Blogger Spotlight: Motivation in the Classroom

Every Friday we collect our favorite education blog posts from the week. This week’s Blogger Spotlight offers useful tips to keep your students motivated and engaged with classroom texts.

Close reading and the Common Core: Read Stu Silberman’s post for EdWeek outlining the standards for close reading.

A time for themes: Check out Historyfriend’s ideas for teaching US History thematically, rather than chronologically.

Collaboration in the classroom: Read Suzie … Read more »

Today in History: Lincoln replies to Horace Greeley’s editorial, paves way for Emancipation Proclamation

On August 22, 1862 Abraham Lincoln sent a response to abolitionist Horace Greeley’s editorial in the New York Tribune, outlining his political and personal position on slavery. Greeley’s “The Prayer of Twenty Millions” argued that Lincoln lacked direction and resolve on the issue of slavery.

In his editorial, Greeley urged Lincoln to free the slaves by strictly enforcing the 1861 Confiscation Act, which authorized the Union to confiscate any Confederate property, … Read more »

Today in History: Lincoln-Douglas Debates begin in 1858

On August 21, 1858, Abraham Lincoln and Democratic incumbent Stephen A. Douglas held the first of their seven historic debates as candidates for the Senate in Illinois. These long-form debates focused on the subject of slavery’s expansion into the territories.

As we near the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, consider the role that race and civil rights played in 19th-century political debates. In the lead-up to the Lincoln-Douglas debates, … Read more »

Historic News Account of the March on Washington

This month, thousands of Americans will travel to Washington, DC for the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington to commemorate the march’s role in shaping the Civil Rights Movement. Read this historic article from the New York Times with your students to better understand the mood of the nation in August 1963.

Today, the march is credited with helping turn the tide of public opinion for civil rights, making way for … Read more »

Primary Documents and the March on Washington

We’re quickly approaching the 50th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington! Put your students in the situation of the marchers with the help of an amazing interactive feature from Time magazine, “One Dream,” which chronicles the historic march with interviews of the participants.

The feature’s five units span the history of the Civil Rights Movement and include video interviews, personal narratives, and previously unreleased photographs. For the “One Dream” project, Time … Read more »

Blogger Spotlight: Teaching Literacy Across Content Areas

Each Friday we highlight some interesting education posts from the week. This Blogger Spotlight includes posts on close reading, teaching literacy across content areas, and fun activities for social studies teachers.

Mark Anderson on how literacy extends across content areas.

Tim Shanahan on why text dependency is too low a standard.

Entrepreneurial poetry: Learn about Aaron Belz’s unconventional business model, using Craigslist to sell custom poetry. 

How old were the Founding … Read more »

Best Resources for Teaching the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington

This month marks the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, perhaps the most influential event of the Civil Rights Movement, which culminated in Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. We’ve compiled a top ten list of resources to teach students about the March on Washington.

On August 28, 1963, upwards of 300,000 people gathered at the National Mall. Calling for civil and economic rights for … Read more »