21st Century Learning with Studies Weekly

Dear SW Blog Readers,

Education is moving toward “Standards-based Instruction” and shows no sign of slowing down!  Take a look at the two media links below:  The Power Point demonstrates how you can use Studies Weekly to drive your Standards-based instruction and the other link provides you with a “close up” of how to “Unpack a Benchmark”.  I’d love to learn about what 21st Century learning is going on in your classrooms, so please post your comments!

Unpacking a Standard

21st Century Learning with Studies Weekly KM pdf

Kim Mogilevsky Kim Mogilevsky

Boynton Beach, FL


Lovely Legacy Letters

Who doesn’t adore receiving a special letter? Especially one written by a child!  We can’t save every paper and project but a letter written from the heart is the consummate treasure. Each February I ask my students to write a ‘Love Letter’ to a significant adult in their life. I have to explain to my class that although I adore technological proficiency, I have a secret and lasting hope that electronic communications won’t ever eliminate paper and ink completely. Really, there’s nothing that can compare to a handwritten expression. So, to help things along I give my class large, laminated lists of lexicon for the love letters (don’t you just love alliteration?), hoping (okay, requiring) that students will apply at least some writing skills to this activity in a meaningful way. After editing, we put our letters on colored paper and decorate them with stickers and drawings. It’s one of my favorite things to read the beautiful and innocent sentiments. Over the years, I’ve had students’ moms calling me up crying their eyes out, moved to tears by the outpouring of idolization never thought possible from 9-year olds. The legacy of love lives. Candy conversation hearts can’t compare. (I promise I’ll arrest the alliteration anon.)

These legacy letters are among those items that will gather dust in a drawer, brought out only when the 9 year old becomes 14 and the mom needs a reminder of the true and loving heart inside of the child. These are the letters that sit in the cedar chest that becomes part of the dowry (another nearly-lost tradition?), read by the dad the night before he walks the child down the aisle on the wedding day. These crispy letters will be read again, with their peeling edges and blurred creases, when grandchildren have recently come into the world. And read once again when age threatens to rob us of precious time on this Earth.

Legacy Letters aren’t limited to classrooms or to Valentine’s Day. Get a little group of colleagues or friends together, toss out a few boxes of nice stationery and write some letters together – for birthdays, Mother’s or Father’s Day, anniversaries, or meaningful family events. Your legacy literally lives through a lovely letter. (Okay, I’m heading to Alliteratives Anonymous at once!) The power of words amazes everyone and a heartfelt letter, no matter the writer’s skill, is more priceless than any other imaginable gift. And each time it is read, it keeps on giving more and more. Just keep the tissue box nearby.

Thanks for reading, and remember to keep writing,

Monica Sherwin

Ormond Beach


Easy Technology for Teachers & Students

In past blog articles, we discussed The Rigor & Relevance Framework.  To students, technology is relevant!  In addition, Common Core Standards and many State Standards require students to utilize technology to further their own understanding of concepts and the world around them.

Sample – State of Florida Next Generation of Sunshine State Standard

LA.3.6.3.2: The student will identify and explain different production elements used in media messages (e.g., color, sound effects, animation) and use the elements appropriately in a multimedia production.

LA.3.6.4.1: The student will use appropriate available technologies to enhance communication and achieve a purpose (e.g., video, websites).

LA.3.6.4.2: The student will use digital tools (e.g., word processing, multimedia authoring, web tools, graphic organizers) to present and publish in a variety of media formats.

The following sites are all tested by educators and third graders, they are user-friendly, and most importantly are FREE for teachers and students!  Suggestions are included for how to incorporate these featured websites into lessons you can use immediately:

1.  www.glogster.com :

  • Think of this site as a way to create a digital poster!  You can choose clipart and add text for a simple design or add sound, music, video, scanned work and photos.
  • Set up a free educator account – email address is required and you can add up to 30 students to your account.
  • Check out this glog on Vertebrates:

http://kmogilev.edu.glogster.com/vertebrates-block-2/

  • Can you imagine asking your students to create a glog on the three branches of government?  What about researching Thomas Jefferson?

2.  www.surveymonkey.com :

  • This is an easy polling website.  Student can practice voting and then gather the data and put it into all sorts of graphs or charts!
  • Set up a free account – basic user information is required to set up the account.  You can give students a link to your survey and start gathering info!
  • Here’s a link to a survey created just for you!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8J33C32

3.  www.prezi.com :

  • This web tool is like an upgraded PowerPoint but there’s nothing to download and the video-tutorial is approximately two minutes long.
  • Set up a free account – basic user information is required to set up the account.
  • This tool can be used for a shared writing-digital experience – it is still a user-friendly site, but students may need more of your attention and guidance initially until they feel comfortable working independently.
  • Here’s a basic Prezi created to introduce the three documents introduced in the Student Edition;  The Declaration of Independence, The Articles of Confederation, and The Constitution:  http://prezi.com/wddthg9bbttp/

*The author has created this as a template which means you may use it and add more information to customize this Prezi!

  • The uses of a Prezi are limitless – your students can create reports, Venn Diagrams, and activities for their classmates to explore!

