[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] If you are an educator, and especially an AP Teacher, or a current or former recipient of an AP education, you could not have missed the news this week that the […]
Social Studies
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Middle School, Social Studies, The Traveling Teacher
The New Teacher in a New Country, and Year 9 in IB Geography
By Guest Writer Melissa Kandido Melissa Kandido teaches IB Art, IB History, IB English, & IB Geography for middle and upper grades at the Windhoek International School in Windhoek, Namibia.  She is sharing with us her experiences and adventures this year as an international educator and IB teacher. Joining  a school community from a point […]
Posted inLiteracy, School Improvement, Social Studies, Technology, Uncategorized
Resolutions for a 1:1 iPad Pioneer
Just before the December recess a senior stopped me in the hall enthusiastic over his acceptance into college. He impressed upon me sincere gratitude for the letter of recommendation I had written. We exchanged compliments and I was given to reflection on two years we shared in history studies. In the recommendation I had highlighted his impassioned argument and […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured, Instruction & Curriculum, Science, Social Studies
Differentiation in Science and Social Studies: 3 Things to Keep in Mind
A common occurrence across the country is taking students and grouping them by abilities in order to better meet their needs. It is a perfect sounding theory. But once those students are grouped by ability, are they all exactly the same? Absolutely not. So, exactly how do you differentiate for those students within a similar population? […]
Posted inFeatured, Instructional Strategies, Middle School, Social Studies, Technology
STEAM Ahead- Social Studies Lesson- Part 2
It is two days before the winter holiday break as I wind down with students and their LED light projects. I entered this study with no experience in circuit design or understanding of how lights operate, I given up the security of time tested lessons for STEAM (Science, Technology Engineering, Art, Math). There was no need for […]
Posted inElementary School, English Language Learners, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy, Science, Social Studies, Uncategorized
Avoiding Round Robin in All Subject Areas
I am always amazed that the Round Robin reading still exists. The empirical evidence has shown that it is an ineffective teaching method. Just being an observant teacher would make you realize the kids are bored and off task. Worst of all, it brings humiliation to students who struggle with reading or English. So how […]
Posted inInstructional Strategies, Social Studies, Technology, Uncategorized
STEAM Inspired Spin on Social Studies
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math – the STEM subjects joined forces with Art (Design) to become STEAM, the acronym which stands for education that deliberately promotes 21st-century transformations in thinking. Social studies skills are not included as a focus and I like to think it’s because it is at the root of the original STEM.  As […]
Posted inCommon Core, Elementary School, Featured, Instruction & Curriculum, Middle School, Social Studies
Teaching Strategy: Adding Primary Sources to Elementary Social Studies
I don’t care which television news channel you select – I hate them all. Why? There are a variety of reasons. For one, they are all emotion, little fact. They focus on sound bites instead of the whole speech. They care way too much about celebrity and not about the common person. Most of all, […]