Education News

Weekly Newsletter August 6, 2014 Earn an Online Teaching Degree WGU’s competency-based approach lets you leverage your experience and education while balancing life, family and school.  Get the support of a dedicated mentor to take you all the way to graduation and beyond. The university offers teacher licensure programs as well as master’s programs for already-licensed teachers. Explore the possibilities at WGU Teachers College.   Daily editing builds students' skills! With Every-Day Edit exercises, challenge students to find and fix 10 errors in spelling, capitalization, punctuation or grammar. Awesome August Topics: Columbus Sets Sail Elvis Presley First White House Baby Education News Teacher Calls Students 'Lazy Whiners,' Loses Free-Speech Suit The judge ruled that the school was within its rights to conclude that the teacher’s posts “would erode the necessary trust and respect between [her] and her students.” Blogger Fired for ‘Associating School with Homosexuality’ A school employee posted about how “homophones” sound the same, but have different meanings, (e.g., “peace” and “piece”). A week later, he lost his job. Born or Made? How to Build a Better Teacher While there’s no single recipe for a great educator, top teachers do tend to approach these things differently. Learn their secrets!   Lesson Planning Eight Great STEM Activities for Students The Web offers plenty of fun activities to engage students in STEM. Here are some great ones! Activities for the First Week of School: K-6 Try these five fresh ideas to help younger students get to know each other during the first few days and weeks of school. Best Instructional Videos: Pandemics Throughout History Explore the horrors of deadly infectious diseases including smallpox, the Bubonic Plague and the Spanish Flu. Search for more lesson plans by subject and explore our Lesson Plans of the Day.   Early Childhood Back-to-School Bus Here’s a cute bulletin board idea for the start of the new school year. Poems for Early Childhood: House Full of Love This rhyme teaches children that “home is where the heart is.” Make Your Own Leaf Book Celebrate trees and help students remember their leafing expeditions. See more Early Childhood content here.   Professional Development Icebreakers for Special-Needs Students Students with disabilities may lack confidence or have physical limitations. These back-to-school activities help them feel comfortable. Five Ways to Get Ready for Back-to-School Need reminders about good practices, or just a confidence boost? Get tips to help you prepare for the new school year. 12 Questions to Help You Revise a Lesson Freshening up those lessons for a new crop of students? Asking yourself these key questions will ensure the best results. Don’t miss our Prof. Dev. Columns and Classroom Management Tips.   Technology A Teacher’s Back-to-School Tech Guide Need hardware, apps and sites for the new school year? This quick guide will get you up to speed. Tech in the Classroom: ActivPanel Touch This is an innovative 65” or 70” multi-touch, interactive screen that can be used in the classroom. Site Review: 20Q.net Here's a fun and mentally stimulating online version of the game 20 Questions, perfect for both teachers and students.   Administrators Beyond Icebreakers: Building Student Connectedness Students need to form bonds not only with their classmates, but with the school at large. Those who do show higher achievement. Tech in the Classroom: Pebble Smartwatch This device makes apps, notifications and other features accessible on one's wrist. Get student texts and more! Welcoming Students Who Are New to the Building Making “new kids” feel connected and supported is a crucial part of positive school climate. Get great ideas here. Browse administrator columns in our archive. Could You Be Our Next Teacher of the Day? Share your successes in the classroom, plus a few interesting facts that make you unique. Click here to submit yourself for consideration, and be sure to check out all of our honorees!Every month, Teachers of the Day from that month are entered in a prize drawing. The winning Teacher of the Month receives a $100 school-supply gift card. Meet our July Teacher of the Month, Julie Pettibone! At the end of the calendar year, one lucky Teacher of the Year wins a $250 school-supply gift card.   The EdWorld Exchange Sell original curricular materials such as lesson plans, worksheets, templates, teaching guides and more! Simply upload your files and set the prices. The sales transaction takes place on the platform, and we provide immediate downloads to buyers. It’s that easy! School Funding Center Need funding for your school? Find grant money fast with the most comprehensive grant database available. Check out ourFREE Trial today! This Week's Featured Grant: Grant Name: Mary McMullan Grants Funded By: National Art Education Foundation (NAEF) Description: NAEF invites proposals for projects that promote art education as an integral part of the curriculum in elementary and secondary schools, as well as higher education. Average Amount: $2,500.00 Telephone: 703-860-8000 E-mail: info@arteducators.org Website: National Art Education Foundation Eligibility: Public School, Private School, Higher Education Program Areas: Arts Deadline: 10/1/2014 For more grant opportunities, check out the School Funding Center Blog. Take Our User Survey Your feedback on EducationWorld.com helps us provide the best possible resources for educators. Complete the quick survey, and you'll be entered in a monthly drawing for a $100 school-supply gift card! Congratulations to July winner Miranda Lopez. Schoolnotes.com On this FREE platform, post homework, create and share flashcards, keep a calendar of events and upload documents, images and URLs. Students and parents receive notification when you update your SchoolNotes page.