Wolfram Alpha is a great way to make the internet work for your students. It takes the input and rather than just searching for it like other search engines, it analyses the input and returns interesting information. Searching for words can give you the frequency that those words turn up in written language, the date [...]
The Program for International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) has released the results of their latest wide-scale study, and they aren't good. Full results can be read here, but the breakdown is that besides the US's usual below-average global performance in math and literacy, we are now scoring last in technological literacy as well. This is surprising [...]
Glose is one of my favorite online reading platforms because of all the free content it provides as well as the options it allows for tailoring the service to your students' needs. Like other reading platforms, there are tons of books to purchase but what really sets Glose apart is the large library of free [...]
Because of changes to federal testing regulations, more schools are pushing to assess things like joy and grit along with other socio-emotional skills. Some teachers think this is a great idea because it prepares students for the real world, while others are worried that this can open up an uncomfortable can of worms. What are [...]
In this increasingly computer-driven world, logical thinking is something that students need now more than ever. But how can we get kids using their brains that way? Remember those grid-based logic puzzles that we all did during elementary and middle school? (I know I sure do!) Now there's a website that offers thousands of unique puzzles [...]
The trend in education seems to be shifting rapidly towards totally personalized education, and there is certainly a place for technology in assisting teachers with this undertaking. But no one has really stopped to talk about whether personalized learning can actually reduce the achievement gap. Diane Tavenner, CEO of Summit Public Schools, a blended learning [...]
An oldie but a goodie, the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) is an invaluable resource for any student (or teacher) who is writing a formal paper. In addition to the popular style guides that help students with the specifics of MLA, APA, and Chicago writing styles, the website also offers lessons on mechanics, grammar, spelling, [...]
As part of the president's ConnectED initiative, the New York Public Library has partnered with several nonprofits and publishing companies to create an app that will allow students to access thousands of popular books for free. Open eBooks is available to teachers at schools that qualify for the program based on First Book's eligibility guidelines. This [...]
This comprehensive website contains tools that help students practice the theory aspects of music, ranging from simple staff identification all the way to the mechanics of chord progressions. The website includes lessons to teach the techniques as well as quizzes that test student knowledge. There are also tools that help students calculate certain musical relationships [...]
Guided reading is an important part of the literacy curriculum, but it can become time consuming. Irma De La Guardia, a teacher-turned-principal, has some advice. And, yes, it involves getting the technology to work for you rather than the other way around.