The Oxford English Dictionary’s annual June update has a decidedly tech feel this year as the much ballyhooed reference title is adding the words “tweet,” “crowdsourcing,” “e-reader” and “re-direct.”
Every June the dictionary adds several new words to the English vernacular, provided they meet certain criteria. While “tweet” does not meet the standard of having been in existence for at least 10 years, OED chief editor John Simpson said, “it seems to be catching on.”
AllThingsD reports that the 2013 OED update is particularly tech-savvy, “Whatever the reason, ‘tweet’ was just one of a batch of tech-related words and phrases added to the OED in the last year. Among the others is ‘big data,’ the fashionable phrase and subject of glossy photo books that evokes the act of analyzing large data sets for otherwise undetectable patterns.”
Teaching is a very stressful profession. I have personally experienced the demands of being a teacher and observed colleagues also deal with the stressors of the job, ranging from high-stakes testing, demanding parents, increased paperwork, disrespectful students, increased diversity and differentiated learning needs, and lack of creativity and autonomy.
As a teacher educator, who works with student teachers, I believe that serving in a practicum setting where student teachers gain...

During the past year, we’ve discussed and debated the pros and cons of using technology in the learning journey. Whether we like it or not, kids are growing up in a technological environment, and knowing how to make the best use of good tech is a critical part of preparing them for their future lives. Important 21st century skills such as...

I believe that words, communication, literature and the arts, can promote peace, tolerance and harmony, and bring about a change.” — Ada Aharoni
The biggest challenge for humanity in the years ahead just might be coming to grips with the idea that we are all in this together – we are living in a world that’s...
During 2018, why not resolve to reach all learners in the classroom, despite where they fall in terms of academic ability?
Included in that resolution might be the goal to further challenge gifted students—a promise to help them learn something new everyday day, to provide enrichment and opportunities to develop their abilities, and not simply ask them to do more work or tutor classmates.
If you’re already challenging the gifted, I congratulate you! But you still might find...
I often dream about what I would change in education if I could wave a magic wand. I try to work towards those changes in the real world--but dreaming, I guess, is easier.
I think imagining how we might better serve students is an important first step. Closing our eyes and asking ourselves: What kind of education would I like to see for students and my own children? Then, letting the answers emerge.
Here are some of my “answers” (in no particular order):
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“Music is the 100% best medicine for sadness and it helps people find more faith in life. And while feeling sad is a very natural thing, for me as a singer, music is the best healer.” — Awa Sangho
Mali-born New York based singer-songwriter Awa Sangho, who will perform at BAM this month, is a rising star on the...
I promised to follow up my last blog about demographics with a start to the process of writing your narrative. This is the heart and soul of your application.
Before you start, read the rules or application forms you have received from potential funding sources you've identified. Read them twice. With a federal grant, read them four times. You want to know about formatting, spacing, font (sometimes), number of pages, etc. You'll want to know if you can include an appendix beyond the...