It has come to that time of year that we all sit back and reflect on what went on in our lives over the last 365 days. For some of us older folk this yearly indulgence has become more of a legacy measurement than just a checklist of what was done last year.  At this stage of my life I find myself in a unique position to help connect and engage educators in huge numbers and using methods that were not imagined a few years ago. I might say that this is an assessment of my digital footprint. I…

It has come to that time of year that we all sit back and reflect on what went on in our lives over the last 365 days. For some of us older folk this yearly indulgence has become more of a legacy measurement than just a checklist of what was done last year.  At this stage of my life I find myself in a unique position to help connect and engage educators in huge numbers and using methods that were not imagined a few years ago. I might say that this is an assessment of my digital footprint. I…

It has come to that time of year that we all sit back and reflect on what went on in our lives over the last 365 days. For some of us older folk this yearly indulgence has become more of a legacy measurement than just a checklist of what was done last year.  At this stage of my life I find myself in a unique position to help connect and engage educators in huge numbers and using methods that were not imagined a few years ago. I might say that this is an assessment of my digital footprint. I…

The "village" is currently not in working order. There was a time when you could send your children outside to play, safely. There was a time when children could walk to school, safely. There was a time when neighbors were just as responsible for one another's children, and would ensure the safety of each child. 

As gun violence continues, will LaPierre and the NRA recommend Armed Guards on Firetrucks or arm Firemen with guns- as if firemen don't have enough to worry…

Three Professional Reads That are Worth Your Time

The Tempered Radical by Bill Ferriter

What Middle School Students Need to Read

Claire Needell Hollander is an English teacher at a public middle school in New York City. She is the author of "Something Right Behind Her."

UPDATED DECEMBER 27, 2012, 6:03 PM

Observing the Common Core Classroom

In the wake of the holiday gift giving season and the trajectory of increased online shopping it is worth taking a look at changing trends in commerce and how that may or may not apply to education.  One of these trends is an ever increasing volume of package deliveries throughout the world.  The first part of this examination really goes beyond holiday shopping habits or the number of packages delivered, and seeks to recognize the vastly changed landscape that we live in today compared to…

Bridging the New Digital Divide

How to Unleash Creativity

“Most people are born creative,” say Tom Kelley (University of California/Berkeley and University of Tokyo) and David Kelley (Stanford University) in this thoughtful Harvard Business Review article. “As children, we revel in imaginary play, ask outlandish questions, draw blobs and call them dinosaurs.” But as the years pass, formal education takes its toll and many people no longer see themselves as…

Eighty-Six Things I Learned at P.S. 86 (Hallie Fox)

Arming Educators Is a Bad Idea! Thoughts from a School Principal

I hate the fact that this country has been thrown into this discussion the way that it has. The events leading to this discussion were costly and horrific. As I have stated before we need to discuss the facts and not propaganda or demagogy. We should also examine the facts without emotion which, in light of events and the victims, seems an impossible task. Educators have now been thrust into the discussion as a result of so many schools being victimized. There is also a consideration by some…

The 8 Aspects of Teacher Learning

Posted by Sr Geralyn Schmidt on Dec 20, 2012 in Less Teacher, More Student, …

Second-Language Learning