Local history becomes part of curriculum for students in Cresskill, N.J.
Cresskill, N.J., Mayor Benedict Romeo and the Historical Committee have worked with the local school system to incorporate the town's history into the curriculum of various grades. Seventh-grade students take a 20-question quiz, with questions such as the location of the Liberty Tree, while second-graders study a unit called, "Learning about Cresskill Then and Now," which includes photographs taken by high-school students. NJ.com (Hackensack, N.J.)/Northern Valley Suburbanite (5/16)

7 practical ideas for elementary-classroom management
Teachers should always have a spare set of clothes in their classroom because of the five hazards starting with P: pee, poo, paint, pens and puke, writes New York City elementary-school teacher Otis Kriegel. In this blog post, Kriegel share this and six other tips to help teachers manage their classrooms. "There are so many things a new teacher needs to know before he or she gets into the classroom, most of which have absolutely nothing to do with the Common Core [State] Standards," Kriegel writes. Edutopia.org/Otis Kriegel's blog (5/13)

Policy Watch

Calif. governor proposes increased funding for education
California Gov. Jerry Brown's proposed budget for fiscal 2014 and beyond includes increased spending on public education -- from $47.3 billion in 2011-12 to $66.5 billion in 2016-17. If approved, Brown's budget includes an additional $2.9 billion in 2014, including an extra $1 billion to help schools implement the Common Core State Standards. Brown's budget also increases funding for schools with students who are from low-income families, English-language learners and in foster care -- altering the state's traditional school-funding model. San Diego Union-Tribune/The Associated Press (5/14)

Colo. adopts new competency-based graduation requirements
Colorado will phase in new graduation requirements over the next seven years that are focused more on students' competency than so-called "seat time" requirements. Under the vote by the state board of education on Wednesday, students will be able to show competency in four core subjects through various avenues, including standardized testing and Advanced Placement exams. The Denver Post (5/16), The Denver Post (5/15)

Other News

Technology in the Classroom

How school field trips can go high tech
Mobile applications are making it possible for schools to make field trips more interactive and -- in some cases -- take students on field trips through augmented reality programs. The technology uses mobile phones and tablets with Internet, GPS and cameras, and can prompt students with questions and interactive features about locations and scenery. In one example, sixth-grade students used their personal devices to collect data and take quizzes while visiting a nearby pond. Education Week (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org) (5/15)

Are touch-screen tables the next big thing in education?
Five teachers in the United Kingdom recently tested the use of touch-screen tables in their classrooms, and researchers found that while the technology may have potential, there is still a lot of work to be done before they can be effectively used in schools. The study by researchers at Newcastle University suggests that additional in-class testing is needed, as are additional teacher-friendly applications for the technology and more training for educators. CNN/What's Next blog (5/8)

Social Studies & Civic Life

Mass. high-school students conduct mock trial of real murder case
Social studies students from Weymouth High School in Massachusetts held a mock trial of the real-life Florida case of Casey Anthony, who was accused of murdering her 2-year-old daughter. Weymouth Mayor Susan Kay presided as judge in the classroom project and praised students for their efforts, which ended in acquittal as did the real court case in 2011. Wicked Local/Weymouth, Mass. (5/14)

Eighth-grade student uses Instagram to document acts of kindness
One eighth-grade student in Connecticut is using social media to perform and promote good deeds. As part of a social-service project at her school, Brianna Marino is documenting and tracking random acts of kindness on Instagram, asking others to contribute as well. Patch.com/Canton, Conn. (5/13)

Other News

NCSS Updates

NCSS Awards deadline extended to May 31
The deadline to submit a nomination or application for NCSS Awards is extended to May 31. Learn more about NCSS awards and grants.

Powerful and Authentic Social Studies (PASS): Teacher Training Institute
Powerful and Authentic Social Studies (PASS) is a professional development program that trains social studies teachers in curriculum design, assessment and instruction in a standards-based environment. This institute will provide participants with the materials and expertise necessary to lead their own PASS training workshops in their schools and school districts. The 2013 PASS Institute will take place on July 22 to 26, 2013 in Monterey, Calif. Get more information and register.

SmartQuote

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