Archives: Resources

You’ve probably seen xkcd comics before – Randall Munroe has a very different outlook on life. In this installment he looks at the current COVID-19 battle from the … learn more

With schools turning to the Internet to facilitate education activities, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are stepping up to the plate, providing free Internet hotspots and continued service during … learn more

To say things are “up in the air” regarding fall college admissions is an understatement. This article from NPR outlines some of the current issues for H.S. seniors … learn more

At the end of March, 2020, 185 countries had closed their schools, affecting 90 percent of the world’s students. The speed of these closures and the rapid move … learn more

The current stay-at-home environment is challenging for learning on a number of fronts. This article talks about how school districts in Colorado are trying to overcome the disparities … learn more

PROTECTING, MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF ALL MINNESOTANS

This article by Sarah Gonser highlights some issues that we will all face as states start to prepare contingency plans for a highly unpredictable Fall 2020 school year: … learn more

This post from NPR is another look at the current challenges facing schools as they try to reopen. Even in states where school reopening has been OK’ed, few … learn more

This post by Krista Kaput looks at issues specific to Minnesota, but is a reminder that the COVID-19 crisis has caused ripple effects across the education system, raising … learn more

This post by Amy Takabori explains why building a sense of community for your school during a school closure is important and gives 4 tips on how to … learn more

Mike Rowe’s recorded a commencement speech to all those graduating from a trade school, and to those high school graduates about to enter one. In these uncertain times, … learn more

Over the past couple of months, the world has received more evidence that face masks really can play a crucial role in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. … learn more

Parents, teachers and students across the country are gearing up for the new school year. But, as of mid-July, what schools and the school day would look like … learn more

Want to help advance the understanding of COVID-19? An easy way to help is downloading the COVID Symptom Study app onto your smartphone. It takes a few minutes … learn more

Given the wide variety of face coverings that people are wearing, how do we know which are effective? After explaining why masks are important, this post outlines two … learn more

Randall Munroe at xkcd uses the Star Wars’ Death Star to explain how mRNA vaccines work, like the ones currently available for COVID-19. While you may feel a … learn more

Harvard created the ATLAS Communities project which stretches further and links teachers at the elementary, middle and high school level. Discussion groups and case studies illustrated the process.

The STEM Careers Coalition, co-sponsored by Discovery Education, provides free resources for 6th-12th grade classrooms to develop key STEM and critical thinking skills in your students, aligned to … learn more

ISTE, the International Society for Technology in Education, has developed matrices for implementing skills, standards, and activities into both teacher education methods courses and field experiences. Rather than … learn more

IEA conducts large-scale comparative studies of educational achievement and other aspects of education, with the aim of gaining in-depth understanding of the effects of policies and practices within … learn more

Frank Potter’s Science Gems is a collection of “gems” that could be used to introduce beginning teachers or teachers new to technology to the Web.

A special interest group under the auspices of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) connects researchers and teachers. AERA encourages scholarly inquiry related to education and evaluation, and … learn more

The National Writing Project has worked hard to cultivate the concept of teacher as researcher. Online collaboration and publishing have bound this community, spread all over the US, … learn more

Nemours KidsHealth is the most-viewed site for dependable information on children’s health, behavior, and development from before birth through the teen years.

The Learning First Alliance, sponsored by almost all of the major volunteer and professional organizations in education, is dedicated to improving student learning in America’s public schools. They … learn more

One important aspect of family involvement that has been consistently overlooked is the need to prepare teachers for intensive work with families and communities. This study from the … learn more

MOODLE allows you to quickly create – or experiment with – your own on-line learning environment. MOODLE is an acronym for Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment. Moodle is … learn more

Brightspace provides online learning solutions that can be combined with face-to-face instruction, creating a blended learning environment that can be tailored to each student’s needs. Their solution includes … learn more

Annenberg Learner provides continuing education and graduate-level courses, in partnership with Colorado State University and PBS TeacherLine.

Edutopia Online, sponsored by the George Lucas Foundation, documents and disseminates innovative practices for administrators. Educators must always hone their craft. Discover the many formal and informal professional … learn more

The NSTA store offers a wide range of items to support their mission, including books, ClassPacks, and science objects. Check out their wide range of resources for implementing … learn more

The ISTE Standards provide the competencies for learning, teaching and leading with technology, and are a comprehensive road map for the effective use of technology in schools worldwide. … learn more

ISTE Blog, formerly EdTekHub, serves up ideas, content and resources for educators. Topics include digital citizenship, education leadership, media literacy, personalized learning, and tools & apps. A free … learn more

Get Educated, a distance learning resource center serves the population of students, eligible for adult education. They publish a free monthly newsletter – back issues are available at … learn more

Teaching Tolerance, part of the Tolerance.org web site, serves as a clearinghouse of information about anti-bias programs and activities. Their goal is to present some of the more … learn more

This article by Lindsay Holmes looks at how we approach mental health and posits that society’s reaction amounts to discrimination. Her proposition is that society’s outlook on mental … learn more

The Conflict Resolution Education Connection is divided into sections by group such as teachers and administrators. You can find classroom activities ,video resources and administrator how-to guides.

SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-4357 (HELP), TTY: 1-800-487-4889, is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance … learn more

As a concerned parent, teacher, or friend, there are many ways you can identify and help a teen suffering from depression. Covers identification, treatment, and the importance of … learn more

Youth Mental Health First Aid is a one day course designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, and others how to help an adolescent (age … learn more

Not everyone is comfortable opening up or talking with a professional. Tiny Buddha (not a site about the religion) posts curated stories, tips, and insights from readers of … learn more

PBS has developed this lesson plan for grades 9-12. In the lesson, students examine teenage depression: what it’s all about, how it feels, and ways to deal with … learn more

Students face abuse, neglect, are attacked and hurt. Many bounce back. Others are not so lucky. This video looks at the beauty of damage. How something that was … learn more

This resource provides teenagers with tips and tools for helping themselves or a friend.

In this Psychology Today article, Carl E Pickhardt reflects on what young people have reported in counseling about those teachers who seemed to work well for them. The … learn more

Research shows that unreasonable start times lead to chronic sleep deprivation in teens. This article looks at why are schools so slow to make changes and the movement … learn more

When counseling teens, ask them how much sleep they are getting. Sleep deprivation increases the likelihood teens will suffer myriad negative consequences, including an inability to concentrate, poor … learn more

KidsHealth in the Classroom offers educators free health-related lesson plans for PreK through 12th grade. Each Teacher’s Guide includes discussion questions, classroom activities and extensions, printable handouts, and … learn more

PBS’ FRONTLINE chronicles how scientists are exploring the recesses of the brain and finding some new explanations for why adolescents behave the way they do. These discoveries could … learn more

Being a teenager is hard. Especially when hormones play their part in wreaking havoc on the teenage body and brain. In this episode, Hank explains what is happening … learn more

Michael Linsin says one of the biggest classroom management mistakes teachers make is that they take disrespectful behavior personally. Better to simply and dispassionately follow your classroom management … learn more

Collaboration is not just for students. This article looks at the benefits of collaboration for teachers as well as students. For example, working with a small group of … learn more

Similar to the idea that two or three heads are better than one, educational researchers have found that through peer instruction, students teach each other by addressing misunderstandings … learn more

This post from the San Francisco Unified School Districtlooks at a number of questions surrounding Group Collaboration. Why bother with groupwork? Is groupwork good for learning? Characteristics of … learn more

Welcome to Cooperative and Collaborative Learning. In this session we’ll focus specifically on how this technique for using small, cooperative groups in education can help improve learning in your … learn more

Integrated curricula, team teaching, and technology tools have built up the academic achievement and self-esteem of these rural Louisiana middle school students. An interesting video on showing students … learn more

This resource, appropriate for older high school students and adults, looks at cyberstalking and what to do if you are a victim. It looks at the difference between … learn more

Cyberbullying is a real problem that is dominating the bullying trends in schools today. This infographic can be used to as a resource by your students, and to … learn more

Bars and Melody, a rap duo consisting of 15-year-old Charlie and 13-year-old Leondre, compete on “Britain’s Got Talent”. Singing a modified version of “Hope” by Twista and Faith … learn more

This set of 5 short videos was created by students in the Video Production elective class at Palm Middle School in Los Angeles, CA. The students made a … learn more

Kids react to a bullying video and discuss the topic. Each one has a different perspective.

Danny Keefe has apraxia of speech, meaning he has a hard time getting words out clearly enough for others to understand. He also likes to wear a jacket, … learn more

Resources for kids, young adults, parents and educators. Webisodes talk about how to take a stand against bullying. Get ideas for things you can do to make the … learn more

Mackenzie Grate describes how they reset the culture in their classroom with sticky notes and brown paper bags. Highly recommended. You can print this out and pass it … learn more

The National Teachers Enhancement Network (NTEN) offers online, graduate-level science courses from a world-class public research university. NTEN was one of the first online professional development programs for … learn more

NCREST works to advance education stakeholders’ understanding of the complex and challenging work of restructuring schools. They conduct research, foster connections, and share expertise, resources, and images that … learn more

From Now On’s “The Question is the Answer” page tells you how to create a Questioning ToolKit to encourage student questioning and research. Quite good.

