Today is Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day. Those arranging and participating in “Girl’s Day” activities are helping us to close the science gap. SheHeroes (reviewed here) is an organization that believes young girls should be encouraged to pursue non-traditional STEM based careers. Be sure to check out their resources as you plan for participating … read more »
As teachers and schools gear up for The Hour of Code (December 4-10), I think it’s really important to remind our students that coding isn’t an end to itself. It is a means to solve a problem. One way to help students understand that that is to explain where coding would fit in the a … read more »
Another fabulous summer has come to a close. Educators are once again engulfed in the start of a new school year and all the wonderful and time-consuming things that go along with it. While most of you found time to read over the summer amid vacations, lesson plan prep, professional development and personal rejuvenation, it … read more »
On May 28, 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt pressed a telegraph key in the White House to declare the Golden Gate Bridge “open to the entire world.” Automobiles rolled across a 4,200-foot span that engineers once said couldn’t be built. This May, that moment turns 89 years old—making now a perfect time to hand your … read more »
Summer is the perfect time for students to explore their creativity through maker projects and design challenges! These activities give students the freedom to create, experiment, and engage in self-directed learning, using materials found at home or provided in kits sent from school. Whether short and simple or long-term and immersive, maker projects encourage problem-solving, … read more »
“Scientists study the world as it is; engineers create the world that has never been.” -Theodore von Karman Celebrate the many ways engineers make a difference in the world during Engineers Week, February 19–25. This year’s theme is Creating the Future! Sponsored by DiscoverE, this week promotes and encourages educators to share the engineering field with … read more »
What is maker education? In maker education, “students imagine, design, and create projects that align the content of learning with hands-on application” (Makered.org). Maker education was born from the maker movement, which believes that we are all “makers” and can be creators—not just consumers—of things. Makerspaces are specific spaces in schools, libraries, and community organizations … read more »
When purposefully designed, choice boards are far more than glorified worksheets for busywork; they’re powerful opportunities for students to actively engage with content in ways that promote agency and encourage students to take ownership of their learning. Choice boards provide scaffolding that helps students develop their thinking muscles and move from passive consumers of information … read more »
National Library Week is more than a date on the calendar—it’s an open invitation to build a culture of reading, curiosity, and community that lasts well beyond seven days. Sponsored annually by the American Library Association (ALA) and typically held during the second week of April, National Library Week overlaps with School Library Month. Each … read more »
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” —Will Durant, summarizing Aristotle If you’ve ever looked out at your classroom and felt like you were competing with a dozen glowing rectangles for your students’ attention, you are in good company. We’ve all been there: a student nodding along … read more »