Kim MogilevskyKim Mogilevsky

Boynton Beach


A Toast to Tech

Throughout history we’ve watched the business world become more efficient and streamlined with the use of technology, yet schools lag behind. Teachers’ challenges just seem to increase and complications augment as we deal with issues of accountability, governance, families, testing, discipline and even safety. Schools are looked upon as being outside the progressions of the rest of the world, the “real” world.  In that world, when over-mechanization leaves people weak, somebody invents yet another machine to exercise us and push us back into ideal condition.  Teachers must be inventive to stay strong and in condition as well. I’m doing something about that this New Year! I’m toasting technology and I invite you to join me.

You know that technology is growing exponentially outside the classroom walls. A few short years ago, it was enough to have on your I-Pod some of the same popular songs as your students. Now we marvel at the speed and advancement of information exposure in kids’ lives, a lot of which is absent from our own. Technology molds everything today! But how do we separate the meat from the fluff? And, am I the only one feeling a bit left behind? You can probably FB or tweet me a response. So, to toast tech, here are my resolutions:

This New Year I resolve to learn new skills in order to tech up. I can be an outstanding educator only if I engage in serious learning, develop in meaningful ways and become better at disseminating knowledge practically. Yes, I mean by learning some appropriate new technology, by promoting STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and by paying more attention to what people do – technologically – outside of school! After I learn I’m actually going to use my new tech knowledge in class, not just in a fun-cutesy way but in practical, beneficial ways. I want to keep up with the world inhabited by my students (someone get me a double espresso, please)! I’ll have to take small steps what with district budget constraints and all. Plus, I don’t want to be some midnight tech junkie; I just want to solve a problem or two!

This New Year I resolve to ask for help from those knowledgeable and kind souls around me.   There is a wealth of untapped intelligence and energy in our profession. At every school, it’s easy to determine who is bright, who’s creative and who maintains hope among us, yet we don’t seek out those with such desirable qualities to mentor us or stoke us up nearly often enough.  Who wants to pick the brain of the ‘techie’ teacher but doesn’t want to look incompetent (perhaps you ARE the ‘techie’ teacher so good for you – will you please help me solve one little issue on my new MOBI device???)? We can help each other most. We are familiar with our needs.  We know more about learning new things than anybody! We must have faith in ourselves, take a little risk and utilize the collective expertise around us. If I need support, I’m going to ask for it (but not during lunch, I promise). And I will “hold the mouse.”

Will carrying out these resolutions make my job easier? No. So much new learning to do-so little time!  Will my teaching get better? Yes, I’m pretty sure my classroom will become a more dynamic part of the real world (hopefully sooner rather than later). And finally, is this all REALLY necessary? Oh, ya. I’m betting my professional life on it. Cheers!

Happy New Year and Thanks for Reading,

Monica Sherwin

Ormond Beach


A Civics Recession

On January 10, 2012 at a White House Press Conference, the Association of American Colleges and Universities President, Carol Geary Schneider, joined with United States Undersecretary of Education, Martha Kanter, to present, “A Crucible Moment: College Learning and Democracy’s Future”, authored by the National Task Force on Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement.  Ms. Schneider identified our education system as going through a “civics recession”.  As an educator, when I heard the phrase, “civics recession”, I thought to myself, “Oh, great.  Here’s another person or group ready to report that teachers and schools in America stink.”  I’ll be the first to tell you that the big secret (that isn’t a secret) is that social studies, or civics, is usually the first to get pushed aside in favor of high-stakes tested subjects like reading, math, and science.  After rolling “civics recession” around in my head, I realized that we are in a civics recession!  Who has time to teach history, geography, civics, economics, world cultures, and current events?  (I’ll give you a hint:  You do.  Keep reading to see why…)

You may already know that Studies Weekly loves their teachers and students.  You and your students are the reason why we work to continuously improve our content and products.  Here’s another exciting partnership that Studies Weekly has created:  Studies Weekly publications now feature ‘American Civics’ – A regular column by Richard Dreyfuss to showcase examples of civic skills in action throughout American History.  Click on the link below to view an exclusive video: http://www.studiesweekly.com/RDvid1

I would love to hear your thoughts on our newest partnership with Richard Dreyfuss and The Dreyfuss Initiative.  2012 is the year for you and Studies Weekly to end the civics recession in classrooms across America!

Bibliography:

  1. Wesleyan University – President Michael S. Roth’s blog entry: http://roth.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2012/01/12/opportunity-engagement-and-confidence-cures-for-the-civic-recession/
  2. For Democracy’s Future: Education Reclaims Our Civic Mission (Part 2)     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZrOLJE8yBo
  3. The Washington Post:  Restore Civics to the College Curriculum by Daniel de Vise  http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/college-inc/post/guest-post-restore-civics-to-the-college-curriculum/2012/01/10/gIQA0rj3nP_blog.html
  4. AAC&U President Carol Geary Schneider Speaks on Reclaiming the Civic Mission of Higher Education at White House Event  http://www.aacu.org/press_room/press_releases/2012/whevent10jan12.cfm
  5. The Dreyfuss Initiative    http://thedreyfussinitiative.org/index.php

Kim Mogilevsky

Kim Mogilevsky

Boynton Beach, Florida