Crisis Point: The State of Literacy in America
The United States is facing a literacy crisis. Yes, crisis. It isn’t new, but its impact upon our kids, our economy, and our society are far-reaching and expanding. How bad is it? Take a look at some numbers. More than 30 million adults in the United States cannot read, write, or do basic math above a third grade level. — ProLiteracy Children whose parents have low literacy levels have a 72 percent chance of being at the lowest reading levels themselves. These children are mo
Parkland's Student Activists Are Getting a Powerful Civics Lesson
In a typical high school civics class, students learn about local and federal government and media literacy, as well as citizenship and participation. They might learn how to contact their local representative, use social media for advancing a cause, or debate an issue they feel strongly about. But few students—and only a small fraction of adult citizens for that matter—participate in a highly contentious national debate. Mere weeks after the Parkland, Fla., high school shoot
SHARE Make Any Lesson Plan 21st-Century Skills Ready!
Reading, writing, arithmetic… Isn’t it time for a modern shift—one that truly meets the needs of today’s tech-savvy learners? That’s the idea behind the current shift toward teaching 21st-century skills. A new book from the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), The i5 Approach, provides a systematic approach to modernizing existing lessons and advancing overall curriculum planning for modern students. Inquiry skills are the foundation of the i5 approa
SHARE: How Educators Can (Really, Honestly) Unplug Over Winter Break —And How Stress Affects Us
Between grading papers, planning for the spring, and that extra-special energy students are buzzing with before a break, it’s super difficult for teachers to actually unplug over their break—but it’s so important that we do. Here’s why, followed by tips that will do dedicated educators a lot of good. Remember, self-care is truly an act of kindness to yourself! Read the tips at Concordia Room 241. Written by Jennifer L.M. Gunn
Jennifer L.M. Gunn spent 10 years in newspaper a
SHARE: How To Transform the Leadership Office From a Complaint Department to a Solution Zone
The school leader’s office door is always open—often for complaints. When the door is wide open to negativity, it can bleed into school culture and weigh everyone down. But it’s possible to start building a positive and resilient school culture starting in those everyday office visits. Through the art of mindful listening, you can transform the school leader’s office from the complaint department to a solution zone! Read the whole story on Concordia Room 241 #leader #schoolle
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Essential Strategies for Managing Trauma in the Classroom
Poverty, violence, hunger, abuse, and an unstable world are causing chronic stress for our nation’s kids. And that sad truth is that prolonged exposure to stress can damage the centers of the brain associated with learning, cause behavioral problems, and increase the cycle of violence. Nearly half of the children in the United States, or almost 35 million kids, have experienced “at least one or more types of serious childhood trauma,” according to a survey by the National Sur
Meet the EDxEDNYC Conference Team — Jennifer L.M. Gunn
Meet Jennifer L.M. Gunn Meet Jennifer L.M. Gunn, founding member of the EDxEDNYC Conference Team! The EDxED team is made up of dedicated education professionals who started the EDxEDNYC conference years ago to bring together amazing educators for a truly authentic PD experience. The EDxEDNYC Conference is designed for educators by educators. For conference tickets, visit http://www.edxednyc.com/tickets. Follow Jennifer on Twitter @jenniferlmgunn and start the conversation wit