The Importance of Being Funny

Laughter is the best medicine. If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that expression, I’d be able to hire every stand-up comedian in America and have nightly performances in my living room. I’d never get sick or even grow old. Laughter is also a great prescription. Studies show that laughter, almost universally…

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Theory Into Practice

Some things are good in theory but pale when put into practice. I’m thinking, of course, about a family pack of high-powered water guns as a Father’s Day gift. Or the platypus. Or teaching a class of seventh graders the word masticate. On the other hand, there are good ideas that end up being even…

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It Was Black and White and Read All Over

Newspapers. You may have heard of them. You may remember them. Some of you may still receive them at your home every day. On television and in the movies, they’re something dad reads every morning over breakfast while the family buzzes around him, or on the subway to work as he is jostled and pickpocketed….

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Take the Tech Outside

It’s that time of year. Take your students outside for fresh air and supercharged STEM learning! Courtesy of the STEMblog, here are “5 Ways to Take Technology Outdoors.” 1. Mobile Devices – Smartphones and tablets, with their wide array of apps, a camera, and GPS abilities, are great tools for documenting outdoor observations. As a…

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I Am a Daydream Believer, and You Should Be Too

We sure do make life hard on ourselves, don’t we? For example: the afternoon nap. Ah, glorious afternoon nap, how I miss you! Oh, sure, it’s a good and important thing for preschool children, and it’s excusable when it’s Grandma Madeline in her La-Z-Boy. But for the rest of us? Sorry, no. And daydreaming? Whether…

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Why Not Talk About Homework?

The debate that never ends: homework. How much is too much? Is it even necessary? Is it effective? Does it cause you too much grief? Have you ever unintentionally used it as a punishment? Does your school or district have a policy that requires you to assign homework? Of course, there are those teachers who…

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Reason to Be a Green Teacher: #12,624

That magical thing lurking around the corner, big and green and wet with rain? That’s spring. Yes, spring is just ahead, just around the bend. So now’s the time to plan your class garden. Wait. What? What class garden? The one you’re going to plant this year. The one that is going to make your…

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The English Opening, or Is There Any Chess in Your Classroom?

The more chess that I play, the more I realize I do not know anything about chess. Recently, my third grader has taken an interest in challenging me. And it scares me. Not just because our chess set is made of good and evil Lego minifigures (with the evil ones being particularly menacing), but because…

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On the Future of Educational Video Games

Okay. I’ll admit it. There have been a handful of occasions in the last four years or so when I have had the luxury of time to play video games. Maybe two handfuls. And I needed plenty of time because I have a steep learning curve with such games as Call of Duty and Halo:…

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How Do You Build a Class That Clicks?

Building a cast of diverse characters into a smooth-running ensemble is not easy. You can take a quick look around and see that truth in action just about anywhere. Your favorite baseball team? They had a rotten season because there were too many individuals and no single unit. How about that movie with six of…

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