Tech Tool of the Month: Google Arts & Culture Paint with Music – Part 1

Can you imagine if you could hear what you’re painting? Treat your senses to Google Arts & Culture: Paint with Music, an experiment offered by Google that connects two forms of art expression: musical composition and painting. This neat experience offers four different canvases that allow you to translate your painted brushstrokes into music. Choose from … read more »

Sustainable Development Goals in the Middle-Level Classroom

Problem-solving is a crucial skill we teach our students through in-class experiences to prepare them for their future. One of the most critical problems our students can solve is the challenge of sustaining our planet for future generations. In 2015, leaders from the 193 countries of the United Nations created a plan with 17 interlinked … read more »

Let’s Talk About: Ma Rainey

June is African American Music Month. Well-meaning teachers may take this as an opportunity to introduce a lesson about African American music. However, without context or connection to the curriculum, the class might fall flat and not engage students as intended. I want to suggest a more culturally responsive approach. Reading Teach Boldly for the … read more »

Bring the Sustainable Development Goals Into Your Classroom

Critical thinking, social-emotional learning, culturally responsive teaching, authentic learning—these are a few of the latest terms found in many discussions of education and teaching. It might seem daunting to address all of them, but some issues offer the opportunity to embrace these concepts by providing lessons with a larger frame of reference. One such frame … read more »

Fly High With Airplanes and Choice Boards!

Do you use Choice Boards? If you find them interesting but still need some more information, let’s take a look at one example of how to get started in a way that incorporates science and STEAM activities based upon significant dates in history and student interests. December is a significant month for aviation history. On … read more »