I promise I’m not going to spend the whole blog using text language! Tools 4 Students and Tools 4 Students 2 are actually the names of a great app that I use in my classroom to get students working with technology and cutting down on the amount of time that I have to spend in front of a copy machine.
Between the two versions of this app there are 50 different graphic organizers that are both premade and editable for teachers and students to create their own. Continue reading Tools 4 Students
Are you looking for some sweet Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic instructional goodies? Here’s what I’ve got:
Start with the basics
News
Social Media
Mobile Apps
(I’m part of Team Apple so . . . these are iPhone / iPad apps. I did some checking – Google Play and Android also have tons.)
Lesson Plans / Instructional Materials
Have fun!
I would almost be willing to bet money on the fact that my student’s least favorite part of my class is when I say “grab your textbooks.” The groans that echo around the room are enough to keep me from repeating that phrase very often, but I know my kids still need to learn how to use their textbooks, so I brave the sound effects every now and then. What my students dread most is opening the book and silently reading hundreds of pages (or at least it feels like that many to them), so I try to find fun reading strategies to alleviate the amount of reading while still ensuring my kids are getting the information they need. Continue reading The Dreaded Textbook
The new buzz word in social studies instruction?
Historical thinking.
Okay. Yes. It’s two words but it’s still pretty buzzy. The idea of historical thinking has been hanging around as part of social studies instruction for a long time. But it’s sort of been like that weird second cousin who shows up at family reunions that no one really talks to. We haven’t been paying much attention to it.
But with new state standards and Common Core literacy stuff, not to mention the new College,Career, and Civic Life standards, historical thinking is back where it really belongs. As the central part of everything we do. And because it’s been at the weird second cousin status for so long, many teachers don’t have a ton of historical thinking resources.
So today . . . three sweet web sites that provide primary source raw data and lesson plans / resources that support historical thinking skills. Continue reading Some sweet sites for historical thinking
Several years ago I wrote a post titled “10 Movies Every Social Studies Should See.” Of course, I added some extra bonus movies. I love movies and am convinced that using short video clips from featured length movies in the classroom is a good idea.
And, yes, I’m probably encouraging the stereotype of social studies teachers / coaches showing movies every week so that they can read the newspaper, break down game film, or drink coffee. But I will always argue that appropriate use of video clips and movies is great for kids.
So some resources to help break the stereotype: Continue reading Teaching with movies
