Annenberg Learner Search Results

Episode 22: Games for Change with Luis Saltos

…like students came to the realization that video game design is not as easy as playing video games. I feel like whenever students see my class and it’s a tech class, it’s a coding class, it’s a video game design class, and it’s like, “yeah, this going to be super easy,” and it’s like, no,…

Episode 5: Rafael Cruz, LA County Teacher of the Year 2021-22

…and industry members and educators would look at their video and then give them feedback. In Flipgrid you could make a video and you could do a feedback video – that is something that I’m using now because I was able to get a lot of people: engineers, somebody from NASA, we got someone that…

Episode 1: Two Bit Circus with Dr. Leah Hanes

…Arts District. It is just a fabulous experience of VR, AR, video games, arcade games, and an interactive theater. We bring kids for field trips and kids are playing video games all the time so we can get them in that environment and then talk to them about the kinds of careers that exist around…

Episode 25: Chemistry – Challenges and Solutions

…explore concepts in chemistry by providing a strong foundation for learners through a dynamic video course with each video hosted by a different working chemist to show a diversity of chemistry professionals and the challenges chemistry is addressing for society. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. Transcript Matter and the Rise of…

Episode 39: Helping Kids Navigate Global Conflicts from Pediatric Psychologist Dr. Parker Huston

…through my door have some sort of technology as part of the conversation, whether it’s video game use and which video games, how much time,  social media, or  it’s just general technology use in screen time as a whole. I spend a lot of time thinking with other families about how to fit that into…

Episode 26: LA84 Foundation with Renata Simril

…give us a highlight reel of some of the awardees and what some of the initiatives that they launched or are doing with their students at their school sites? Renata Simril [14:37] The 23 videos, I read all of them, but the videos are really about storytelling. That’s when they pull at your heartstrings, and…

Episode 18: 2022 Teacher of the Year with Michelle Stradford

…day long, and deal with more of the paperwork and bureaucracy. So, it’s hard, very hard. Nati Rodriguez [12:39] We watched your TOY video and you mentioned “not needing to fill every minute with instruction.” Could you just tell us about what other things you incorporate in your classroom that bring joy into that experience?…

Episode 10: Griffin Education with Tim Griffin

…content out there and the teachers are so over-scheduled. I’m in a program with the Children’s Media Association where we’re looking to find a collaborator who can take our music and get it on TV, either as animated videos in between episodes of shows, or as a recurring feature on someone else’s show, like the…

Episode 16: Neuroscience & the Classroom – Making Connections

Episode 16: Neuroscience & the Classroom – Making Connections October 24, 2022 Today, we have a special episode, an excerpt from Annenberg Learner series, Neuroscience & the Classroom: Making Connections – a video course designed to familiarize K-12 educators with current neuroscience research that could be used in the classroom. The following episode highlights exciting…

Episode 14: LabXchange with Marty Samuels

…excited to announce that the Learner series The Habitable Planet is now available on LabXchange. The Habitable Planet is a video course for high school teachers and undergraduate students in environmental science, and additional series will be added in the coming months, so stay tuned by subscribing to this podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever…

video: Watch the Video | Comprehension and Response

…comprehension strategies. An accompanying lecture transcript (PDF) is also available. Video Segment – Comprehension Strategies Lecture Find this segment approximately 3 minutes after the beginning of the video. Watch for about 7 minutes. After watching this video segment, review your notes and consider these questions: Which comprehension strategies characterize your most proficient readers? Based on…

video: Watch the Video | Connecting School and Home

…their practices and obstacles in building home-school partnerships. Use the video image below to locate where to begin viewing. Video Segment – Perceptions, Actions, Obstacles Find this segment approximately 10 minutes and 55 seconds after the beginning of the video. Watch for about 8 minutes.   After watching the video segment, consider these questions: How…

video: Watch the Video | Differentiating Instruction

…Next, she presents classroom practices and routines that reflect the research and support flexible grouping for reading instruction. Use the video image below to locate where to begin viewing. An accompanying lecture transcript (PDF) is also available. Video Segment – Dr. Paratore’s Lecture Find this segment approximately 3 minutes and 35 seconds after the begining…

video: Watch the Video | Teaching Writing as a Process

…the writing process? Following the lecture, the workshop participants discuss their questions and concerns about teaching writing. Use the video image below to locate where to begin viewing. Video Segment – Questions and Concerns Find this segment approximately 11 minutes and 15 seconds after the beginning of the video. Watch for about 2 1/2 minutes….

video: Watch the Video | Word Study and Fluency

…of word study in grades K-2: emergent literacy, phonics, and reading accuracy and fluency. All three areas provide the foundation for learning to read and write. An accompanying lecture transcript (PDF) is also available. Video Segment – Dr. Paratore’s Lecture Find this segment approximately 7 minutes and 55 seconds after the beginning of the video….

video: View & Analyze the Video

…The video addresses the following questions: What is classroom interaction? How do patterns of talk affect communication? What can teachers do to enhance patterns of communication? *The classroom excerpts featured in this video are from the Teaching Foreign Languages K-12 video library. To learn more about the featured lessons, go to the Library Videos Chart….

video: Analyze the Video | Creating Contexts for Learning

Video Summary In this video, Professor Jeanne Paratore discusses the organization strategies, routines, and reading practices that enhance students’ literacy skills. You will also see classroom examples that illustrate the strategies and research that Professor Paratore describes. As you watch the video, consider the following questions: Why does classroom organization matter? Why are routines important?…

video: Analyze the Video | Assessment and Accountability

Video Summary In this video, Professor Kathryn Au discusses standards, benchmarks, rubrics, portfolios, and high-stakes tests. You will also see classroom examples that illustrate the strategies and research Professor Au describes. As you watch the video, consider the following questions: How do standards and benchmarks inform assessment? What role can students play in their assessment?…

video: View & Analyze the Video

…The video addresses the following questions: What is the content of language instruction? How is language transparent or opaque? When do you focus students on form? *The classroom excerpts featured in this video are from the Teaching Foreign Languages K-12 video library. To learn more about the featured lessons, go to the Library Videos Chart….

