Free Webcast

Do Ants Have Teeth? Supporting the Development of the Whole Child Through Meaningful Inquiry. Join Us for a Free, Live Webcast: Thursday, April 7 | 1:00PM – 2:00PM ET Presented by Kai-leé Berke Chief Executive Officer Teaching Strategies —and— Breeyn Mack Director, Professional Development Teaching Strategies When young children are encouraged to build upon their natural curiosity, it gives them the opportunity to become active learners who are capable of deep cognitive engagement with topics relevant to their lives. This is the foundation of project-based investigations, or studies—where children use scientific inquiry skills to actively explore the world around them, developing process skills that are critical to future school success. Join us on April 7th for a webcast that offers a “deep dive” into the many benefits of studies, examining the ways that children observe and explore, make connections, solve problems, organize information, and communicate and represent their ideas within a classroom community when engaged in a long-term, project-based investigation.

REGISTER HERE

Healthy Lunchtime Challenge - Hurry recipes due April 4th!!!!!

The 2016 Healthy Lunchtime Challenge is Here!

Posted by Kelly Miterko, Deputy Director, Let's Move! on February 22, 2016

It’s that time of year again – we’re inviting kids across the country to create healthy lunch recipes for a chance to win a trip to Washington, DC and the opportunity to attend the Kids’ “State Dinner” at the White House!

Check out a special message from First Lady Michelle Obama announcing the fifth annual Healthy Lunchtime Challenge:

The First Lady is once again teaming up with PBS flagship station WGBH Boston, the U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to host the fifth annual Healthy Lunchtime Challenge to promote cooking and healthy eating among young people across the nation.

The challenge invites kids ages 8-12, in collaboration with a parent or guardian, to create an original recipe that is healthy, affordable, and delicious. One winner from each U.S. state, territory, and the District of Columbia will win the opportunity to be flown to Washington, DC and the opportunity to attend the 2016 Kids’ “State Dinner” here at the White House, where a selection of the winning recipes will be served. Kids will also have the opportunity to learn from television personality and member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition Rachael Ray.

Check out USDA’s MyPlate to ensure your child’s recipe meets the nutrition guidelines by representing each of the food groups, either in one dish or as parts of a lunch meal, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and low-fat dairy. In addition, in celebration of theMyPlate, MyState initiative, the 2016 Healthy Lunchtime Challenge is putting a spotlight on homegrown pride across the country and encouraging entries to include local ingredients grown in your family’s state, territory, or community.

We can’t wait to see what kids create this year – so good luck and get cooking! Don’t forget to submit by April 4!

Learn more:

• Visit pbs.org/lunchtimechallenge for more details on this year’s Healthy Lunchtime Challenge.
• Check out last year’s winning recipes for inspiration and to try them at home.
• Take a look at our favorite moments from the 2015 Kids’ “State Dinner.”

Webinars

Content provided by: Demystifying the Role of Reading Comprehension in the Common Core The role of reading comprehension in the common core may seem like a mystery. In this webinar, we will share clues and unlock the mystery of reading comprehension. We will begin by explaining what reading comprehension is and how it works. Next, we will describe connections between reading comprehension and the common core. Then we will provide practical, classroom-ready ideas for teaching students to comprehend at deeper levels. In this webinar, we will discuss: Current beliefs about the nature of reading comprehension The role of reading comprehension in the common core Classroom-ready teaching ideas to promote reading comprehension at deeper levels, with particular focus on the use of graphic organizers Join us for a discussion with renowned reading expert Maureen McLaughlin on how reading comprehension correlates with the common core and how we can teach students to comprehend to their greatest potential. Speaker: Maureen McLaughlin, professor, reading department, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania; and 2013-2014 president of the International Literacy Association This webinar will be moderated by Adam Berkin, vice president of product development, Curriculum Associates

