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Thursday, July 24, 2014

FREE WestEd Webinar: A Curriculum-First Approach to Technology and the Web

Many educators have concerns about the way that technology can seem like a haphazard element of instruction--something that gets added into the classroom because it seems important and on-trend, but isn't necessarily integrated with the curriculum.

This free webinar from WestEd helps present ideas and strategies for making technology a central, integrated, transformative part of the learning environment, and not merely something added on in an ad hoc manner.

Take a look at the webinar (roughly 1hr and 15 minutes) to get a better sense of how everything from technology infrastructure to stakeholder readiness can impact the way technology is integrated into the curriculum.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH!

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Free Video Series--Geometry Instruction for K-8 Teachers!

If you have spare time this summer, take a look at the amazing, in-depth, comprehensive teacher resources from ANNENBERG LEARNER. The mission of the nonprofit organization is "To Advance Excellent Teaching in American Schools." The website is full of fantastic resources for all disciplines, and well worth a closer look.

Included in those resources are a number of in-depth video courses with supporting materials targeted to a variety of grade levels and subject areas. THIS VIDEO SERIES helps frame geometry, not only as a set of skills or objectives for your students to master, but also as a strategic method for problem solving in general. To follow the entire series, you should allow for the better part of a day. Begin with the first session, and then follow along with the prompts to move through the entire series.


Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Common Core--Spanish Translation!

For educators who work in Spanish-English bilingual classrooms, the notion of translating the Common Core State Standards can mean something much more concrete than finding ways to build rubrics, or develop crosswalks, or create links from one set of resources to another. It can mean finding ways to make actual translations of the standards. And anyone who works across multiple languages knows that translation can very often be a challenging exercise--even moreso when contending with phrases and concepts within the CCSS that demand precision, accuracy, and specificity.

This initiative, a collaboration from the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), the California Department of Education (CDE) and the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE), offers a free version of the Math and ELA Common Core State Standards, in Spanish translation.

CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE! There are book recommendations and other resources available as well, so be sure to look around.