video: Analyze the Video | Teaching English Language Learners

Video Summary In this video, Professor Robert Jiménez discusses the strengths that English language learners bring to the classroom, the importance of high expectations, and the benefits of connecting students’ cultures with curriculum. You will also see classroom examples that illustrate the research-based strategies Professor Jiménez describes. As you watch the video, consider the following…

video: View & Analyze the Video

…and languages.* The video addresses the following questions: Who is the audience? How does audience influence oral and written presentations? How does feedback improve presentational communication? *The classroom excerpts featured in this video are from the Teaching Foreign Languages K-12 video library. To learn more about the featured lessons, go to the Library Videos Chart….

video: View & Analyze the Video

…the following questions: How do you define diversity in learners? What instructional strategies work for diverse learners? How do teachers connect research and theory to practice? *The classroom excerpts featured in this video are from the Teaching Foreign Languages K-12 video library. To learn more about the featured lessons, go to the Library Videos Chart….

video: View & Analyze The Video

…the following questions: What is text? What is interpretation? At what level can interpretation begin? Can there be multiple interpretations? How is the interpretive mode assessed? *The classroom excerpts featured in this video are from the Teaching Foreign Languages K-12 video library. To learn more about the featured lessons, go to the Library Videos Chart….

video: Watch the Video | Using Assessment To Guide Instruction

…instruction and to address the needs of all students. The workshop participants develop a semantic map that relates the assessment principles to their own practices. An accompanying lecture transcript (PDF) is also available. Video Segment – Dr. Paratore’s Lecture Find this segment approximately 2 minutes and 55 seconds after the beginning of the video. Watch…

video: View & Analyze the Video

…video addresses the following questions: What is community? How can teachers access community within and beyond the classroom? What roles can heritage speakers play in the classroom? *The classroom excerpts featured in this video are from the Teaching Foreign Languages K-12 video library. To learn more about the featured lessons, go to the Library Videos…

video: View & Analyze the Video

…languages.* The video addresses the following questions: How do you assess performance? How do the standards inform assessment? What are the roles of rubrics and feedback? *The classroom excerpts featured in this video are from the Teaching Foreign Languages K-12 video library. To learn more about the featured lessons, go to the Library Videos Chart….

video: View & Analyze the Video

…video addresses the following questions: How do teachers integrate culture into instruction? How do products and practices lead to perspectives? How do teachers build intercultural competence? *The classroom excerpts featured in this video are from the Teaching Foreign Languages K-12 video library. To learn more about the featured lessons, go to the Library Videos Chart….

video: Analyze the Video | Writing

Video Summary In this video, Professor Nadeen Ruiz discusses components of an effective writing program, strategies teachers can use to help students improve, and effective assessment practices. You will also see classroom examples that illustrate the strategies and research Professor Ruiz describes. As you watch the video, consider the following questions: What contributes to an…

video: Analyze the Video | Building Comprehension

Video Summary In this video, Professor Nell Duke defines what good readers do as they process text and what teachers can do to improve students’ reading comprehension. You will also see classroom examples that illustrate the strategies and research Professor Duke describes. As you watch the video, consider the following questions: What do good readers…

section: Part A: Classroom Video (30 minutes)

…Video Segment In this video segment, Lolita Mattos introduces her students to the process of backtracking. She begins by giving her students an algorithm. She then asks them to undo the algorithm by reversing operations. You can find this segment on the session video, approximately 46 minutes and 3 seconds after the Annenberg Media logo….

section: Part A: Classroom Video (30 minutes)

To begin the exploration of what algebraic thinking looks like in a classroom at your grade level, watch a video segment of a teacher who has taken the “Patterns, Functions, and Algebra” course and has adapted the mathematics to her own teaching situation. When viewing the video, keep the following three questions in mind: Note…

section: Part A: Classroom Video (30 minutes)

To begin the exploration of what algebraic thinking looks like in a classroom at your grade level, watch a video segment of a teacher who has taken the “Patterns, Functions, and Algebra” course and has adapted the mathematics to her own teaching situation. When viewing the video, keep the following three questions in mind: Note…

video: Watch the Video | Creating a Literate Community

Lecture In this section, you will watch Dr. Paratore’s lecture on creating a literate community in early literacy. Print Dr. Paratore’s Literate Community Lecture Posters (PDF). Use the posters to take notes on the lecture. In this video segment, Dr. Paratore discusses how effective classroom organization and routines promote beginning reading and writing. The lecture…

video: Watch the Video | Supporting the English Language Learner

Lecture In this section, you will watch Dr. Gort’s lecture on reading instruction for English Language Learners in grades K-2. Print Dr. Gort’s English Language Learners Lecture Posters (PDF). Use the posters to take notes on the lecture. In this video segment, Dr. Gort presents and discusses research-based principles on second-language literacy development. The lecture…

video: Analyze the Video | Teaching Diverse Learners

Video Summary In “Teaching Diverse Learners,” Dorothy Strickland addresses the range of diversity in classrooms, including differences in language, culture, ability, interests, background knowledge, and approach to learning. Professor Strickland also discusses the importance of teachers understanding the backgrounds of their students in order to plan effective instruction. As you watch the video, consider the…

video: Analyze the Video | Fluency and Word Study

Video Summary In “Fluency and Word Study,” Professor Richard Allington discusses three instructional practices that promote reading fluency: giving students opportunities to read texts they can easily read, practicing giving them plenty of time to practice reading, and allowing them to read without being interrupted. Professor Allington also discusses effective word study strategies. The video…

video: A Closer Look (video)

