We’re continuing our three-part series on podcasts-radio that is personalized to a topic in which you are especially interested-with a list of some great podcasts for middle schoolers. 1. Welcome to Night Vale. Tune into the community radio of this desert town for the news on local weather, the mysterious lights overhead, announcements from the Sheriff’s Secret Police, a dog park that prohibits dogs, and dark hooded figures with unknowable powers. Activity to try: Challenge students…
Podcasts have been growing in popularity over the past few years, and it’s more commonplace than not for adults to have a few favorites. It’s basically radio that is personalized to a topic in which you are especially interested–what’s not to like? Kids can also join in the trend! See our list below for some great podcasts for elementary age children. 1. The Radio Adventures of Eleanor Amplified: Listen as world-famous radio reporter Eleanor foils devious…
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are becoming more commonly used in our classrooms, with many new tools being added that promote more authentic and immersive learning experiences for students. Educators should welcome these unique tools because they can help with designing more authentic and innovative learning spaces, as well as act as a means to transform how students are learning. These tools enable educators to provide powerful opportunities for students to do more…
Studies show that the average teenager requires 9 to 9.5 hours of sleep per night, but she typically only gets 7. It’s becoming more and more common for the normal life of the average American high schooler to interfere with sleep. In a recent poll of 2,000 parents, 1 in 6 said their teen experiences frequent sleep problems, here defined as “having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep 3 or more nights per week.” More…
We live in a world of screens, and in this digital age full of so many devices and distractions, it’s become one of the things parents worry about most: How much time should kids spend staring at their phones and computers? When it comes to technology use, what’s the right balance between privacy and self-discovery? Research continues to provide answers on how parents are navigating this world with their children. A recent study that looked…
Look up from this screen right now. Take a look around. On a bus. In a cafe. Even at a stoplight. Chances are, most of the other people in your line of sight are staring at their phones or other devices. And if they don’t happen to have one out, it is certainly tucked away in a pocket or bag. But do we truly have a technology addiction? And what about our kids? It’s a scary…
It’s understandable if creating a classroom website has been at the low end of your priority list. Maybe you have been thinking about building one for a while, but who has the time? Unfortunately, classroom websites too often take the backseat. Either the website is too complicated to update on a regular basis and ends up being neglected, or perhaps you’re underwhelmed by the district issued site. Before you brush off the idea of creating…
What are the kinds of things you should look for in today’s classroom? The common response often begins and ends with technology, but it’s not all about the technology. We’ve listed here things to look for in modern classrooms in addition to technology. Let us know in the comments which you think is the most important, or if you’re a teacher, which you’d like to focus on in your classroom during the new school year.…
Teachers need to hear from their students in order to do their jobs well. In the process of understanding students, it is essential for them to find out exactly what students are thinking, what questions they might have, and what their needs are. Student feedback also helps guide teachers with their instruction. Thankfully, there are many ways to ask questions and myriad methods of gathering information from students today. It’s no longer necessary to even…
Learning Social Studies concepts can be a challenge for children, as there is a lot of ground to cover within this one subject. These apps alone range in subject matter from geography and world cultures to news and history. Utilizing modern technology can help! Here is a list of our favorite Social Studies apps currently available at the app store. News-2-You. This app is a virtual, symbols-based newspaper perfect for special-needs students. It includes the symbols…
