Two giants of the Internet want to make sure you can still get to them after July 9.
Google and Facebook are actively scanning the computers of their users to find some of the nearly 1 million people who have been infected with the DNSChanger malware in the U.S. Google is displaying a warning across the top of its search results page, while Facebook has placed a similar warning at the top of its post-login page. If a user’s computer is infected, Google and Facebook will know and display the warning. Users who are not infected will see no warning at all.
With so many computers potentially impacted by the DNSChange malware, it is no surprise that these two mega-sites want to help eliminate it. Any machine afflicted with the DNSChanger will not be able to connect to the Internet after July 9.
As reported by CNet, the whole problem goes back to an online criminal ring from 2007 that was tinkering with computers' settings and then directing users to rogue servers that the criminals had set up. These servers then re-directed users to malicious Web sites. Late last year, the FBI arrested the ring and seized the rogue servers. But since so many infected computers relied on the servers to reach the Internet, the agency opted not to shut them down and instead converted them to legitimate DNS machines. Due to the high cost associated with operating these servers, the FBI has decided to shut them down on July 9, leaving any infected computer that has not been fixed with no way to reach the Internet.
The Google and Facebook warnings offer links to information on how to remove the DNSChange malware. Anyone who thinks he may be a victim is encouraged to run a Google search, or log in to Facebook to find out for sure.
We called it our “office.” I use quotation marks, because like most teachers, we didn’t actually have an office. My two colleagues and I would regularly meet between two classrooms, where the restrooms were. Whenever one of us got stressed, we called for a quick meeting in this tight space. Coffee in hand, we discussed how to best to work with certain students, lesson plans, but also shared jokes, personal stories and just connected. This make-shift office fueled us, emotionally, and while I...

According to the Paris Agreement, global emissions must peak by 2020 and then start declining if we want to keep average global temperature increase under 2° Celsius. Climate change is the environmental challenge of this generation and it’s critical that youth are involved because they will ultimately inherit the earth.
...

Teachers around the world are currently faced with the task of preparing students for a world transformed by climate change. “What the World Thinks about Climate Change in 7 Charts” is a good place to get some key facts about the global issues.
In October of last year, former UN...

“There are many important facets of the Escuela Nueva model, including its systemic approach, being child centered, involving active participatory learning, children finishing academic units at their own pace, cooperative learning and children learning through dialogue and interaction.”
— Vicky Colbert
How do you develop a...
As a supervisor for pre-service teachers, part of my role involves helping them prepare for job interviews. Facing principals and other school administrators in an effort to land a job can be a very nerve-wracking experience. One of the best ways I found to help prepare teacher candidates, both psychologically and practically, is to bring in principals to conduct mock interviews and discuss the types of questions that surface during interviews.
These sessions have produced quite the...
I recently saw a photograph (on Facebook) of a large trash can/bin stuffed full to overflowing and the caption read, “This is our school curriculum!” I laughed and thought – I can relate to that! I think an overstuffed curriculum makes for a stressed teacher, and sometimes we forget to have fun and make connections with our students.
Why did you become a teacher? To teach the curriculum? I would guess, no! To design assessments with appropriate criteria? I would guess no! To create...

As teachers, we know that student writing and reading are intrinsically linked. Sometimes, all it takes to bring out their inner writer is the right book. So, how do we find those perfect books to help our students grow as writers?
Our friends over at Primary Paradise dive into Using Real-Aloud Connectors to really ignite writing in K-5 students. It’s so important to share rich, engaging books with our students...