Videos A Closer Look Witness Lives Evidence Story A Closer Look is a helpful video to view first, as it provides the basis for further study. This video features: Photography historian Dr. Makeda Best on working with teachers to model the Focus In method for analyzing photographs Dr. Julia Dolan on curating a museum exhibit…

video: Analyze the Video | New Literacies of the Internet

Video Summary In “New Literacies of the Internet,” Professor Donald Leu discusses the new literacy skills that our students need for questioning, searching, critically evaluating, synthesizing, and communicating information found on the Internet. You will also see classroom examples that illustrate his research. As you watch, consider the following questions:   What skills do students…

video: View & Analyze (Video)

Watch the Video As you watch “Routes to Culture,” take notes on Mr. Muirhead’s instructional strategies, particularly how he groups students and how he encourages them to make cultural observations. Write down what you find interesting, surprising, or especially important about the teaching and learning in this lesson….

video: Story (video)

Videos A Closer Look Witness Lives Evidence Story Every photograph tells a story: Stories of struggle. Stories of beauty. Stories of community and culture. This video offers stories of three people and what compels them to do what they do. High school teacher Kim Kanof teaches from the Protests and Politics collection. National Geographic photo…

video: Evidence (video)

Videos A Closer Look Witness Lives Evidence Story An image can show us otherwise invisible processes, previously undiscovered life forms, and dramatic change over time. This video features three people who offer photographic evidence of the unknown and unseen. High school teacher Rima Givot teaches from the Genetics and Bioengineering collection. Scientist and photomicrographer Dennis…

video: Witness (video)

Videos A Closer Look Witness Lives Evidence Story Photographs bear witness to the world around us and give us an opportunity to learn more about historical and present day people, places, and events. In this video, you’ll meet three people who witness the power of photographs to teach and communicate. Middle school teacher Donald Rose…

video: Lives (video)

Videos A Closer Look Witness Lives Evidence Story Lives explores the story of human resilience and perseverance. In this video, you’ll meet five people who illuminate the lives of others through photography. Middle school teacher Donald Rose teaches from the Disaster and Government Response collection. Historian Linda Gordon shares how writing a biography of FSA…

video: View & Analyze Video

As you reflect on these questions, write down your responses or discuss them as a group. Before You Watch Respond to the following questions: How do you integrate geography and history into your lessons? What kinds of technology might students learn to use in a foreign language class? How do you design activities that help…

video: Online Textbook and Video

This online textbook chapter supports and extends the content of the Emerging Infectious Diseases video. The chapter content covers the factors affecting the emergence of disease. Click on the Go button to begin reading, or skip to a sub-section of the chapter in the list below.

section: Part B: Divisibility Test (50 minutes)

…and B4. Did you use similar methods to come up with a rule? You can find this segment on the session video approximately 7 minutes and 17 seconds after the Annenberg Media logo.   Video Segment In this video segment, Donna explains her group’s thinking in finding the divisibility test for 6. With Professor Findell,…

video: Program 13: Learning To Revise

Watch the 30-minute video “Learning To Revise.” If you prefer to watch the video in segments, you can stop at the times suggested below or use the Video Guide (PDF) — a detailed outline of the video — to determine places to stop for discussion. Answer the questions that follow each segment, jotting down your…

video: Program 12: Peer Conferences

…and ask questions. The video concludes with a look at students engaging in peer conferences using the new strategy. (If you are watching the video in segments, you will find this image at the beginning of the segment, approximately 16 minutes into the video.) What are the benefits of talking about a piece of writing…

video: Program 2: Teacher as Writer

Watch the 30-minute video “Teacher as Writer.” Apply what you have learned in “Building a Community of Writers” as you watch the extended video of other teachers’ classes. Answer the questions that follow each segment, jotting down your answers in your notebook or using them as discussion starters. Christine Sanchez’s Class Christine Sanchez talks about…

video: Introduction to the Library

…a standards-based classroom. Watch this video to familiarize yourself with the entire collection and to help you decide which of the other videos you want to watch. You can also use this introductory video to: launch a study group using the video library, and inform parents and administrators about the library and the methodology workshop….

video: View & Analyze the Video

As you reflect on these questions, write down your responses or discuss them as a group. Before You Watch Respond to the following questions: What are the challenges and benefits of differentiating instruction for heritage speakers and native speakers? What are the challenges and benefits of having them work with traditional learners? What kinds of…

section: Part A: Cyclic Functions (50 minutes)

…Annenberg Media logo.   Video Segment In this video segment, taken from the “real world” example at the end of the Session 8 video, Rick Garnen of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy talks about the causes and effects of tides on currents in Cape Cod Bay and how this relates to the mathematics of cyclic functions….