REGISTER HERE

Sponsored by: Leveraging Analytics and Assessment to Close Achievement Gaps Racial and socioeconomic achievement gaps often come to educators' attention in test scores, but they don't start there. A closer look at both assessment and other student data can help administrators recognize red flags in class access, school climate, parent involvement, and other areas that could be undermining their efforts to close achievement gaps. Join John B. Diamond, author of the 2015 book Despite the Best Intentions: How Racial Inequality Thrives in Good Schools, and Ari Gerzon-Kessler, principal of Monaco Elementary in Colorado, who is using data to identify and correct longterm inequities in his school. Guests: John B. Diamond, associate professor of education, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis (ELPA), University of Wisconsin-Madison Ari Gerzon-Kessler, principal, Monaco Elementary School, Commerce City, Colo. This webinar will be moderated by Sarah D. Sparks, assistant editor, Education Week

REGISTER HERE

FREE WEBINAR: Inquiry-Based Learning  For The Gen-Z Student!

Join Rosen Digital and Paige Jaeger, national library leader and curriculum consultant, Monday April 4 for a FREE edWeb Webinar and professional development opportunity. Paige will spotlight why inquiry works, why "the question is the answer," and how to build learning adventures that spark imagination and enable students to uncover and discover essential understandings of any discipline.   Inquiry-Based Learning for the Gen-Z Student! Monday, April 4 at 3pm EDT   Learn more about edWeb's learning communities here. Learn more about Rosen Digital here. Sign up and share with your colleagues for access to this great Professional Development opportunity! You'll have access to the recording, even if you can't listen live.

Activities

Mathematics Awareness Month April is Mathematics Awareness Month. Explore real-world applications of math with cross-curricular lessons and activities. Plus, give students daily practice with our math warm-ups and worksheets. Math Lessons & Printables April Fools' Day Bring humor into your classroom on April Fools' Day. Plan a class prank, host a joke-off, and teach kids about famous hoaxes. Our printables and articles will help your students explore the history of this day. April Fools' Day Activities

Children's Book Day

International Children's Book Day is celebrated on Hans Christian Andersen's birthday, April 2. Share the magic of fairy tales and explore different genres with our teaching resources. We have literature guides, lesson plans, and printable activities to help you inspire a love of reading.

Literature Guides & Activities

Classroom Technology

Technology can help you develop students' 21st-century skills and address specific learning goals. Discover free tools to teach kids how to code and learn new ways to use Skype in your classroom.

Classroom Technology Resources

World Theatre Day - Poetry Month - Spring Resources

World Theatre Day

Bring out your students' flair for the dramatic. Study the works of Shakespeare and act out plays for World Theatre Day.

Drama Resources

Poetry Month

April is Poetry Month. Familiarize students with different types of poetry and encourage them to write their own poems.

Poetry Lessons

Springtime Math Math is in full bloom with this spring-themed workbook that teaches kids to count, measure and add. See Now

Spring Into Spring In this lesson, students will learn about the seasonal changes brought by spring. See Now

Webinar - Competency-based PD

Tuesday, March 22, 2016 - 2 to 3 pm ET

Content provided by: From Inputs to Outputs: The Great Migration to Competency-Based PD For too long our professional development systems have focused on the quality of the professional development "inputs" provided to teachers to improve their professional practice, with unfortunately little evidence of improvement or linkage to any "outputs" of a change in instructional practice. What would a shift from focusing on PD inputs to PD outputs entail and how will a competency-based approach using micro-credentials help education leaders implement these changes in their local environments? In this webinar, Karen Cator, chief executive officer of Digital Promise and former director of the Office of Educational Technology at the U.S. Department of Education, will lead a conversation with assistant state superintendents from the Florida, Tennessee, and Delaware Departments of Education to discuss: Each state's work on competency-based professional development using micro-credentials, What changes they believe states and districts will look to make in the future, and What the impact on teacher quality and retention will be. Guests: Kathleen Airhart, chief operating officer and deputy commissioner, Tennessee Department of Education Brian Dassler, deputy chancellor for educator quality, Florida Department of Education Michael S. Watson, chief academic officer and associate secretary of education, Delaware Department of Education This webinar will be moderated by Karen Cator, chief executive officer, Digital Promise Register Here

