Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Moore Relief Effort Bundle

Teacher-sellers on Teachers Notebook can donate their products to benefit those harmed by the tornadoes in Moore, Oklahoma. I donated three products worth $30 - Common Core "I can" statement posters for 6th Grade, 7th Grade, and 8th Grade.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

California Common Core Standards - State Additions for Kinder, Second, and Fourth Grade Finished!

At my school and across parts of California, Seattle and New York, there's a movement afoot to delay teach the standards before students are tested on them. I won't weigh in on the issue at the moment, but I'll say that it seems reasonable. At my school, we are implementing the standards next year, but we're still considering whether the testing will take place or not. Among other things, there's concern that the technological requirements of the CCS assessments can't be met. Apparently, the tests will be computer-based. Although we have a pretty well-equipped school technologically (fast internet, several computer labs), the prospect of high stakes testing dependent on ALL the labs up and running when and where they are needed is a bit daunting.
testing students based on the Common Core standards. Teachers want more time to

Meanwhile, our state Secretary of Education Tom Torlakson just yesterday gave his two cents worth on the Common Core and state testing in California. His take: resist the urge to delay the tests.

In other, less serious, more colorful, and just plain fun California Common Core developments, I finished making posters for the California additions to the Common Core Standards for kindergarten, second grade, and fourth grade. These additions supplement my illustrated CCS posters.

Kindergarten -  11 additonal posters - 8 Language Arts and 3 Math
Second Grade - 8 additional posters - 5 Language Arts and 3 Math
Fourth Grade - 9 additional posters - 6 Language Arts and 2 Math

As always, if you need additional posters for your state's Common Core, don't hesitate to contact me. You can leave a comment here on the blog, contact me through my store, or email me at toboldlyteach@gmail.com.

Steven

Monday, May 6, 2013

Sci Fi Classrooms - 5 Ways Learning Happens in Distant Galaxies and Imagined Futures

This week, FASTCOMPANY released their list of the top 10 most innovative companies in education. The companies on the list are exploring cutting edge, hi-tech ways to revolutionize learning. It inspired me to compile my own list of gee-whiz learning from movies, books, TV, and the not too distant future. Here it is:

Five alternative modes of education from science fiction (and one from the no so distant future)



Star Trek: Vulcan Learning Pits (They are way cooler than the name implies.)

The Matrix "virtual reality learning."

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Where Kirk and crew received their training. Looks like a heckuva nice place to go to school. Located in San Francisco's Presidio.

Image Credit: Perpetual Games

Image


Dagobah (Where Yoda teaches Luke the ways of the Force.)

The EXO U EXO Desk This is the real one. Looks promising if it works the way they say it does.

Everything in The Galaxy on Sale! Teacher Appreciation Two Days of Discounts!

Greetings, Teachers! As you probably already know, Teachers Pay Teachers is having HUGE two-day sale for Teacher-Appreciation Week. The TpT sale is on May 7th and 8th. During the sale, everything will be 10% off, site-wide. 

But that's not all! To go along with the 10% off, I will be discounting everything in my store another 10% during the two day sale on Tuesday, May 7th and Wednesday, May 8th. 

My 10% discount will be automatic. Enter the PROMO CODE TAD13 at checkout to get the TpT 10% discount as well.

Steven