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WebQuests are probably the most talked-about and widely used Web-based activities in today's classrooms. What are WebQuests? What accounts for their popularity? And how can you use-and create-WebQuests in your own classroom? Education World explores those questions and more. - SebQuests are probably the most talked-about and widely used Web-based activities in today's classrooms. What are WebQuests? What accounts for their popularity? And how can you use-and create-WebQuests in your own classroom? Education World explores those questions and more.

Using comic books in the classroom may seem unconventional to some teachers, however, many educators have found that they provide a variety of benefits in the classroom, including: Easy to track storylines Bright, attention-getting imagery Familiar characters that students want to read about New vocabulary, not otherwise found in children's books If you're not sure how to bring comic books in the classroom, use these tips and lesson ideas.

"Moving to hybrid classrooms creates an even greater challenge for building community. In hybrid classrooms, some students never see each other in person, and some students never see their teachers in person. Project-based learning provides a powerful vehicle for creating a shared learning space, one that makes it clear that all students' voices are needed and welcome in the classroom."

"Getting kids to contribute in virtual classrooms takes some work, it turns out. "We keep calling this generation digital natives as if they are simply whizzes at everything computerized. They aren't," wrote Tim O'Brien on Facebook. "They need personal support, scaffolding, and reassurance that technology does not provide. It is simply a tool, not a teacher.""

Social media has changed the way teenagers communicate and the way they consume information. There is understandably some concern about this, as teachers and parents worry that their children will experience cyber-bullying or become addicted to their mobile devices. While these concerns are reasonable, social media is like any other technological tool, and it can be used for good or bad. We show how teachers can integrate social media into the classroom to engage students in the learning process and train them to use digital technology in productive ways.

There are many great ways to bring poetry into the classroom, and whether it's through reading, writing, or performing, poetry can be a great way to engage students. To help you bring poetry into your classrooms, we've compiled a list of some of the best open resources.

Wonderopolis is uniquely rooted in the power of learning through curiosity, exploration, and everyday moments, providing thousands of "Wonders of the Day"- fun units of learning and questions such as "What does it mean to stand up for something?" or "Why is the Statue of Liberty green?" Each Wonder of the Day is a launching pad for students reading and learning, maximising multi-disciplinary content with non-fiction text and multimedia as well as commenting, submit-your-own Wonder, and other features designed to keep students-and entire classrooms-engaged with the site. Wonderopolis facilitates students' studies in the classroom as well as self-guided learning at home and on the go.

Productive classroom discussions-those that enable students to invent, create, imagine, take risks, and dig for deeper meanings-can only take place in a climate in which students feel safe to offer their ideas. Teachers can create such a climate by being mindful of the essential conditions of interactive teaching.

Most kids love to listen to audio books, but did you know that this practice is also extremely effective for improving reading comprehension and fluency? I discovered this well-kept secret a few years ago when I started using audio books with my struggling readers. I was using Classroom Book Clubs in my classroom on a regular basis, but I was experiencing a problem when it came to book selection.

"As a school librarian collaborating with classroom teachers is a key component to our role in the school community. Collaboration can come in many forms, but the goal is to move past just the curation of resources. The focus is on connecting the library and classroom curriculum to provide authentic learning opportunities for students. Below is a mini-project that was developed alongside the third-grade teachers to teach figurative language. "

"Why teach coding? Who should teach it? And how can teachers get started? Get tips on how to bring coding into your classroom. "

"We all can agree that one of the most rewarding experiences in teaching is helping that one student find their voice and take a commanding role to contribute to the classroom learning experience. Allowing students the opportunity to engage in discourse that involves externalizing, elaborating on their thinking, and receiving feedback will lead to construction of their knowledge and understanding of a topic. However, these discussions require students to have authority and command over their own thinking to reconstruct ideas and concepts based on their previous knowledge and existing schemas."

"Read alouds also give children experience with decontextualized language-requiring students to make sense of ideas beyond the classroom and the here and now (see Beck & McKeown, 2001). A key aspect of this sense-making is the role of dialogue. Students need to engage in discussion with their teacher and classmates to make sense of the text. This emphasis on talk highlights the importance of careful planning of think alouds and questions. To be truly powerful and magical, the practice of reading aloud is actually quite complex. The following steps are crucial to enacting a powerful classroom read aloud."

"Do you have a sufficient number of nonfiction books in your classroom or school library to meet the reading needs of students? There's an increasing amount of evidence that students not only enjoy nonfiction but are actively seeking it. There's also some indication that elementary students in particular may prefer nonfiction material by a wide margin, compared with adults. Yet, classroom collections and school libraries often don't reflect this reality."

Digital storytelling is a great idea, but where do you start? Mechelle De Craene outlines some practical strategies to enable you and your students to get the most out of this exciting medium. Classroom management was facilitated through the use of literature circle roles to guide each group member's contributions.

This classroom guide is intended to inspire and expand your thinking about effective assessment for project-based learning. The tips are organized to follow the arc of a project. First comes planning, then the launch into active learning, and then a culminating presentation. Reflection is the final stage. Download this today and get started!

The mission of the Skype an Author Network is to provide K-12 teachers and librarians with a way to connect authors, books, and young readers through virtual visits. Wouldn't it be great to invite authors into your classroom or library to video chat with students before, during, and/or after reading their books? We are growing a list of authors who want to make that connection with you via Skype. Visit our Skype Overview page to learn more about Skype. The site also shares some great success stories to inspire and inform you for planning and organising.

Exposing all students to complicated storytelling, no matter their reading level, is just one benefit of using audiobooks in the classroom. But the research shows there are many other advantages too, including an increase in reading comprehension, motivation and self-confidence.

The way to engage students in classroom book discussions is to simply ask great questions. But that's easier said than done. Which questions will elicit one-word answers from students, and which will generate rich, meaningful conversation? Here are 23 tips to help you take book discussions to the next level.

Flipped learning in the STEM classroom can be fascinating and fun. As you may know, YouTube-a flipped learning marvel in its own right-features many custom user channels designed specifically to cater to the needs of STEM teachers and learners. Below are 15 of the coolest and most popular STEM YouTube channels you'll find. Have fun exploring, learning, and flipping out over STEM.