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Students learn to read through singing. Here is the website for the TUNEin to reading program. http://www.elpcorp.com/

iRead is a group of teachers in Escondido Union School District dedicated to the idea that digital audio can be a powerful learning tool for all students. This learning community of teachers is using digital audio tools (iPods, mics, iTunes, Keynote, Garageband, etc. and various accessories) to improve reading processes.

Use of iPods to improve reading skills.

As this is a PDF I cannot add stidky notes or highlighting. This is well worth the read as math may be the most difficult area for teachers to relinquish the stage. "The ultimate goal of high school mathematics teachers is to create a meaningful learning environment that is conducive to teaching students the necessary concepts for academic achievement. Unfortunately, evidence suggests that many secondary educators still teach in rote lecture style that focuses on the teacher providing information to passive, uninvolved students. Current mathematics reform movements endorse inquiry-based, "guide on the side" instruction grounded in constructivist pedagogy. The authors' research examines the effects of constructivist teaching and learning in pre-service secondary mathematics courses. The applicability of constructivism to teach secondary mathematical concepts, using practical instructional ideas, will conclude the article. "

As this is a PDF I cannot add stidky notes or highlighting. This is well worth the read as math may be the most difficult area for teachers to relinquish the stage.

This is a wiki post summarizing some key points from "Understanding Digital Children" by Ian Jukes and Prensky's "Digital native and Digital immigrants". To me, this article supports Levin & Schrum (2009) when they claim, "Today's students are bored when they come to schools where they have to sit all day, usually listening to one person talking for extended periods of time, reading outdated textbooks, and being asked to study things they feel they have already learned by watching the Discovery or History channels or learned about from playing some of the incredible historical or science simulation games on their Xboxes or Play Stations" (p.30) The full articles are linked on this wiki post; they worth taking the time to read.

This article is dealing with exactly what our problem. We have the tools, but we are not using them effectively in teaching literacy. There are links to other articles. I haven't read them, but the titles seem interesting. Another nice aspect is the list of internet resources at the end of the article. If anyone reads one of the linked articles, I would be intersted in know what you think of them.

Subscribing to this newsletter will offer 5 useful, easy to read educator websites a month.

Great place to find worthy blogs to read, review and follow.

Ah, this video gives me goosebumps! It not only relates to what Schrum and Levin articulate but also resonates with the KnowledgeWorks Foundation's "2020 Forecast: Creating the Future of Learning". Oh, and the title, "Human 2.0" is marvelously clever. Check this video out!

I agree, Mary. This is a really thought provoking video. Once again, as I have now read in many articles on the topic, the critical necessity of those using collaborative thought (the people who will survive in the future), is highlighted, along with the importance of flexible thinking, the ability to verify, analyze and synthesize new information, and the ability to work together with people who may possess different cultural ideas and global perspectives. This is reiterated on page 31 of Schrum's book where it states, "We also need to promote 21st century life and career skills in our schools that include flexibility, adaptability, initiative, self-direction, social and cross cultural skills and dispositions that our students are learning and using outside of school while they are plugged in and connected to the Internet. So, if schools are to become relevant for 21st century students and teachers, we have to make some serious changes... " How long do you think it will take American teachers to discover this, change and infuse their teaching with thoughtful and innovative integration of curriculum with technology?

This idea- of understanding & building the capacity for collective intelligence within human networks- whether they be business enterprises, social organizations, nation-states, classrooms, or professional learning communities, is in my opinion, is one of the cornerstones where our Web2.0, our 21stC. Skills and our own Professional Development efforts should focus...

The reason I selected this article to share is that I think it's important to know what critics are saying about this important education reform so that we can counter with facts and solutions. I will say, however, that the author does point out two real challenges to successful implementation of 21st Century Skills reform- simultaneous implementation across the education strata, and a lack of adequately trained teachers (and administrators).

Conspiracy Code is an adventure thriller designed to teach a full couse in American History. It is being developed hand in hand with K-12 educators, and will be available to all schools as an online course..

This is a perfect example of a way students might be immersed in a online educational experience. That relates to our reading assignment because it highlights Web 2.0 use with students.

I like to use this site to translate directions for teachers who are entering a training I am doing. I find the statement on page 10 "how we define, use and teach literacy is influenced by every-changing forces" so key and using little tricks like reading text is one way to teach literacy using the changing forces. No I am not going to teach a group of kids with it but to grab attention this is a simple way to get them started, why not use what they like occasionally.

While reading I was thinking how to improve the note taking process in a Social Studies class and bring it more into the 21st Century. I was thinking that a wiki might be the best tool. In the idea of Wikipedia, students in a class could all contribute to the notes for the class. Linked is an article I found that hits on this idea. Students could link documents and sites, search, and collaborate on their learning.