All Blog Posts (229)

Something to share: 

School Library Journal has just published an interview in which I discuss how the process of creating comic strips plays a role in encouraging young people to write, read, and communicate their ideas.  See:  http://blogs.slj.com/connect-the-pop/2013/01/comics/comics-creation-tools-thoughts-from-the-graphic-classroom/

Hope you find it…

I've just been playing at Tackk, a new online content creator. No need to register, design and share instantly. Customise by font, colour, add media etc. Here's the link to a sample one I made: http://tackk.com/dzncje Sign up though does mean they store your Tackks. 

Dear colleagues,

If you’re looking for an exciting new literacy activity for the new school term why not start a daily 20-minute comic strip segment during which your students create a comic diary about something they learned or read or experienced that day?   Creating such daily comix diaries provides a way for students to digest and integrate key material that they are taught as well as to reflect on their lives and experiences. And what better way for all students, including…

The health of the American Public school system is under debate in many different arenas: political, financial, social, ideological, and now, technological. At the root of these debates is our collective recognition or understanding confirmed by the author Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens):

"We believe that out of the public school grows the greatness of a nation."…

Want to school your kids in some science and sociology? Why not go old school? Some of the educational shows that you grew up on are still just as excellent — and relevant — as they were back in the day.

Here are 10 educational programs from decades past, that are still totally worth watching today

Quest Atlantis -- For elementary teachers, another way to reach kids using a research based approach of questing in a world of science, math, art, literacy, ecological concerns, and social justice - Quest Atlantis. I used it in my grade 4 classroom for 3 years as a part of my general project based approach. It is way more than a program installed on computers, it is a teacher facilitated, worldwide venue for global awareness and learning. Comes at no charge as it is a research project via…

Mankind Connected: A Global Teach In

Live Webcast,

Thursday, November 8th, at 12pm EST/9am PST

Register

Today!



We have diverse cultures, varied traditions and we speak

many languages, yet across the globe people share two things in common: our past

and our future.



HISTORY® invites young people across the world to join us

for MANKIND CONNECTED: A Global Teach…

Being able to consume, critique, and create media is so important for our 21st century students. While I love to write about books in my book reviews, lots of children don't share my enthusiasm. If your kids or students groan at the mere mention of writing a book report,…

The very simple answer is that Education would finally move into the 21st Century.



Look at today's preschool children. The iPad has become their busy box.  They are confused at paper magazines that do not scroll to touch.  They can have relatively complex conversations and they understand pictures and icons.  They are on cell phones and would soon learn to text just as they learned to speak and listen.  And these children come to school in a 21st Century environment.  And then, we…

I am taking a Film class that focuses on using media in connection with the school curriculum. My interest is in Foreign Films and hope to synthesize the films with reading material and writing prompts in a community college English setting. I am seeking any sources that I could use for both a paper and eventually in my own classes.

Thanks

We are working on a Film Canon Project for eventual publication and sharing with teachers regarding recommended films for students K-12.  Our list will be developmental, annotated, and vetted.   This is work on the part of our Curriculum 21  faculty and will appear in a new series that I am editing for Solution-Tree.  Thank you! Heidi Hayes Jacobs  …

As part of the Digital Youth Network's professional development, DYN set out to explore how critical media literacy can help Chicago middle school students become responsible and savvy digital producers.

We are quickly approaching the end of the school year.  My kids take their SOL (standardized state test) on Tuesday - so I'm searching for things to run them through on Monday - drill and kill.  But, I'd also like to find some games to play with them that will teach them.  Any ideas?  My boss has mentioned cause & effect - and I have a Smart Board "game" with figurative language.  I'll probably use that.  I could really use some help.  And any suggestions for the rest of the year - we're…

Pepsi Pulse, a social media-driven interactive dashboard for everything pop culture, went live Monday morning in preparation for PepsiCo’s new celebrity-infused “Live for Now” global ad campaign, premiering May 7.

The real-time platform (see above) lives at Pepsi.com and curates trending pop culture and entertainment news. You’ll also find original content, such as deals and celebrity challenges. The dashboard also highlights…

Well, I think we KNOW the answer to this question. But just the same, here is  a piece I came across  from INSTRUCTOR Magazine, November/December 2011 issue.

Media educator Frank Baker is pleased to announce that he will host two Fall 2012 webinars for the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).  Please feel free to share this information:



October 2    Using Popular Culture & The Media to Teach 21st Century Media Literacy Skills

Description and registration info at:…

I've just discovered a crowd funding site, called Kickstarter and launched a campaign for my project, Arithmetic Village.  Have a look at it, it may be a great way for teachers to finally find funding to create projects they know work!

My 7th grades classes are reading "Tangerine." I am looking for short stories to complement the theme, sibling rivalry.  Any ideas? 

Hi everyone,



I have used this resource for a few years now, so thought I should. Book and videos are can be ordered or found on the site itself. It deals with Antisemitism and stereotyping. The readings are high school level, but can be adapted. The site is :

http://www.fightingantisemitism.com/

They are a wonderful organization, and will send out as many packages as requested (I believe they have sent out…

Hi everyone,



I have used this resource for a few years now, so thought I should. Book and videos are can be ordered or found on the site itself. It deals with Antisemitism and stereotyping. The readings are high school level, but can be adapted. The site is :

http://www.fightingantisemitism.com/

They are a wonderful organization, and will send out as many packages as requested (I believe they have sent out…