I went looking for a different kind of standard. We have the Common Core State Standards, which cover mathematics and language arts. We also have the Next Generation Science Standards, already adopted by six states. But what about history standards? (And the arts? And civics? And common sense?) What I found was the National Center…
standards
On the Verge of Wrapping It Up
Yes, unless you teach in a year-round school, that part of the academic year when you start looking at ways to wrap it up is here (or coming very soon). My three kids have already informed me of how few school days are actually left before summer vacation. I nearly had a heart attack! Mailbox…
We Vote for Teachers
Ah, election time. You can hear the happy citizenry delightfully and kindly debating the merits of each other’s preferred candidate, both of whom present a truthful and glorious roadmap into a prosperous future guaranteed to last. Most wonderful of all, of course, is their always-unbroken promise to help make our students their number-one priority. You…
The Next Great Debate? Probably not.
The next great cataclysmic education reform debate is about to erupt with the power of several hundred burning suns. Or maybe not. Perhaps the next great education reform debate will fizzle out like a damp firecracker in a rainstorm. Cursive handwriting: in the standards or not? Mrs. Worthy, Mrs. Singer, and Mr. Winters all managed…
Teaching the Civil War: Are we doing it right?
Fort Sumter. Abraham Lincoln. Jefferson Davis. The Union. The Confederacy. Slavery. Secession. And that’s just the beginning. The American Civil War of 1861-1865 is a unique topic that offers countless approaches and cross-curricular teaching options. From a purely historical standpoint, the Civil War is a goldmine and a labyrinth for any social studies teacher. Important…