Staying organized is a daunting task for anyone, let alone a teacher who is trying to juggle so many things. But cutting down on classroom clutter and reclaiming the clear space on your desk just might give you the jolt of energy you need to tackle 2012 head on. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
Friday, January 20, 2012
8 tips for cutting classroom clutter in 2012
Friday, January 13, 2012
Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the power of language
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we’re sharing one of our most popular posts from 2010. We hope you’ll enjoy both your holiday and this post from Jim Woolf about the power of language.
With the national holiday commemorating Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday approaching, I took the opportunity to listen to Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, which I had never listened to in its entirety. Listening to that speech reminded me of something: I love language. I love words and the art of finding the perfect words to express the exact thought I want to communicate. I love hearing others use words to paint colorful visions, persuade my thinking, touch my emotions, and communicate truth to my soul. For me, language and the ability to truly communicate are very special and cherished gifts.
I lost that gift once, and it was quite a traumatic experience. 
I had an opportunity to live in a different country with a different language—one that I had studied for many years in school. I remember vividly the minute I stepped off the plane and heard the native speakers of the language I had studied. My first thought was, “I’m in the wrong country—this is not the language I learned.” I spent many months struggling to understand and be understood, and dealing with the frustration of doing neither very well. I eventually reached a moderate level of fluency, but I never came close to being able to express myself as well as I could in English.
During the time that I’ve worked for Imagine Learning, I’ve often tried to put myself in the place of children learning English as a second language. I can’t imagine what it would be like trying to learn concepts being taught in a language I mostly don’t understand. And that’s not to mention the social ramifications of struggling with your peers’ language.
So let’s take this opportunity to remember why we do what we do—why you teach children and why I work for Imagine Learning. It’s because we have the opportunity to empower children, to enable them to communicate, to eliminate a roadblock to their lifelong success—to give them a priceless gift.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Refactoring the world in 2012 and beyond
Today’s post comes from guest contributor Nathan Preator, our marketing intern. Nathan recently experienced firsthand the exciting debut of Imagine Learning’s first recruiting billboard.
At the heart of Imagine Learning is the core belief that a solid foundation in language and literacy will provide every child with a platform for success. To make success a reality for kids around the world, Imagine Learning is constantly searching for the best and brightest employees to build and sustain the company. So in 2012, we’re taking a new approach to finding the right people to help us achieve our mission: we’re recruiting talented programmers who can help us build better, smarter products even faster. Check out this short video to see what we’re doing:
Thursday, December 15, 2011
2 ways to learn how to close the English learner achievement gap
Are you ready to level the playing field for your English learners? Join us for a free webinar on closing the English learner achievement gap this afternoon, hosted by Imagine Learning chief academic officer Marc Liebman and curriculum specialist Mia A. Allen. Take advantage of one of two ways to learn about actionable, technology-based strategies you can start implementing right away to improve achievement for your English learners:
- Join us live by clicking here to register and participate in the webinar today. The presentation begins at 2 p.m. MST.
- Check in on our webinars page later this week to watch the archived version of the presentation.
As Michael Scott would say, this is pretty much a win-win-win.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
4 ways to involve parents and net bigger gains for your students
When it comes to boosting achievement for students of all ages, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds, the simplest answer may be the best one. New research from The Center for Public Education shows that simply getting parents involved in their child’s education can significantly impact student success. So what’s the catch?
