Archive

Recent Newsletter Articles

Playing with Patterns

This workbook has activities for students to develop their algebraic reasoning through an investigation of patterns. As they work through the activities, they will look at different kinds of patterns, find rules for how those patterns work, and use what they notice to guess what comes next. The workbook offers different ways of looking at patterns, examples for students to develop their own ways of seeing, and then space to reflect on their learning. An optional video and asynchronous mini-course are also available. Read More

Three-Dimensional Geometry: Shapes

In these materials, students explore concepts in three-dimensional (3D) geometry and measurement, including: identifying the types of solids in the world around us, measuring the surface area and volume of solids, and understanding where the geometric formulas on the HSE come from. Read More

Three-Dimensional Geometry: Area

In these materials, students explore concepts in three-dimensional (3D) geometry and measurement, including: identifying the types of solids in the world around us, measuring the surface area and volume of solids, and understanding where the geometric formulas on the HSE come from. Read More

Three-Dimensional Geometry: Volume

In these materials, students explore concepts in three-dimensional (3D) geometry and measurement, including: identifying the types of solids in the world around us, measuring the surface area and volume of solids, and understanding where the geometric formulas on the HSE come from. Read More

Mock Hearing Before the Supreme Court

Part of a series of lesson plans from the ACLU of Maine, intended for high school students, about constitutional rights. After a teacher explains the 4th amendment (searches and seizures), students form a "Supreme Court" and debate an actual past SCOTUS case. The case deals with searching students' belongings, but could be used to explain protection against unlawful search more generally (i.e., stopped by officers on the street). Read More

Do You Know Your Bill of Rights?

Activity where students refer to "The Constitution and Rights" section of the Judicial Learning Center's website, which explains the amendments in the Bill of Rights, and fill in a handout with key vocabulary. A good intro to constitutional rights; could be used as a vocabulary activity for high-level ELL or GED students, or a digital literacy activity. Note: This website also has an Educator Center with a variety of additional podcast and video activities, online learning modules, lesson plans, and other resources. Read More

Citizenship News

Collection of links to free citizenship test prep materials. (The author also has her own citizenship class textbooks for sale.) The "News" page tracks changes to the N-400 citizenship application form and USCIS administration of the test. Read More

Literacy Now: Downloadable Material

This website includes books from Literacy NOW workshops, and testing materials developed for ESL Programs. These have been developed and curated by Tacoma Community House. You will find tools for the Language Experience Approach (LEA), A Speaking and Listening Handbook, and three different volunteer handbooks for those supporting Beginning ESL Literacy students. Read More

Cartoons for the Classroom

Students are often asked to analyze an editorial cartoon on the GED or other high school equivalency test. The free materials from Cartoons for the Classroom will help students with this challenging task. Cartoons for the Classroom provides a weekly lesson that includes editorial cartoons related to a current event and a number of guiding questions for discussion or writing. In other materials, students have to draw conclusions by writing their own caption for a cartoon; there is also a cartoon evaluation worksheet that can be used with cartoons found in other publications. In addition to current event cartoons, the site provides resources to help study editorial cartoons from different eras. Read More

National Council for Geographic Education

The National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE) is a professional organization for geography teachers and provides free and classroom-ready materials for both members and non-members. By navigating to the NCGE resource library, users can type in geography-related search term such as maps, climate, migration and be provided with lessons and other resources. While some of the materials are aligned to AP geography, there are many others that can be used in the elementary and secondary grade level classrooms. Read More