Published in Inspired Ideas·9 hours ago7 Culturally Responsive Holiday Activities for Your ClassroomCelebrating the holiday season in the classroom can be a source of joy for students and teachers. Many school communities are made up of individuals with a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and experiences that influence how students celebrate, and it’s often students from diverse cultural backgrounds or low-income families that…Education4 min readEducation4 min read
Published in Inspired Ideas·9 hours agoUnique Perspectives of K-12 EducatorsWelcome to the latest edition of the Stories that Inspired Us newsletter, where we take a look back at some stories that had a strong impact on us and our readers. This month we’re revisiting some fresh and unique perspectives offered by K-12 educators and thought leaders. …Education3 min readEducation3 min read
Published in Inspired Ideas·5 days agoCelebrating Special Education Day in Your SchoolHappy Special Education Day! Every year, we celebrate the progress made since December 2nd, 1975, when President Ford ratified the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA). Since renamed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), this law ruled that every American child is entitled to a free appropriate public…Education4 min readEducation4 min read
Published in Inspired Ideas·Nov 23The Power of STEM EducationBy Paul Larrea, Middle School Teacher — STEM education is essential for students of all ages. However, what is STEM? What does it look like? How can you implement a practical STEM lesson? My name is Paul Larrea and I have been a teacher for six years, mainly in STEM education in a middle school environment. Over…Education5 min readEducation5 min read
Published in Inspired Ideas·Nov 214 Reasons to Try Augmented Reality in Your ClassroomNo Matter What Grade and Subject You Teach — This story was adapted from an article originally published on mdreducation.com, here. Much like voice recognition technology and even artificial intelligence, augmented reality (AR) is increasingly making its way into classrooms. …Education6 min readEducation6 min read
Published in Inspired Ideas·Nov 16Teaching Executive Functioning Skills to Increase Student AgencyBy Stephanie Howell and Tara Ruckman, Educators — Are you the Camel or the Horse and Buggy? Do you feel like you care more about your students’ work than they do? “If we want student buy-in, we have to start with student ownership” — John Spencer Many teachers feel this way and are excited to give over control to their students but struggle with the weight of…Art Of Teaching6 min readArt Of Teaching6 min read
Published in Inspired Ideas·Nov 144 Ways for Teachers to Uplift Other TeachersBy Laura Boyd, Educator — Elevating the teaching profession in today’s society will help teacher morale and retention. Here are some practical ways we teachers can uplift one another. Model Appreciation and Celebration Communicate this important message to your colleagues by first serving as a positive role model in your own classroom. Emphasize building relationships with all faculty members…Education4 min readEducation4 min read
Published in Inspired Ideas·Nov 9The Importance of Gameplay in Student EngagementBy Bill Kearney, Former Educator & McGraw Hill Sales Rep — I never planned on being a teacher. As an undergraduate in upstate New York, I studied Philosophy and English Literature and planned on being a lawyer or maybe a professor someday. Alas, here I was, and teaching is exactly what I was being asked to do. I had a lot…Former Teacher7 min readFormer Teacher7 min read
Published in Inspired Ideas·Nov 75 Guidelines to Live by When You Have Native American Students in Your ClassroomJackie Cope, Ed.D., Lead Teacher — Creating Awareness for Native American Youth During American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month You may have not realized it, but it is likely you have taught an American Indian student at one point in your career. Many times Native youth go unnoticed, unrecognized, and are highly misrepresented by negative stereotypes. The best way to know whether you have an American Indian or Alaska…Education6 min readEducation6 min read
Published in Inspired Ideas·Nov 4Reflecting on Dyslexia Awareness MonthWelcome to the latest edition of the Stories that Inspired Us newsletter, where we take a look back at some stories that had a strong impact on us and our readers. October was Dyslexia Awareness Month. As November begins, we wanted to take one last look at some of the…Education3 min readEducation3 min read