From Now On publishes an educational technology journal with topics, such as “After technology – What then?” looking at how the introduction of technology does not help without … learn more

SciCentral editors aggregate breaking research news from the most reputable and reliable sources. Check out Today’s Highlights on the home page or drill down into an area of … learn more

Education Week is available online. You can explore particular issues and search the archives. In an early September issue a calendar of key conferences nationwide is published by … learn more

SmartBrief highlights articles of interest to educators from across the Internet. View the latest articles on-line or subscribe to their newsletter.

Sponsored by WestED, CSTI provides a range of school improvement resources, and connects users with specialists and other educators to share school turnaround research and promising practices. Their … learn more

Regional Educational Laboratories (RELs) work in partnership with school districts, state departments of education, and others to use data and research to improve academic outcomes for students. Fundamentally, … learn more

Education Northwest conducts nearly 200 projects annually, working with schools, districts, and communities across the country on comprehensive, research-based solutions to the challenges they face. Their blog discusses … learn more

The Best Evidence Encyclopedia (BEE) is intended to give educators and researchers fair and useful information about the strength of the evidence supporting a variety of programs available … learn more

The United States Food and Drug Administration in collaboration with NCPIE and Montgomery County, Maryland, have developed a middle school curriculum called Medicines in My Home–about safe use … learn more

National Science Teacher Association (NSTA) has a section on lesson plans on a variety of science topics for elementary, middle school, and high school students

Ben Johnson looks at how a middle school teacher can cope? Two tools: Distraction and Relationship.

MiddleWeb is all about the middle grades — with a sharp focus on teaching and learning in grades 4-8. Topics range from bullying to history lesson redesigns to … learn more

September 17 is Constitution Day and Citizenship Day (Constitution Day). This day commemorates the September 17, 1787 signing of the United States Constitution.

This video was created to inspire teachers to use technology in engaging ways to help students develop higher level thinking skills. Equally important, it serves to motivate district … learn more

Founded in 2005 by a coalition of Oregon’s largest philanthropic foundations, Chalkboard worked with partners across the state of Oregon to advocate for the revival and revision of … learn more

Brian Stecher is a senior social scientist and the associate director of RAND Education. Stecher’s thesis is that our current system of assessment is innately inadequate and counterproductive. … learn more

Teacher Policy Research (TPR) is a research partnership between the University of Virginia, Stanford University and the University at Albany to develop policies that will attract and retain … learn more

NAESP, National Association of Elementary School Principals, can be differentiated from related sites, because it includes an online bookstore and an exchange registry by areas of interest and … learn more

The American Association of School Administrators offers a wide range of resources, including sections for professional development, cultural exchange, children’s programs, and public policy resources.

EdSource contains resources and links about every topic which school administrators must tackle today–from teacher quality to school finance. EdSource is a non-profit consultancy devoted to California education. … learn more

There’s even a rubric available to asses your rubrics.

RubiStar is a example of the tools available on-line to help teachers create quality rubrics. RubiStar includes a tutorial, numerous examples, and a way of making your rubrics … learn more

Kathy Schrock has compiles an entire library of rubrics for portfolio and performance task assessments for everything from Common Core State Standards to CCSS Lesson/Unit Review to Student … learn more

Using chocolate chip cookies as an example, this fun video introduces the concept of Rubics for grading. Sorry about the grainy video quality.

The National Education Technology Plan is the flagship educational technology policy document for the U.S. While acknowledging the continuing need to provide greater equity of access to technology … learn more

The Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA), founded by the Association of Computing Machinery, provides a constantly updated list of research articles and resources of interest to Technology Planners … learn more

The National Educators’ Association, sometimes at odds with school boards, has elected to offer a variety of resources about technology as well as other topics like “Health, Safety … learn more

The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) was enacted by Congress in 2000 to address concerns about children’s access to obscene or harmful content over the Internet. CIPA imposes … learn more

The Education and Libraries Networks Coalition (EdLiNC), formed in 1995, seeks to expand the use of educational technologies in schools and libraries by making sure that these entities … learn more

The Electronic Frontier Foundation champions user privacy, free expression, and innovation. Their goals are to ensure that rights and freedoms are enhanced and protected as the use of … learn more

The Huffington Post looks at disaster preparedness and what you can do, with a side of humor. From identifying escape routs to how you will reconnect and what … learn more