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 »
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 »
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 »
Do you remember playing The Oregon Trail game? For some students, it was the first opportunity to virtually experience the life of pioneers as they searched for a better life in Oregon. Players select from different options, including the traveler’s profile, date of departure to head west, money spent on goods, and more. Throughout the … read more »
Money management matters! September is College Savings Month, and the perfect time to further develop your students’ financial literacy skills. Banzai is a tool that teaches about financial literacy, a 21st Century skill that students are often lacking. We tend to worry about geometry, algebra, and calculus and forget the basics and being financially wise. … read more »