Some resources for Spring, World Water Day and Study Skills

Spring

Welcome Spring this March 20! Our cross-curricular flower crafts, animal projects, gardening activities, bulletin board ideas, and weather lessons will help you and your students celebrate the season. World Water Day March 22 is World Water Day, a great opportunity to learn more about water-related health issues, such as sanitation, as well as environmental concerns, like conservation.  Study Skills Help your students study more effectively with our test-preparation materials, note-taking tips, and time-management advice. Your students will be proud of all they can accomplish when they learn to study efficiently.

One Webinar - One Live Discussion

Culture Change: Expanding World Language for Young Learners

This event takes place on Tuesday, March 15, 2016, 2 to 3 p.m. ET. The United States is trailing the European Union and other competitor nations in the number and growth of bilingual residents. But beyond economic competitiveness, too many students are missing out on the significant cognitive and cultural benefits of second language acquisition, which include increased scholastic success, heightened sympathy for others, and increased creativity. Part of this language deficit can be attributed to tight school budgets and schedules that have created a dearth of early language programs in American schools. However, some progressive educators and political leaders are working to reverse this trend by implementing innovative, culturally authentic programs for elementary and middle schools. This webinar will bring  together some of these innovators for an engaging discussion on successful strategies for bringing flexible, culturally-authentic, and academically-rigorous world language instruction to young learners. Guests: S. Dallas Dance, superintendent, Baltimore County public schools Aline Germain-Rutherford, associate dean of the language schools, Middlebury College, Vt. Jacque Van Houten, former ACTFL president, Jefferson County public schools, Louisville, Ky. Moderator: Abigail Mendenhall, client services manager, Middlebury Interactive  Languages Education Week is serving only as the host for this presentation. The content was created by the sponsor. The opinions expressed in this webinar are those of the sponsor and do not reflect the opinion of or constitute an endorsement by Editorial Projects in Education or any of its publications. Closed-captioning is available for this event. On the date of the event,  you can log in as early as 15 minutes before the start of the webinar. Open the “Closed-Captioning” link from the “handouts folder” (located at the bottom of the console) to access Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART). A transcript will also be available for download from the handouts folder within three business days after the event. Registration is FREE but is also required to attend this event. Please register now. If you have already registered for this event, click here to go to the login page.   #RethinkDiscipline: Addressing Disparities  in School Discipline Watch OSERS Assistant Secretary Michael Yudin, U.S. Department of Education, doing a livediscussion with experts and practitioners regarding  disparities in school discipline on March 16, 2016 3:30 pm EST. Panelists will discuss disparities in school discipline and ways to eliminate those disparities by addressing implicit bias, and implementing restorative justice strategies. The Assistant Secretary Yudin will be joined by: Dr. Kent McIntosh | University of Oregon Robert Spicer | Restorative Strategies  Pamela Odom | Principal, Grant Middle School  Please watch the March 16th discussion at 3:30 pm EST, at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KWDdoJJLDw

National Nutrition Month Focus on good nutritional habits this March, for National Nutrition Month. Arm students with the knowledge of how they can make informed choices about what they eat, inside the school and out. School Lunch & Nutrition St. Patrick's Day On March 17, we celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Irish-themed projects, from leprechaun marionettes to potato stamps! Plus, learn how the holiday became so popular in the United States. St. Patrick's Day Activities

Pi Day Did you know that March 14 is recognized as Pi Day? It's 3.14... get it? Learn all about the "magical" number. Discovering the Magical Pi Daylight Savings Time Don't forget to "spring forward" this Sunday! Practice telling time this week to prepare your students for Daylight Savings. Clocks & Telling Time