Search form

Blog: Ed Tech Today

ADL Offers Bullying Webinars

ADLParents and educators are encouraged to participate in a series of free webinars provided by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) that help to educate on the effects of prejudice and bullying on children.

The ADL belives that by educating parents and teachers about anti-hate values, children can be more educated and open-minded when it comes to living their lives. By...

Blog: Ed Tech Today

Surfing into the Record Books! News...

In the news. Here is a short activity to start a class.

I can't even imagine surfing down such a wave of water!


Burle has surfed into the record books by hanging ten down a wall of water estimated to be 100 ft. tall! The beach at Nazare, Portugal,Praia do Norte, is famous for their REALLY big waves and Burle hit the jackpot thanks to the St. Jude storm that had recently hit the European area. Currently, the record for surfing the biggest wave, was done by Garret...

Blog: Ed Tech Today

Potato Chips and Books

In recent blogs~ Ive elaborated on Common Core~ school wide programs~ and other complex topics.

But this week~ lets keep it simple and talk about potato chips.

In truth~ I want to share strategies and ideas for making your independent reading sessions for gifted and all students come alive~ and for teachers to avoid those session from becoming too monotonous and predictable.

If one of our goals as educators is to foster a love of reading~ then we must challenge...

Blog: Ed Tech Today

Enlightenment: Gamification Theories of...

  1. I have been wondering, "What learning theories actually support the use of games; where are games most appropriate?" Reminding myself of the differences between intrinsic motivation (doing something for its own joy-the reward is the doing) and extrinsic motivation (doing something for a reward or to avoid a punishment), I decided to push myself to review the model developed by John Keller-ARCS (Attention, Relevance, Confidence, and Satisfaction). These seem to apply to what I thus far...

Blog: Ed Tech Today

The Big Deal Book of Technology for K-...


The fall issue of the Big Deal Book of Technology for K-12 Educators featured Education World, and we couldn't be more honored.

The downloadable eBook of the fall issue:http://bigdealbook.com/ebook

Our entry is on page 47 in the Fantastic Free Finds section.

The Big Deal Book of Technology for K-12 Educators is a semiannual print and electronic...

Blog: Ed Tech Today

Enlightenment: Remember Why You Started...

  1. I am fortunate enough to work in an environment that encourages me to link academic problems to life-struggling questions. By partnering with experts in an area~ we are solving the realistic issues that academic exercises yield. This is more than a "flipped classroom" I can assure you!
  2. My students are creating a literary magazine from conceptual ideals to realistic challenges. Making our work with life links is exciting indeed! Researching~ reading~ selecting options~ and making...

Blog: Ed Tech Today

Good Grief, Charlie Brown- Pumpkin...

A pumpkin grown by Tim and Susan Mathison,Napa, California, has smashed the record for its mammoth size. The giant pumpkin weighed in at 2032 pounds! Grown in 105 days, the pumpkin surpassed the 2012 record pumpkin of 20089 pounds. Photograph from http://napavalleyregister.com

Pretend you are a pumpkin sitting on a front porch on...

Blog: Ed Tech Today

A Rubric for Research

Teaching elementary students, as young as first grade, to research is no easy task. It requires enormous patience, persistence, and a belief in your students.

Training children to be young researchers provides them with all kinds of skills, which will help them succeed in college and the workplace.
Research skills have found their own place in the national Common Core English Language Arts standards, which requires students to conduct short and sustained research projects....

Blog: Ed Tech Today

Enlightenment: Gamification Essentials...

  1. Autumn is a time for the bright colors and crispness of a season that I always associate with learning. Each day awakens us to possibilities, change, and bright new beginnings.
  2. In that spirit, my students and I are seeking to apply the principles of a new way of learning to this season's academic challenges: gaming! We are enlightening our work in Washington DC with our project called, "Monuments, Memorials and Museums". The project won us an Unsung Heroes Award from ING. The $...

Blog: Ed Tech Today

Educator Preparation and the Common...

One of the greatest challenges that the education community faces in implementing the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) initiative is ensuring that the education workforce is ready to help students succeed under these new, higher standards.

Facing this challenge requires providing the current workforce with high-quality professional learning opportunities, something we talk about a great deal at the national level. But it also...

Pages