Finding Common Core Resources in English and Language Arts

With the implementation of the Common Core State Standards, thousands of educators are turning to online resources to supplement their curricula. Tom Vander Ark, writing for EdWeek, surveys the field of ELA resources and notes the challenges of creating Common Core-aligned literary resources.

Unlike the Common Core standards for mathematics, ELA standards call for students to analyze long passages, including informational texts, literary non-fiction, and literary fiction. Lisa … Read more »

Today in History: 12th anniversary of the September 11 attacks

On September 11, 2001, 19 men affiliated with Al-Qaeda hijacked four planes, crashing into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, killing upwards of 3,000 Americans and wounding thousands more. Twelve years after the devastating attacks, there are a host of teaching materials, including lesson plans, primary documents, and video documentaries compiled by the Library of Congress and the National September 11 Memorial & … Read more »

Today in History: Nathan Hale volunteers to spy behind British lines in 1776

On September 10, 1776, General George Washington sought volunteers to gather intelligence about the British military behind enemy lines. Captain Nathan Hale agreed to serve as a spy and undertook a reconnaissance mission for two weeks before he was captured and executed by the British.

Nathan Hale enlisted in the Army at just 20 years old, after graduating from Yale College and working as a schoolteacher in Connecticut. On … Read more »

Today in History: Congress renames nation “United States of America” in 1776

On September 9, 1776, the Continental Congress took up a busy docket of legislation, including payment for military expenses, the creation of special committees, and the reading of petitions. Tucked in the middle of the day’s proceedings was a resolution which would have a permanent impact on the new nation: the official adoption of the “United States” as the country’s name.   

Prior to this decision, the country was … Read more »

Blogger Spotlight: Novel approaches to teaching the Common Core

Every Friday, we compile our favorite education blog posts from the week. 

The importance of integration: Read Glenn Wiebe’s post about incorporating reading and writing in social studies classes.

History without a textbook: Learn about Molly Smith’s approach to using online resources, instead of a textbook, in her history courses.

What kind of homework is most effective? Annie Murphy Paul writes about the science behind assigning homework, including techniques for … Read more »

Today in History: First session of Continental Congress convenes in 1774

On September 5, 1774, the 56 delegates of the First Continental Congress met for the first time in Philadelphia to protest Great Britain’s “Intolerable Acts,” which punished Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party. The First Continental Congress ultimately resolved to boycott British trade, moving the colonies one step closer to independence.

Following the Boston Tea Party, British Parliament imposed the Intolerable Acts which closed the port of Boston. In … Read more »

Today in History: National Guard prevents “Little Rock Nine” from entering all-white high school

On September 4, 1957, a group of nine African American students known as the Little Rock Nine were prevented from entering Little Rock Central High School by Arkansas National Guardsmen, despite the Supreme Court ruling that segregation was unconstitutional in Brown v. Board of Education. The conflict ultimately required President Dwight Eisenhower to send military protection to the school, allowing the students to attend classes.

The Brown v. … Read more »