Featured Resources

Volume 1, Issue 6

Division of Teaching and Learning

In this issue:

● African-

American

History

Resources

● Bureau of

Bilingual/

ESL Podcast

Series

● New!

Resources

for

Media

Specialists

The POST: Professional Online Supports for Teaching

February 2017

African American History and Culture Resources

The Smithsonian’s National Center for African-American History and Culture (NCAAHC) offers online access to a collection of stories about people and events highlighted by NCAAHC staff. The stories are embedded with links to background text, images and primary source documents.

The Life of Zora Neale Hurston

The State Library and Archives of Florida website offers online resources on Zora Neale Hurston’s life and writing. The site also includes primary sources related to her work during the Great Depression, when she captured “stories, songs, traditions and histories of African-Americans in small communities across Florida.”

Meet A Disney Animator Still at Work

In this National Public Radio (NPR) interview, the first African-American animator employed by Disney in the 1950’s, Floyd Norman, talks about his career path and long history with the company. The seven-minute interview with Mr. Norman took place in August 2016 when he was 81 and still working at his craft.

Dear Colleagues:

February is Black History Month, which serves as a reminder for Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to examine current curricular documents and ensure that instructional planning includes learning opportunities related to the experiences, contributions and history of African-Americans. Beginning in 2002, the Amistad Bill (A1301) outlines that African-American history is to be infused into districts’ social studies curricula. The Amistad Commission was also formed as a result of this legislation to support our schools with the identification of instructional resources which incorporate the legacy of African-Americans. The Amistad Commission can assist with these valuable curricular conversations by providing resources and training on African-American topics and content. Contact the Amistad Commission for more information on resources and upcoming events.

These rich PLC conversations will help prepare your students to navigate a globally diverse

world with the knowledge and skills necessary to compete and thrive. Thank you for your

continued commitment to your professional learning and your students’ academic growth.

Dr. Laura C. Morana Acting Chief Academic Officer Division of Teaching and Learning

ELA 2

Mathematics 2

Science 2

Social Studies 3

Health & Physical Education

3

21st Century 3

Bilingual/ESL 3

Assessment 4

Media Specialist

4

Opportunities for Students

4

Opportunities for Teachers

4

Inside this issue:

English Language Arts

Mathematics

The International Children’s Digital Library (ICDL)

The International Children’s Digital Library (ICDL) provides access to a growing digital library of children's books in various languages. The ICDL

collection is free to users. Although not required, registering on the site is encouraged to save collections for students and share feedback with website editors.

Smithsonian TweenTribune

The Smithsonian TweenTribune offers free access to current, age-appropriate news stories,

videos, classroom lessons and other instructional tools. Students can take quizzes on articles

and post teacher-reviewed and approved comments to share with peers.

Online Math Strategy Games

Calculation Nation®, part of the National Council of Teachers of

Mathematics’ (NCTM) Illuminations project, offers students opportunities to

play online math strategy games in which to discover math concepts and

practice related skills. The games on the website are geared to content found in upper elementary

and middle grades curricula.

Science

NASA Space Place and Teaching Resources

On NASA Space Place, teachers and students will find articles and free instructional resources for exploration. The site also offers suggestions for using the online resources in and beyond the classroom.

Smithsonian Webcast

The Smithsonian Science How-Live Website hosts an ongoing series of webcasts and online chats for educators and their students, as well as related classroom activities and resources. The 30-minute events are free and offer an interactive program, allowing students to ask questions of the presenting experts. The February 9 webcast on “What Tiny Marine Fossils Reveal about Extinction” is by Dr. Gene Hunt, a paleontologist at the National Museum of Natural History.

Remembering John Glenn

A profile of John Glenn, a former astronaut and senator, can be found on the NASA website.

Glenn’s life (1921-2016) and contributions are highlighted in this online collection of images and

videos to help students understand his significant role in space exploration.

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Comprehensive Health and Physical Education

February is Children’s Dental Health Month

During National Children’s Dental Health Month, the American Dental

Association website provides information and worksheets in English and

Spanish to help students learn about dental health. The materials are geared

to elementary grades.

21st Century Skills

Building Global Awareness

The article “Beyond Your Classroom Walls” describes instructional

strategies to help expose students to languages, cultures and

literature from around the globe. The author of the article found

in the December 2016 issue of Educational Leadership refers to several digital resources, most of

which are free, to encourage online interaction between students and their global peers.

Bilingual/ESL Podcast Series

The Department's Bureau of Bilingual/ESL’s new podcast series provides "bite-sized conversations about ELL education." The first episode is a conversation with Karen Campbell, Director of the Office of Supplemental

Educational Programs, about equity in ELL instruction. The second episode is an interview with Tim Boals, founder and executive director of the WIDA Consortium, focusing on support for ELL instruction.

Bilingual/ESL

C-SPAN Classroom Deliberations

The purpose of C-SPAN’s Classroom Deliberations is to provide “primary

source videos and other instructional materials to assist students in learning

about and debating current national issues.” The site provides the leading

positions on issues and activities to encourage structured classroom conver-

sations.-

Civil Rights Webinar

The Department continues to partner with the National Archives to offer a series of free webinars in 2017. Register online for the February 8 webinar about helping students make connections among Civil Rights Movements through the use of primary sources.

Social Studies

Opportunities for Students

See you in March!

National Youth Science Camp

Encourage graduating senior high school students to apply for participation in the National Youth Science Camp to be held in West Virginia in late June 2017. The deadline for applications is March 1, and this recent broadcast memo offers eligibility details.

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Before you go...

National History Teacher of the Year

Nominate yourself or a colleague for the National History Teacher of the Year Award, sponsored by The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Full-time K–12 educators teaching American history as an individual subject or through other subjects are eligible. Nominations are due by March 31.

National Geographic Educator of the Week

Nominate yourself or a colleague for the National Geographic Educator of the Week. Nominations

are accepted on a rolling basis. Those chosen will be featured along with a selected lesson on the

National Geographic Education blog.

Opportunities for Teachers

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Media Specialists

Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) Exhibitions

The DPLA provides a series of exhibitions “telling stories of national

significance.” These stories provide access to a wide range of primary source materials from

libraries, archives and museums across the nation.

Assessment

PARCC Website and Resources

The PARCC consortium has resources available to help prepare students for this

year’s test administration. Find new and existing resources in the Partnership

Resource Center and check the Department’s assessment webpage for updates on test dates and

graduation requirements.