Concept mapping and mind mapping are used in the classroom in any number of ways. This page will provide the rationale for their use, links to samples and a list of tools to use to create them. If...

We try to attack these issues from a political standpoint, and politics are designed to be divisive. We need conversations that unite. You can't jump into a conversation on race and the very next thing you jump into is affirmative action. The process of reconciliation includes righting the wrongs, but it also includes repentance and forgiveness.

As a reading and writing teacher, I have always wished for a magic potion to give to my students that would immediately illuminate the power and necessity of growing as a reader on their lives. The closest I have come to that magic potion are the words of Frederick Douglass from his powerful Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.

Yesterday, my youngest son wrote a two-sides handwritten letter to Kanye West. He would not let me read it, other than with a quick glance, and then he asked me to help with the formatting of the envelope (I guess he was never really taught that in school or at home).

According to English teacher Marian Anders, learning to write correctly is like learning to drive a car. Driving is a necessary skill, but you don't need to understand how a car works to be a good driver. And people can learn to write well without knowing the intricacies of traditional grammar.

The presence of books in the home has a greater influence on a childs level of education than does the parents income, nationality, or level of education. A 20-year study shows how investing in books can make a big difference. Included: Highlights of the study.

Many schools weave fitness and health awareness programs into their curriculum. Those programs help to unite the schools, and they often help create a culture of wellness throughout the community. Included: Principals share the programs that are building fitness, health, and nutrition awareness in their schools.

In its weekly 'Teacher Feature,' Education World highlights neat activities and classroom practices from educators in all locations and at all levels. Recently, three educators who have enjoyed the spotlight in this feature shared some writing-based activities that they and their students love.

A strong vocabulary is an important part of reading comprehension. According to Drs. Isabel Beck and Margaret McKeown ( Bringing Words to Life: Robust Vocabulary Instruction), children should add about 2,000-3,500 words annually to their reading vocabulary. But did you know that students learn 85 percent of those new words indirectly, as they interact with language and text?

Here's a list of ideas for making every read-aloud count, while assuring your principal that you are focused on meeting standards.