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The Power of Collaborative Learning at The College Preparatory School

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Nichole Pinkard on Digital Literacy (Big Thinkers Series)

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How to Thank a Teacher

Blogs on Integrated Studies

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New Models for Education: Maker Faire and the Young Makers Program

Michelle HlubinkaMay 17, 2011

Editor's Note: Today's guest blogger is Michelle Hlubinka, the Education Director for Maker Faire and Make magazine.

Maker Faire is a combination DIY festival and project showcase, sponsored by Make magazine, where "makers" of all ages convene to show off a spectacular array of projects that combine science, art, performance, creative reuse, and technology in varying degrees. Not surprisingly, an increasing number of educators are getting involved in these events which are currently held in the Bay Area, Detroit and New York. There are also many independently organized Mini-Maker Faires around the country. Maker Faire Bay Area is this weekend, May 21 - 22nd.

Student Internships: Building a Bigger Pipeline to STEM

Suzie BossMay 5, 2011

Tags Biology, Business Partnerships, Career and Technical Education, Community Partnerships, Integrated Studies, Student Internships, Technology Integration, Chemistry, All Grades, Math, Science, Visual Arts, Ohio

For students who are curious about science, a medical center offers a world of interesting questions to investigate. Since 2005, hundreds of motivated high school students have spent their summers as paid interns

High School Students Develop Life Skills and Financial Literacy in "Harsh Reality" Program

Lily BoyarMarch 25, 2011

Tags Expeditionary Learning, Financial Literacy, Integrated Studies, Leadership, High (9-12), California

Real World Reality Check

I fell in love with school when I found out about a hidden gem called the Team Program. The Team Program is a rare experiential wilderness education program designed to get juniors in high school out of the four walls they have been accustomed to in the traditional classroom, and into the real world. Twenty-four students from the three major public schools in my county are accepted each year into this public school program. The program is held at a small public high school and the diverse group of juniors spends the year there, before returning to their "home school."

Jeff Goldstein on Reigniting Our Enthusiasm for Science @ NSTA 2011 (Video)

Lora Ma-FukudaMarch 12, 2011

Tags Biology, Integrated Studies, Primary (K-2), Teacher Development, Chemistry, Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle (6-8), High (9-12), Geography, Math, Science

March 10, 2011 - National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) conference in San Francisco, CA

This is just my opinion, but I think the world would be significantly better if scientists were treated like rock stars -- with the press stalking their every move and kids dreaming of becoming physicists, astronomers, biologists, or chemists someday.

Duncan Joins Calls to Reinvent Career Technical Education

EdutopiaFebruary 3, 2011

Tags Career and Technical Education, Dropout Prevention, Education Reform, Integrated Studies, Student Engagement, High (9-12)

Recently, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan called for a renewed emphasis on career and technical education (CTE) in America's schools. Not the old "vocational" approach, where some students are tracked to enter a trade upon graduation from high school, while others are prepared to enter degree programs in college.

Five Ideas for Using Pop Culture to Inspire Elementary Students

Gaetan PappalardoJanuary 13, 2011

Tags Arts Education, Integrated Studies, Lesson Plans, Primary (K-2), Teacher Development, Upper Elementary (3-5), Drama, English Language Arts, Math, Music, Visual Arts

I had a student ask me for a month straight, almost every day, if it was okay to write a story about Transformers. At the beginning of each writing workshop, he would stroll up to me and ask the same question.

"Yes, you can write a story with Transformers in it." I thought I sounded sincere.

"Are you sure?" he would ask.

Have Students Sketch to Kill the Prewriting Jitters

Todd FinleyJanuary 7, 2011

Tags Integrated Studies, Student Engagement, Teacher Development, High (9-12), English Language Arts

Editor's Note: Today's guest blogger is Jonathan T Bartels, a PhD student at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who writes about education and technology at The Fraudulent Facilitator.

Oh, the Places You'll Go! Cool Jobs in Math and Science (Guest Blogger)

EdutopiaDecember 16, 2010

Tags Integrated Studies, All Grades, Math, Science

Today's guest blogger is Linda Rosen, the CEO of Change the Equation. She has over 35 years of experience helping to develop and implement innovative, strategic frameworks and policies that support high quality STEM teaching and learning, grades PreK-16. She has taught mathematics and mathematics education from high school through graduate school.

Edutopia's Six Strategies for Reform

Betty RayNovember 22, 2010

Tags Comprehensive Assessment, Integrated Studies, Project-Based Learning, , Teacher Development, Technology Integration, All Grades

Today, November 22, is the National Day of Blogging for Real Ed Reform. Started as a grassroots movement by Ira Socol on his SpeEdChange blog, educator bloggers from around the globe are posting today to "take back the agenda" of education reform. You can see a list of blogs at Cooperative Catalyst.

Using Music in the Classroom to Inspire Creative Expression

Gaetan PappalardoNovember 15, 2010