While it may seem like communication is easier than ever with all the technology available to us and our students, quantity is no substitute for quality when it comes to this particular “C”. According to “An Educator’s Guide to the 4Cs,” published by the National Education Association, communication involves “expressing thoughts clearly, crisply articulating opinions, communicating […]
Technology
Objects in the Sky: Interactive Astronomy Simulations
In several of my classes recently, we’ve been studying objects in the sky in some form or fashion. Whether we’re talking about how the Earth, moon, and sun move in relation to each other, eclipses and moon phases, constellations, or the different planets in our solar system, kids love to learn about those mysterious objects […]
Website Review: CyArk – Digital Heritage Preservation
WOW! Just WOW! Jessica brought this site to my attention recently, but she forgot to warn me I would get lost in it! CyArk stands for Cyber Archive. They are a non-profit organization with the mission of “using new technologies to create a free, 3D online library of the world’s cultural heritage sites before they […]
Book Review: Whoosh!: Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions, by Chris Barton
Why I Picked It Up: Woosh! was posted on a blog I follow. Unfortunately, I comb through about thirty blog posts a day and I don’t remember which one! However, it was posted and the cover caught my eye. So I tracked it down at our public library. Why I Finished It: As a mom of […]
Did You Know? Visualization with The New York Times
“A picture is worth a thousand words.” As educators, we know that to be true! It seems that our students remember much more of what we are teaching them if there is a powerful visual attached to it! Images can be used for many things in your classroom – initiating conversations and class discussions, sparking students’ […]
Book Review: I Yam a Donkey, by Cece Bell
Why I Picked It Up: The title and cover. Yep, judged this on by the cover! I love puns, ridiculous puns, the ones that you don’t want to laugh at, but can’t resist! Why I Finished It: It is ridiculous, yes, but it is funny! This book is the whole, “who’s on first” routine. Throughout […]