video: View & Analyze the Video

As you reflect on these questions, write down your responses or discuss them as a group. Before You Watch Respond to the following questions: What are some advantages of using language-based games with advanced learners? How can teachers transform current events into teachable moments when extensive preparation is not possible or useful? What kinds of…

video: Program 5: Reading Like a Writer

Watch the 30-minute video “Reading Like a Writer.” If you prefer to watch the video in segments, you can stop at the times suggested below or use the Video Guide (PDF) — a detailed outline of the video — to help you determine places to stop for discussion. Answer the questions that follow each segment,…

video: Program 6: Reading/Writing Connections

Watch the 30-minute video “Reading/Writing Connections.” Apply what you learned in “Reading Like a Writer” as you watch the extended video of classroom examples. Answer the questions that follow each segment, jotting down your answers in your notebook or using them as discussion starters. Christine Sanchez’s Class Christine Sanchez’s third-graders are preparing to write about…

video: View & Analyze the Video

As you reflect on these questions, write down your responses or discuss them as a group. Before You Watch Respond to the following questions: What are the benefits of having students work with authentic, linguistically challenging materials? How do you design group work to ensure successful communication? What is the teacher’s role during group work?…

video: View & Analyze the Video

As you reflect on these questions, write down your responses or discuss them as a group. Before You Watch Respond to the following questions: When teaching large sets of vocabulary, how do you sequence and vary activities? How do you demonstrate the cultural meaning of words when translation is not sufficient? How do you ensure…

video: View & Analyze the Video

As you reflect on these questions, write down your responses or discuss them as a group. Before You Watch Respond to the following questions: How can Total Physical Response Storytelling (TPRS) be used to present and have students practice new vocabulary? What are the instructional advantages of using stories or narratives to teach new language?…

video: View & Analyze the Video

As you reflect on these questions, write down your responses or discuss them as a group. Before You Watch Respond to the following questions: What are some benefits of using a thematic approach in your teaching? How can a unit be organized around a given theme? What opportunities do you provide beginning students to communicate…

video: View & Analyze the Video

As you reflect on these questions, write down your responses or discuss them as a group. Before You Watch Respond to the following questions: How do you adapt instruction when your class includes heritage learners (who can range from bilingual students to students with minimal skills in the target language)? How do visuals and props…

video: View & Analyze the Video

As you reflect on these questions, write down your responses or discuss them as a group. Before You Watch Respond to the following questions: What are some of the most significant works of art in your target culture(s)? What strategies help students derive meaning from an informational text? What strategies help students develop their own…

video: View & Analyze the Video

As you reflect on these questions, write down your responses or discuss them as a group. Before You Watch Respond to the following questions: How would you organize the teaching of a full-length film or literary work in your class? How do you strike a balance between students’ ability to interpret and think about abstract…

video: View & Analyze the Video

As you reflect on these questions, write down your responses or discuss them as a group. Before You Watch Respond to the following questions: What accommodations do traveling teachers (that is, teachers who do not have their own classrooms) have to make? What kinds of activities engage second-graders in a language class? How might you…

video: View & Analyze the Video

As you reflect on these questions, write down your responses or discuss them as a group. Before You Watch Respond to the following questions: What kinds of real events can inspire classroom debate? What are some steps to prepare students for a debate? How can students gain background knowledge on a particular subject in order…

video: View & Analyze the Video

As you reflect on these questions, write down your responses or discuss them as a group. Before You Watch Respond to the following questions: How do you encourage students’ individual expression of ideas, such as voicing their preferences, when dealing with limited content? What role does storytelling or extended narrative play in beginning classrooms? What…

video: View & Analyze the Video

As you reflect on these questions, write down your responses or discuss them as a group. Before You Watch Respond to the following questions: What are some of the premises of content-based instruction in foreign language classes? How can content from the general curriculum be integrated into a foreign language lesson? What kinds of writing…

unit: Big Ideas in Literacy – Science

Introduction Disciplinary literacy in science is challenging and highly rewarding. It involves more than what we traditionally think of as reading and writing, encompassing interpreting graphs, following evidence presented in a video, understanding how teams work, judging the quality of an online source of information, writing a blog or contributing to a shared digital document,…

section: Part A: Observing a Case Study (25 minutes)

To begin the exploration of what topics in number and operations look like in a classroom at your grade level, watch a video segment of a teacher who took the Number and Operations course and then adapted the mathematics to her own teaching situation. In the video segment, Ms. Donnell introduces students to That’s Logical!…

video: View & Analyze the Video

As you reflect on these questions, write down your responses or discuss them as a group. Before You Watch Respond to the following questions: How do you coordinate your curriculum with timely events, such as holidays, from the target culture? How have you incorporated current events into your teaching? Which events fit in with the…

section: Part A: The Concept of Area (25 minutes)

…  Video Segment In this video segment, kindergarten, first-, and second-grade teachers discuss some of the important ideas about area. One teacher mentions that the conservation of area has to be considered when teaching young children. You can find this segment on the session video approximately 3 minutes and 30 seconds after the Annenberg Media…

video: View & Analyze the Video

As you reflect on these questions, write down your responses or discuss them as a group. Before You Watch Respond to the following questions: How does focusing on the interpretive communication Standard change traditional reading or listening comprehension activities? What is the role of literature in the courses that you teach? In the curriculum in…

section: Part C: Inferences and Predictions (35 minutes)

…make inferences and predictions? • What are some of the students’ preliminary conclusions? • Which of the students’ inferences are based on the data, and which are based on their own personal judgement? Video Segment In this video segment, Paul Sowden asks the students to look for patterns in the four line plots and to…

video: Standards and the Five Cs

…modern or classical. Children who come to school from non-English backgrounds should also have opportunities to develop further proficiencies in their first language. – World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages     This video is an introduction to the World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages. The Standards reflect the knowledge and skills students need to communicate with…

video: Program 9: Conversations With Student Writers

Watch the 30-minute video “Conversations With Student Writers.” If you prefer to watch the video in segments, you can stop at the times suggested below or use the Video Guide (PDF) — a detailed outline of the video — to help you determine places to stop for discussion. Answer the questions that follow each segment,…

video: Program 3: Reasons for Writing

Watch the 30-minute video “Reasons for Writing.” If you prefer to watch the video in segments, you can stop at the times suggested below or use the Video Guide (PDF) — a detailed outline of the video — to help you determine places to stop for discussion. Answer the questions that follow each segment, jotting…

