iPad Literacy Program Increases Reading & Writing Ability

Footsteps2Brilliance (F2B) is an impressive educational game platform that supports students in prek - 3rd grade in learning to read and write. Their Academic Language Program for Students (ALPS) teaches young children the 1,000 key words they will need to develop a powerful reading and writing vocabulary through animated ebooks and games. There is a back end management system tracks mastery of each child's vocabulary and comprehension development as well as standards-based concepts.  The program was developed in response to the landmark Hart-Risley study on language development that shows that an underprivileged child enters school with 25% of the vocabulary they need to succeed academically.  This program helps to rectify this situation by creating a language rich environment for all children.  

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Instead of Globally Competing, Let's Collaborate!

I'm connected to people across the globe via Facebook 

Although we aren’t the same age, live on opposite ends of the earth, and don’t speak the same language, I connected with  Arif Hidayat because of our passion for providing children with learning opportunities that best fit their needs. We instant message, wrote this article, and share our passion by engaging in conversation with others from across the globe in groups like Crossborder Relations, FacingIT, and Innovative Learning Consortium.  

With barriers of geography and language shattered by social media and tools like Google Translate, citizens around the world are able to communicate, connect, and collaborate like never before. As a result, I no longer think of people as Laurette from Oklahoma, Melissa from Canada, or Jean from Australia.  Instead, I associate people with, as Angela Maiers has popularized, why it is that “You Matter” to me.  With The Tower of Babel conquered and connections residing with people, rather than places, we have the remarkable, first-time-ever ability to connect with others who share our interests regardless of any boundaries that previously existed. With this in mind, it’s no surprise that 53 minutes into NBC’s Education Nation broadcast on Global Influence: What Can We Learn?, this tweet between Tom Whitby and I was showcased.  

The Facebook conversation around the tweet is here

Unfortunately, our Race to the Top, Education Nation will likely fall further behind as other countries move ahead knowing that when we work together, rather than compete against one another, we can go further faster.

My recent visit to the Global Education Forum (GEF) in Spain, brought to life the benefits of global collaboration over competition in many ways. First, it was through my blog, that I connected with the organizers of GEF.  It wasn’t until this century, when blogs became a tool to democratize the views of every person, that this global connection would have been possible. 


Upon arrival in Madrid we were taken to see Tony Wagner’s 60-minute documentary about the much written on education system in Finland named ”The Finland Phenomenon: Inside the World’s most Surprising School System.“ As I watched the movie along side Tony Wagner himself, I was reminded of the Education Nation tweet and I knew this was a country we want learn from and collaborate with, not compete against.  From the documentary, it was clear that in Finland, they want to be our global partners, not competitors, and invite in all those open to learning from and with them.  

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Research Supporting the Benefits of Technology In Reading and Writing

Despite the fact that we’re well into the 21st century innovative educators often still have to make a case for using the tools of the world inside school. This post was written for those looking to justify their decision to use technology to support readers and writers.  Below you will find a compilation of research that outlines the benefits of technology in supporting readers and writers.

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Great School Examples

I love sharing examples of great schools that employ promising practices, differentiated instruction, and passion driven learning. I also enjoy highlighting teachers that engage in student-centered learning like these teachers

• One Great Way to Differentiate Instruction – See how Deven Black designed a lesson that enabled students to tap into their strengths, interests, and learning styles.
• When students own the learning –See what happened when Keith Ferrell relinquished control and gave students a choice in how they would meet learning goals.
• Real Life Learning - Shelley Wright is a high school educator in Moose Jaw, SK. On her blog she shares, “I love learning more than anything else.” This post features the video of what  happens when school becomes real life.

I just found some more great schools examples from Ira Socol's blog.  Take a look at what this innovative educator thinks is great below.

• Primary
• Secondary
• Neil Postman High School Site
• Post-Secondary/Tertiary
• When Re-thinking School Itself
• The Third Technology
• The School I'd Like

Here's an extensive collection of Human Centered Schools.  

Here's another cool school recently shared in Alternative Learning Centers, the fab group featuring new ways of learning.

• Creative Science School
  Creative Science School is a focus option Portland Public School for children in grades K-8. Students are encouraged to be independent thinkers, learners, and problem solvers.

If you have an example of a great school or class, please share in the comments below and consider contributing a guest post to share with other innovative educators.

More Parent Involvement with Less Stress this Back-to-School

Online Signup Sheets by VolunteerSpot Save Time {and Sanity} 
Guest Post by Karen Bantuveris
 

Inviting parents to participate in the elementary classroom builds positive rapport and sets the foundation for a successful school year for all.  Parents feel involved and engaged, kids see that their parents value their education and are on the same ‘team’ as their teacher, and teachers get much needed help and an opportunity to begin natural conversations with parents about student success.


Parent participation is good, even great....right?! But one busy teacher coordinating the parents of 20-30+ kids as class helpers or for parent-teacher conferences can be a daunting and stressful proposition, even for the most seasoned teacher. On the busy parent side of the equation, juggling multiple requests from multiple teachers and school committees can seem overwhelming and cause some parents to opt-out of volunteering all together.

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5 Ideas for Connecting with your 21st Century Child this Summer

This week I shared "5 Ideas for Connecting with your 21st Century Child this Summer" at VolunteerSpot. The purpose of the site is to make coordinating volunteers easy with free online sign up sheets and scheduling software. They celebrate local heroes – volunteers, teachers, parents – making a difference in our schools and communities.  
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