The Nine Day Queen

If you have not subscribed to historyteacher's channel on youtube, I highly encourage you to do so.  There are a variety of videos to choose from, and they are a fun and interesting way to learn history.

What I learned today:   Sixteen year old Lady Jane Grey, great- niece of King Henry the VIII, reigned England for nine days before giving up the throne to Mary.  She was tried for treason and beheaded.  This little video teaser prompted me to put Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir on my TBR list.   

Journey North for Kids

Seasonal change is all around us. Children see it in the length of a day, in the appearance of a flower, in the flight of a butterfly. Journey North is a free internet-based program that explores the interrelated aspects of seasonal change. Classes can participate in projects, and by visiting the kids page, students can find engaging stories, photos, videos, and slide shows from the natural world. This great resource will build observation skills, inspire scientific thinking, and create fertile ground for discussions and new questions!

Differentiation Video #2

Karen Dumond, a teacher from Kentucky, finds out what her students know by using formative assessments. In this video, students give pioneer presentations using a variety of methods and materials. You can't help but smile when you see how one student gleefully explains the concept of "buffalo chips" to his classmates. As you watch, you may want to ask yourself, "What evidence is there of student learning? It may also be helpful to think about how this type of assessment is guiding the instruction of the teacher.

Differentiation Video #1

This video shows some children in a first grade classroom in Omaha. Notice how the teacher uses flexible grouping to meet the needs of her students. I also love the "Guess the Rule" and "Money Scoop" activities.

The Futures Channel

As part of our district's professional development this year, we are reading and discussing Intellectual Character by Ron Ritchhart. We have also been watching videos that in some way exemplify the culture of thinking that Mr. Ritchhart advocates.

A couple of months ago, our principal showed us Good Morning, Miss Toliver. It was a reminder for me about how teaching and learning are supposed to be. I wondered if there were any more videos out there of her, and I found some of her work on The Futures Channel.

The Futures Channel is a wonderful resource. There are several more video lessons by Kay Toliver, including the one on area, where students design their own apartment.

In addition to the lessons, this site also has engaging movies that demonstrate how STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) skills are being used in the real-world.

Whether you are trying out one of Kay Toliver's thinking lessons, or if your students need a break from BrainPOP videos, The Futures Channel is a great site to bookmark.