video: Program 4: Fostering Choice and Independence

Watch the 30-minute video “Fostering Choice and Independence.” Apply what you have learned in “Reasons for Writing” as you watch the extended video of classroom examples. Answer the questions that follow each segment, jotting down your answers in your notebook or using them as discussion starters Mark Hardy’s Class On these first two days of…

video: Program 8: Teaching a Specific Writing Strategy

Watch the 30-minute video “Teaching a Specific Writing Strategy.” Apply what you have learned in “Teaching the Writing Craft” as you watch the extended video of classroom examples. Answer the questions that follow each segment, jotting down your answers in your notebook or using them as discussion starters. Silvia Edgerton’s Class In this segment, Silvia…

video: Program 11: Conversations Among Peer Writers

Watch the 30-minute video “Conversations Among Writing Peers.” If you prefer to watch the video in segments, you can stop at the times suggested below or use the Video Guide (PDF) — a detailed outline of the video — to help you determine places to stop for discussion. Answer the questions that follow each segment,…

section: Part C: Quadperson (45 minutes)

…comparison? Did the Quadperson look the same after a change made by a relative comparison? Why? Video Segment In this video segment, Andrea and Deanna compare the two versions of Quadperson and discuss why one Quadperson is more in proportion with the original than the other. Watch this segment after you’ve completed Problems C1-C4, and…

video: View & Analyze the Video

As you reflect on these questions, write down your responses or discuss them as a group. Before You Watch Respond to the following questions: Which aspects of the Communication standards would apply to both classical and modern language instruction? What kinds of authentic materials are available to teachers of classical languages? What activities might extend…

video: View & Analyze the Video

As you reflect on these questions, write down your responses or discuss them as a group. Before You Watch Respond to the following questions: How might teachers demonstrate sensitivity when teaching vocabulary about family or other topics related to students’ personal lives? In elementary or middle school classes, new students may enter the program with…

video: View & Analyze the Video

As you reflect on these questions, write down your responses or discuss them as a group. Before You Watch Respond to the following questions: How do teachers work with the shorter attention span of younger learners? What strategies do elementary school teachers use to communicate with their students solely in the target language? Should they…

video: View & Analyze the Video

As you reflect on these questions, write down your responses or discuss them as a group. Before You Watch Respond to the following questions: How do you develop verbal communication skills in high school students who are in Level III or beyond? How do you balance teaching language structures and content in a standards-based classroom?…

video: View & Analyze the Video

As you reflect on these questions, write down your responses or discuss them as a group. Before You Watch Respond to the following questions: What kinds of activities are appropriate for teaching a foreign language to pre-readers? What principles guide instruction in immersion/partial immersion programs? What teaching techniques are essential in the early grades? What…

video: View & Analyze the Video

As you reflect on these questions, write down your responses or discuss them as a group. Before You Watch Respond to the following questions: What is the role of a textbook in your teaching? How do you decide when to supplement or replace textbook activities or content? What opportunities do you give students to practice…

video: View & Analyze the Video

As you reflect on these questions, write down your responses or discuss them as a group. Before You Watch Respond to the following questions: What instructional advantages does the literary genre of folktales offer? What are the benefits of teaching about a variety of cultures in which the target language is spoken? What makes technology…

video: View & Analyze the Video

As you reflect on these questions, write down your responses or discuss them as a group. Before You Watch Respond to the following questions: What do you need to keep in mind when teaching a class that includes more than two adjacent levels? What literary genres are most accessible to high school students? When is…

video: View & Analyze the Video

As you reflect on these questions, write down your responses or discuss them as a group. Before You Watch Respond to the following questions: What are some ways to expand and enrich a lesson around a limited set of vocabulary terms, such as the names of different fruits? What are some learning strategies that you…

video: View & Analyze the Video

As you reflect on these questions, write down your responses or discuss them as a group. Before You Watch Respond to the following questions: What are the benefits of modeling interactions before students do them on their own? What instructional purpose do long-term projects serve in the foreign language classroom? How much independent research can…

section: Part A: Observing a Case Study (25 minutes)

To begin the exploration of what topics in number and operations look like in a classroom at your grade level, watch a video segment of a teacher who took the Number and Operations course and then adapted the mathematics to her own teaching situation. When viewing the video, keep the following questions in mind: See…

unit: Bringing It All Together – Mathematics

…reading, writing, speaking, and listening are framed in this video. What new ideas surface for you as you contemplate implications for instruction? Reflect: How similar or different are the practices discussed in this video compared to the practices in your own classroom? What new ideas might be important to begin to implement in your own…

lesson: Getting Ready

…work through the session: What are historical references? How do historical references affect the creation of new works of art? Materials and Resources Videotape or broadcast of Program 3 — Historical References in the Arts Quidam video by Cirque du Soleil. Quidam is widely available on video to purchase or borrow and share. See How…

lesson: Part B: Linkage-Strip Constructions (40 minutes)

…You can find this segment on the session video approximately 9 minutes and 25 seconds after the Annenberg Media logo.   Video Segment In this video segment, Kent describes a different rule for when three lengths will make a triangle. Watch this segment after you have completed Problems B1-B4, and compare your rule with Kent’s….

section: Part C: Comparative Experimental Studies (65 minutes)

…randomly chosen for List B were unusually smart? Video Segment In this video segment, researchers at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital discuss the design of a study on the effects of aspirin. Watch this segment after completing Problem C6. How was the study on aspirin designed? What characteristics of the study’s design are most important…

section: Part C: Inferences and Predictions (30 minutes)

