Tags Arts Education, Current Events, Open Education Resources

April is the best month to celebrate jazz, a uniquely American art form. First, April is Jazz Appreciation Month. But the celebration doesn't stop there. The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival runs from April 6 to May 5, and International Jazz Day is on April 30.

As the school year nears its close, jazz might be the perfect remedy to calm your restless students, and fortunately, there's some wonderful jazz teaching resources online. Here are a few of our favorites:

National Poetry Month: Useful Resources for Teachers and Students

Matt DavisApril 1, 2013

Tags Arts Education, Current Events, Lesson Plans, Open Education Resources

'Tis National Poetry Month! In April, classrooms around the country will dive into the expressive art of poetry. Shakespeare, Frost, Yeats, the list goes on and on.

There are many great ways to bring poetry into the classroom, and whether it's reading, writing or performing prose, poetry can be a great way to engage students. To help you bring poetry into your classrooms, we've compiled a list of some of the best open resources.

A Major News Alert for All Educators

Mark PhillipsApril 1, 2013

Tags Current Events, Education Reform, Leadership

I want to update you on two incredible stories on the news that greeted me when I woke up this morning. I'm still in a state of disbelief.

April Fools' Day in the Classroom: Six Resources for Teachers

Matt DavisMarch 22, 2013

Tags Current Events, Open Education Resources

I still remember April Fools' Day when I was a fourth grader. A reading comprehension worksheet went out to the class, and in minutes, we were all dumbfounded. The story and questions were incomprehensible, written in complete gibberish. But our teacher went along with the joke. We had a half hour to finish it, and it was going to be worth a substantial amount of points.