What do crossword puzzles have to do with the American Civil War? According to a 2020 study published in Participatory Educational Research, playing games can enhance social studies education. Gamification – using game-based elements such as point scoring and peer competition – not only helps students do better in school but makes it so they…
“American children are starting 2022 in a crisis,” New York Times reporter David Leonhardt said. His article, No Way to Grow Up, pub. Jan. 4, 2022, gives a heartbreaking summary of how pandemic restrictions’ have hurt children in the U.S. The devastating facts he reported are enough to make you sick. “I have long been…
When you hear social-emotional learning (SEL), you may think of helping students overcome depression and anxiety and improving classroom behavior. But did you know SEL can also prepare students to change the world through civic engagement? Educators and researchers affirmed the power of SEL in civic engagement education at the 2021 SEL Exchange Virtual Summit.…
Tips on Making Studies Weekly More Engaging for Younger Students If you teach kindergarten or first grade, you may have received your Studies Weekly publications and wondered, “How do I make this engaging for my students when they’re still learning to read and write?” While each publication has lexiled text to make reading easier for…
Teaching Students About Veterans Day How do you honor someone who went to war so that you wouldn’t have to? On November 11, Americans celebrate Veterans Day to honor those who have served in the US Armed Forces. Educators can foster an appreciation for service members by teaching students about Veterans Day and why we…
How can you make social-emotional learning fun for elementary students? First, let’s refresh our memory on what social-emotional learning (SEL) is. The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) defines SEL as the process through which students learn how to: Develop healthy identities Manage emotions Achieve personal and collective goals Feel and show empathy…
Not sure how to spend your ESSER funds? Here’s a quick summary of how Studies Weekly qualifies for COVID relief funds, and how our print and online materials can help you meet students’ academic, social, and emotional needs. ESSER II: Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act This Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief…
What do students need to excel in school? Your first thoughts may be intelligence, knowledge, or a good work ethic. But what about their ability to work well with others or control their emotions? Students achieve academic success and have better mental health when they develop interpersonal and self-management skills through social-emotional learning (SEL). The…
Why Children Need Recess “Never kid a kid who hasn’t had his recess.” – T.J. Detweiler, Recess cartoon Do students really need recess, or is it better to give them more class time? It’s a question educators, parents, and school boards discuss frequently. With all the standards and testing requirements students need to meet,…
Remember when phones were attached to the wall, and were used only to call people? As STEM fields continue to advance at a rapid rate, elementary school science becomes an important foundation that children can build their future careers on. Research shows project-based learning can help elementary schools improve their science instruction so students gain…