…likely or unlikely” (NCTM, 2000). How is this expectation illustrated in this video segment? Video Segment In this video segment, Ellen Sabanosh asks her students to predict the number of raisins in an unopened box, based on the data they have collected. Watch them discuss both reasonable and unreasonable predictions.   Problem C1 Answer the…

section: Part C: Bias in Measurement (20 minutes)

…Norm Abram discusses measurement error and bias in carpentry. What examples of bias, or systematic error, were present in this discussion? How could these be avoided? You can find this segment on the session video approximately 23 minutes and 31 seconds after the Annenberg Media logo.   Video Segment In this video segment, Professor Kader…

section: Part B: Looking for Prime Numbers (45 minutes)

…extended grid should you look to find prime numbers greater than 3? Video Segment Watch how Professor Findell and the participants worked on Problems B1-B3 in this video segment. Are you convinced that the conjecture about locating prime numbers is true? Try extending the table by a few more rows to see if the rule…

section: Part A: A Simpler Number System (70 minutes)

…the other from the vertical column on the far left, and add them. See where you land on the table. Then consider what happens if you move one up from the original number in the vertical column and one to the right in the horizontal row. Video Segment In this video segment, Rhonda and Monique…

section: Part B: Line Plots (40 minutes)

…give three descriptive statements that provide an answer to the question “How many raisins are there in a half-ounce box of Brand X raisins?” At least two of your statements should take into account the variation in the data. Video Segment In this video segment, participants attempt to answer the question “How many raisins are…

section: Part D: Ordering Hats: (35 minutes)

…begin, make an initial guess about whether you expect all hat sizes to be equally common. Explain your answer. If you think some hat sizes will be more common than others, which hat size would you expect to be the most common, and why? Video Segment In this video segment, the hat-ordering problem is introduced,…

section: Part C: Analyzing Binomial Probabilities (45 minutes)

…— Tails, Second Toss — Tails (Abbreviated TT):               Video Segment In this video segment, Professor Kader demonstrates how to construct a tree diagram. As you watch, ask yourself, What does a path on a tree diagram represent? View this segment after you’ve completed the Interactive Activity. Note: In…

video: Program 15: Writing Across the Curriculum

Watch the 30-minute video “Writing Across the Curriculum.” If you prefer to watch the video in segments, you can stop at the times suggested below or use the Video Guide (PDF) — a detailed outline of the video — to help you determine places to stop for discussion. Answer the questions that follow each segment,…

video: Program 7: Teaching the Writing Craft

Watch the 30-minute video “Teaching the Writing Craft.” If you prefer to watch the video in segments, you can stop at the times suggested below or use the Video Guide (PDF) — a detailed outline of the video — to help you determine places to stop for discussion. Answer the questions that follow each segment,…

video: Program 10: Teacher-Student Conferences

Watch the 30-minute video “Teacher-Student Conferences.” Apply what you have learned in “Conversations With Student Writers” as you watch the extended video of classroom examples. Answer the questions that follow each segment, jotting down your answers in your notebook or using them as discussion starters. Silvia Edgerton’s Class Silvia Edgerton is engaged in a formal…

video: Program 1: Building a Community of Writers

Watch the 30-minute video “Building a Community of Writers.” If you prefer to watch the video in segments, you can stop at the times suggested below or use the Video Guide (PDF) — a detailed outline of the video — to help you determine places to stop for discussion. Answer the questions that follow each…

section: Part C: Bags, Blocks, and Balance (30 minutes)

…left? For the purposes of the problems, the bags in each problem hold the same number of blocks, and the bags themselves weigh practically nothing.   Video Segment In this video segment, Sue-Anne tells Professor Cossey how she solved a balance puzzle while Professor Cossey follows along on a chart. Was Sue-Anne’s thinking similar to…

video: View & Analyze the Video

As you reflect on these questions, write down your responses or discuss them as a group. Before You Watch Respond to the following questions: How can clearly defining your objectives in the form of Can-Do Statements help you plan before a lesson and during the lesson itself? What will help students focus on what is…

video: Thinking Like a Mathematician (video)

Constantina “Dina” Burow walks her students through logarithmic functions by breaking down a word problem from a mathematics textbook and then showing them how their previous knowledge of exponential functions helps them graph and solve logarithmic functions. Teacher: Constantina “Dina” Burow School: Health Sciences High and Middle College, San Diego, CA Grade: 11 Discipline: Mathematics…

section: Part A: Patterns in Variation (10 minutes)

…of the variation they find. Professor Kader also introduces the uses of graphical and tabular representations. See Note 2. Video Segment In Problem H2 of Session 1, you looked at the mint marks of 100 Jefferson nickels. Then you answered a series of questions about those coins. In this video segment, the onscreen participants examine…

Part A: Observing a Case Study (25 minutes)

To begin the exploration of what topics in number and operations look like in a classroom at your grade level, watch a video segment of a teacher who took the Number and Operations course and then adapted the mathematics to her own teaching situation. When viewing the video, keep the following questions in mind: Note…

lesson: Part A: Geometry and Reasoning (25 minutes)

…students drawing logical conclusions and thinking mathematically? How does the reasoning relate to the geometric content? Thinking back to the big ideas of this course, what are some geometric ideas these students are likely to encounter through their investigation of this situation?   Video Segment In this video segment, sixth-grade students in Ms. Saenz’s class…

section: Part A: Statistics as a Problem-Solving Process (30 minutes)

…up? • Thinking back to the big ideas of this course, what are some statistical ideas these students are likely to encounter through their investigation of this situation? See Note 2 below. Video Segment In this video segment, teacher Suzanne L’Esperance applies the mathematics she learned in the Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability course to…

lesson: Part A: Geometry as a Problem-Solving Process (25 minutes)

