Keeping Content Current: Freshen it Up to Keep Kids Engaged.

from: wikimedia commons

You’ve all heard it. Teachers who have taught the same stuff, from the same lesson plans, in the same file cabinet forever. They usually say something along the lines of, “This worked for me when I was in school, so it will work for my students too.” Meanwhile, some of us are saying… “Wow… just wow.”

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Google Newspaper Archive, a Primary Source Paradise

Screenshot 2015-08-20 09.22.02

Have you ever struggled with finding good primary source material for students? As an English teacher, I teach a lot of literature. I have always taught a good bit of non-fiction as well, but the reality is, there are times I wish I could teach more of it.

With the advent of Common Core, or College Career Readiness Standards, or whatever catchy name your state has given them, non-fiction text has probably become a much larger part of the expectations.  History teachers are expected to pick up a significant share of that load, through the reading of primary source materials.

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Teaching History with EdTech

lincoln home

It’s good to be back in the swing of things. We have been on a little road trip/vacation. We had the chance to visit some of the Lincoln historical sites in Springfield, MO while on our trip. Watching my daughter take in the history was eye opening. My daughter has always been well read, and very interested in learning. However, it wasn’t until we were at the Lincoln museum that we realized just how ‘under-taught’ she was in history.

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