Adjusting your curriculum to address Common Core standards is not easy. According to a study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania, the Common Core standards are substantially different from previous state standards, not only in curriculum but in the cognitive skills they demand. Common Core focuses on higher order skills, like “understanding and analyzing written material,” rather than “memorization and performing procedures.” To help with these higher order skills, take a look at five ways Imagine Learning can bring the Common Core into your classroom curriculum.
Friday, June 29, 2012
The new kids on the block
As you’re going through lesson plans this summer and prepping for the upcoming school year, you might be surprised to know that some of the most advanced educational tools for developing creativity … are right in your kids’ toy bin. Read more »
Monday, January 23, 2012
30 days to revolutionize your teaching
This year, instead of committing to 365 days of staying organized, responding to emails within 24 hours, or grading assignments within three days, try something that’s more likely to lead to success: simply commit to one goal for 30 days. It just might revolutionize your teaching. Here’s why:
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?
Monday, December 12, 2011
5 block-play activities to improve language acquisition
There’s a reason most little kids would rather play with the box a gift came in than the gift itself. A box needs no instruction manual, there’s no wrong way to use it, and the possibilities for play are endless. Boxes and simple building blocks epitomize unstructured play, an important part of early education. Recent studies have suggested that children who play with building blocks score higher in math classes and standardized tests than their non-block-playing peers and also may develop language skills more readily.
If you don’t already have a set of blocks for the classroom, start collect gift boxes for painting or wrapping. Once you’ve got a nice assortment of shapes, try out these five simple block-play activities, designed to improve language acquisition and exploration.