…Where in the lesson are students solving problems and thinking mathematically? How does the problem solving relate to the geometric content? Thinking back to the big ideas of this course, what are some geometric ideas these students are likely to encounter through their investigation of this situation?   Video Segment In this video segment, fifth-grade…

section: Part A: Equality and Balance (30 minutes)

…A2 If someone asked you to solve the equations in Problem A1, what would the solution sets be?   Tip: The definition of a solution set is helpful here. Consider how many different solutions there are in each solution set.   Video Segment In this video segment, Gina explains her solution to Problem A2, including…

section: Part A: Statistics as a Problem-Solving Process (20 minutes)

…subject-area disciplines are apparent in this data investigation? • Thinking back to the big ideas of this course, what are some statistical ideas that these students are likely to encounter through their investigation of this situation?   Video Segment In this video segment, the teacher, Paul Sowden, applies the mathematics he learned in the Data…

video: Using Primary Sources

Video Summary: Examining primary sources and artifacts from the past gives students the chance not only to study history but to become historians and anthropologists themselves. Fifth-grade teacher Kathleen Waffle attended a summer teaching institute at Colonial Williamsburg to learn more about primary sources from the colonial period and how to use them with her…

section: Part C: Place-Value Representation in Base Ten and Base Four (40 minutes)

…number? Video Segment In this video segment, Ben and Liz work with manipulatives to represent numbers in base four and solve some arithmetic problems. They realize that they need to move to the next place value in base four. Watch this segment after you’ve completed Problems C1-C4. Did you find it necessary to think about…

section: Part A: Base Two Numbers (45 minutes)

…to the other: a. 1101two = _________ten b. 11111two = __________ten Video Segment In this video segment, Doug and Tom convert numbers from base two to base ten and vice versa. Doug notices that the number 63 in base ten is one less than the next power of two, and he explains how his finding…

Part A: The Concept of Area (25 minutes)

To begin exploring what the teaching of measurement might look like in the classroom, participants in the Measurement course first re-examined the big ideas around one topic: area. They considered how students make sense of these ideas and discussed ways to present these concepts to middle school learners.   Video SegmentIn this video segment, six…

section: Part A: Models for Multiples and Factors (75 minutes)

…of this activity, use graph paper when drawing the squares and rectangles you wish to represent to ensure that the dimensions of the shapes are precise. Problem A5 Use the area model to find the GCF and LCM of the following: a. 30 and 42 b. 18 and 30 Video Segment In this video segment,…

unit: Big Ideas in Literacy – History/Social Studies

…background knowledge Incorporating historical sources that are used to back up claims Video and Reflection: Watch Reading and Writing in History to see an example of how reading and writing are brought together in the study of history. You may want to take notes on the questions below. Before you watch: What do students read…

section: Part B: Decimals to Fractions (30 minutes)

…equivalent for 0.2363636…. Look carefully at which digits repeat. This is not the same type of decimal as the ones used in Problems B1 and B2. Video Segment In this video segment, Donna and Tom convert into a fraction the type of decimal number where not all the digits repeat. Watch this segment after you’ve…

section: Part C: Building the Number Line (35 minutes)

…number between 2.5 and 2.6? Is there one between 2.55 and 2.6? Video Segment In this video segment, Professor Findell explains the concept of density and why rational numbers, unlike the counting numbers or integers, are dense. Watch this segment after you’ve completed Problem C4. Can you think of any other sets that are dense?…

section: Part B: The Size of Infinity (35 minutes)

…the counting numbers? (What elements are missing?) Video Segment Watch Tom and Doug as they put two sets of numbers into one-to-one correspondence and contemplate whether such correspondence makes the sets the same size. Watch this segment after you’ve completed Problem B1. Did you come up with a different method to put the two sets…

video: Signposts

…(CELA) University at Albany, State University of New York Welcome to Engaging With Literature: A Video Library, Grades 3-5! Produced by Maryland Public Television with funding provided by Annenberg Media, this nine-part video library is designed to help language arts teachers in grades three to five enhance the literary experiences of their students. This series…

section: Part B: Exponential Growth (40 minutes)

…mouse to the right.   Video Segment In this video segment, on screen participants discuss the differences between salary plans A and B in Problems B1 and B2 above. In particular, they explore the differences between linear and exponential functions. Watch this segment after you have worked on Problems B1 and B2. If you get…

section: Part A: Linear Relationships in Patterns (35 minutes)

…2 3 4 5   Problem A2 Develop a formula describing the number of toothpicks as a function of the number of squares.   Tip: As in Session 2, try to develop the formula based on the context of the toothpick squares. Video Segment In this video segment, Gina explains her solution to Problem A2,…

video: Introducing the Envisionment-Building Classroom

…York at Albany Welcome to Making Meaning in Literature: A Video Library, Grades 6-8! Produced by Maryland Public Television with funding provided by Annenberg Media, this nine-part video library is designed to help literature and language arts teachers in grades six to eight enhance the literary experiences of their students. This series overview introduces Dr….

lesson: Part A: Geometry as a Problem Solving Process (25 minutes)

