Thinking Like Da Vinci

Although it has been five hundred and seventy years since his birth, Leonardo da Vinci’s impact on the world continues. He is probably best known for his painting, the Mona Lisa; however, his genius carried across many different disciplines, making him known as a true “Renaissance Man.” In addition to art, Da Vinci is also known … read more »

Research Skills in the Classroom

Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose. Zora Neale Hurston Most known for writing and researching race, slavery, folklore, and the African-American experience, Zora Neale Hurston was a Harlem Renaissance writer and American anthropologist. While many students characterize research as daunting and many teachers find research skills challenging to teach, … read more »

Infusing SEL Into Everyday Instruction

It is critical to teach students strategies to deal with emotions and interact respectfully with peers. As a father of six, life can be crazy. My wife, also a teacher, enjoys our bedtime routine of reading aloud to our children. Recently, we read Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes. Lilly brings a purple plastic … read more »

Celebrate Your Future Engineers!

With National Engineers Week taking place from February 18–24 (this year’s theme is “Welcome to the Future!”) and Introduce A Girl to Engineering Day happening on February 22, this is the perfect time to add some engineering lessons or activities to your class schedule! Many organizations offer live and on-demand events and various resources to … read more »

Strategies to Increase Teen Self Esteem During Remote Learning

Did you know that May is Mental Health Month? Mental Health America and its affiliates have spent this month raising awareness since 1949, but it’s a particularly important topic today. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted our students’ lives. Everyday experiences that helped build their self-esteem suddenly shifted to school closures, social distancing, quarantines, and remote … read more »