To learn more, check out the School Libraries Impact Studies conducted by the Library Research Service.
It's Bond, James Bond....in the classroom! I was pretty excited to come across this classroom connection featuring Bond from the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. With lesson plans for language arts, science, history, government/civics, current events, and psychology, this fun resource is a great way to shake up your classroom. I wanted to share this inspiring lecture from Neil Gaiman, featured in The Guardian, on the importance of promoting a love of reading among today's youth. Gaiman, the author of many bestselling and critically acclaimed novels for both youth and adults, details how reading fiction is both the gateway to reading in general, a tool for building empathy, and a way to discover a different world. Gaiman makes an impassioned plea for encouraging youth to read whatever interests them so they can develop into lifelong readers and learners. He enumerates the many ways in which a literate society is vital for the success of the future, and the important role that libraries and, really, anyone who has an influence on youth, have in encouraging and promoting literacy. Click the link above to read the whole article - it's well worth your time, I promise you! Here's an interesting article from the NY Times on encouraging reading in young people. I particularly like the advice on promoting reading as its own reward. We're often tempted to offer incentives for reading, but I think the article nails it when it says, "[t]reat reading not as the path to a golden ticket; but as the golden ticket itself." Check out the article and/or Raising Kids Who Read by Daniel T. Willingham for more advice and tips. School Library Journal (SLJ) recently posted an article on using the app Duolingo to enhance language learning in the classroom. The newly designed offshoot for schools includes a dashboard that allows teachers to track student progress. This can be a great way to encourage reluctant learners to practice their language skills in a fun environment. Plus, the app founder is committed to keeping the app free for all users. On a scale of 1-5, SLJ gave Duolingo a 5 on both its overall impression and educational utility. I've used Duolingo myself in the past, and it really is a fun and easy to use learning tool. Visit the Duolingo for Schools website for more information.
Here's a novel way to spice up your classroom: have students work on a self-publishing project. This U.S. News & World Report article talks about high school teachers who have incorporated self-publishing projects into English and even science classes. Self-publishing projects can help students gain writing, comprehension, editing, proofreading, graphic design, and marketing skills that translate into real world workforce skills.
An interesting short article entitled "Cut to the Core: Five Common Core Stories to Watch This Spring" from Publisher's Weekly highlights several areas at the forefront of the Common Core controversy. A good FYI to familiarize yourself with the most recent issues.
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news & UpdatesTeacher-specific news and updates. Archives
May 2015
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