M-TRACT

Looking for some new ways to engage your students? This article has 27 ideas for you to try. They’re quick, they’re engaging, and there is very little prep. There are Quick Starts for the Day, Checks for Understanding, Collaboration and Discussion, Writing and Creation, SEL Support, Reflection and Exit Tickets. Enjoy and let me know if you find something that particularly works in your classroom 🙂

Here we are – artificial intelligence .. Most of our students knew about it before we did. Our job is to teach them that not everything they pull up on the Internet is true. A strong foundation in media literacy can empower them to make thoughtful decisions rather than accepting everything they read at face value.

This Edutopia article is a great resource for teaching elementary students how to evaluate online information.

https://www.edutopia.org/article/teaching-students-recognize-misinformation-online

While exploring resources on Edutopia, I searched for strategies to teach digital citizenship – a skill set vital in today’s digital age and an important component of the NYS K-12 Computer Science and Digital Fluency Standards. Being kind to one another is an important lesson for all, one we have instilled in our students from the moment they step into the classroom. With the onset of social media, these lessons become even more important and not just for children. Educators play an important role in cultivating respectful dialogue, both online and offline. Consider the nature of conversations on social media – do they foster respect for differing opinions? Teaching children to respect differing opinions, even when they disagree, is a cornerstone of digital citizenship. As educators, it’s essential that we model this behavior ourselves. The Edutopia article provides practical ideas to help educators teach and promote digital citizenship effectively. Enjoy 🙂

https://www.edutopia.org/article/facilitating-digital-citizenship

On this solemn day of remembrance, I salute our first responders and remember all those who suffered and/or died on 9/11 and continue to suffer today. It is a day that we can never forget.

I thought it appropriate to share a robust, free curriculum from the Tunnel to Towers Organization for K-12 students. You can find it at the following link:
https://t2t.org/9-11-institute/9-11-curriculum/

As educators, we need to share this knowledge with our students so they understand that freedom isn’t free. Never forget ❤️

As we step into a new year, the presence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is more prominent than ever. While AI can greatly enhance your planning, it’s crucial to verify its outputs for accuracy and bias. One such tool, Khanmigo, is available for free to teachers. It offers a variety of features for lesson creation and helps provide real-world context for students who often wonder, “Why do I need to learn this?” Since students are increasingly using AI, it’s important to guide them on how to use it responsibly.

Here’s a video that demonstrates available Khanmigo tools. Enjoy 🙂

We all know it – spring break is over and summer is around the corner. HOW do we keep our students focused? I saw this article on Edutopia and wanted to share it with you.

Notice the title: What’s YOUR solution? We learn from one another, so what a great idea to have teachers share their solutions for this well-known issue that all teachers as well as students face this time of year. Click the link to go to the site and see what teachers are saying, Have a great idea? Log in and join the conversation 🙂

https://www.edutopia.org/article/question-student-focus-before-summer

Enjoy 🙂

Your holiday break is upon you and if you find some free time, you may want to take a look at Edutopia’s thoughts regarding the 10 Most Significant Education Studies in 2023 located at the following link: https://www.edutopia.org/article/10-most-significant-education-studies-2023. You will find shortened reviews for each and when you find one of particular interest, you can click the link for a more in-depth explanation. As a former math teacher, I found the study regarding math picture books particularly interesting. Take a look and find your favorite!

Have a great holiday and see you next month 😉