…likely to encounter through their investigation of this situation?   Video Segment In this video segment, second-grade students in Ms. Christiansen’s class are working to describe different figures so that their fellow students can draw them just from the description. They use vocabulary they know to describe figures, learning names for new shapes as they…

video: Public Opinion and the Vietnam War

Video Summary: “In order to win a war, you must win the hearts and minds of the people.” With this quote, Liz Morrison introduces her students to the Vietnam War, the controversy over U.S. involvement in the war, and the trajectory of public opinion over the course of the war. Using data cards and a…

video: California Missions

Video Summary: “How can I teach my students California’s state history, integrate technology, and support a bilingual class?” This question prompted fourth-grade teacher Osvaldo Rubio to develop the lesson “California Missions.” The California Framework for state history requires students to learn about the geography of California; the social, political, cultural, and economic life of its…

video: China Through Mapping

Video Summary: In this lesson, Mimi Norton integrates world geography with the study of Chinese culture and history by engaging her young students in a variety of activities to locate natural and human-made landmarks on maps of China. To build background for this lesson, she has had the students create salt-dough maps of China and…

unit: Bringing It All Together – History/Social Studies

…and critical thought about topics in history and social studies. Such analytical and critical thought is applicable beyond history and social studies instruction—from understanding sources of information on the Internet to critiquing the positions of interest groups. Video and Reflection: Revisit Reading and Writing in History as an example of bringing reading and writing together…

section: Part C: Algebraic Structures (50 minutes)

…possible. Problem C3 Find the units digit of (312 * 423 + 57 * 57) * (28 + 1,045 * 68 * 68 * 68) Video Segment In this video segment, Prof. Cossey asks participants to find the units digit of the product in Problem C3 above. Try Problem C3 yourself, then compare your work…

unit: About the Learning Math Courses

…(NCTM), the courses cover Number and Operations; Patterns, Functions, and Algebra; Geometry; Measurement; and Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability.   Course Information Synopses of sessions, video lists, production credits and copyright information. Patterns, Functions, and Algebra Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability Geometry Number and Operations Measurement Overall Objectives To help teachers better understand mathematics content…

video: The Individual in Society

Video Summary: Questioning is a strategy that all teachers employ. In his philosophy elective, Brian Poon uses questioning to stimulate students’ critical thinking about the complex — and sometimes competing — theories in philosophy. In this lesson, Mr. Poon asks his students the following question: What role can an individual play in creating a just…

section: Part A: Statistics as a Problem-Solving Process (25 minutes)

…keep her students focused on the meaning of the data and the data’s connection to a real-world context? • Thinking back to the big ideas of this course, what are some statistical ideas that these students are beginning to develop? Video Segment In this video segment, the teacher, Ellen Sabanosh, applies the mathematics she learned…

section: Art: Racing Clocks Run Slow: Archaeology of a Racetrack

» Shimon Attie (American, b. 1957) Racing Clocks Run Slow: Archaeology of a Racetrack Artist / Origin: Shimon Attie (American, b. 1957) Region: North America Date: 2007 Period: 1900 CE – 2010 CE Material: (Still from) Three-channel high-definition video installation Medium: Video, Installation, and Performance Credit: Image courtesy of the artist Throughout his career, Shimon…

video: Assessment Strategies

  People still think that assessment is what you do after teaching and learning are over as opposed to thinking of assessment as giving feedback to help you to achieve your goal. – Grant Wiggins, Educational Consultant     This video introduces assessment strategies aligned with the World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages, state and district…

unit: Bringing It All Together – Science

…other topics that would arise from their close reading. Be clear that close reading is part of the process of writing. Video: Watch Using Scientific Discourse to see how a 10th-grade biology teacher has her students apply their scientific literacy skills to explore and reason through a problem that the class explores as an inquiry…

section: Part B: Inverse Proportions (60 minutes)

…In this video segment, the class discusses the shape of the graph for the lottery problem. Then they discuss whether or not the graph crosses the line y = 0. Watch this segment after you’ve completed Problem B3. If you get stuck on the problem, you can watch the video segment to help you. What…

section: Part D: Quadratic Functions (25 minutes)

…column to your table like the one shown below. In this column, put the “differences between differences,” called the second differences. What do you notice? n n2 Difference between outputs Second differences 1 1 1 2 3 2 3 4 5 6   Video Segment This video segment shows how to create a table of…

video: Leaders, Community, and Citizens

Video Summary: How do you teach young students abstract concepts like the different levels and functions of government? First-grade teacher Cynthia Vaughn focuses on the connection between citizens, community issues, and civic leaders. Working as a class, students name the different elected positions in local, state, and national government (for example, mayor, governor, president), and…

section: Part E: Measuring Variation (45 minutes)

…values are quite far away from the mean. Video Segment In this video segment, Professor Kader introduces the MAD as a method for quantifying variation. Watch this segment to review the process of finding the MAD. How can the MAD be used to compare different distributions of data?   Problem E2 Below is Line Plot…

Have You Flipped Your Classroom Yet?

…applying concepts learned in class to their homework. In simplest terms, the flipped classroom inverts the traditional teaching paradigm, introducing new concepts, typically via video lectures, that students can watch outside of the classroom at their own pace. Applying the information learned during lectures – what used to be considered homework – then takes place…

section: Part C: Examining Zero (50 minutes)

…coordinates of this point. Problem C6 Will the graph ever touch either the x- or y-axis? Explain. Problem C7 What happens on the graph when x = or y = 0? How does this demonstrate why you cannot divide a number by 0? Video Segment In this video segment, Andrea and L.J. explore whether the…

section: Part D: The Box Plot (25 minutes)

…Note that the box plots can be drawn vertically or horizontally, depending on whether you display the Five-Number Summary along a vertical or a horizontal axis. See Note 2 below. Video Segment In this video segment, Professor Kader introduces the process of building a box plot. Watch this segment to review the process or to…

section: Part C: Rates (40 minutes)

…To make the race fair, the tortoise gets a head start of 32 miles. Write an equation describing the relationship between distance and time for the tortoise. Enter the tortoise’s equation into a spreadsheet. How long will it take for Achilles to catch up to the tortoise?   Video Segment In this video segment, participants…

video: Historical Change

Video Summary: In this lesson, David Kitts uses children’s literature and the local region’s agricultural heritage to introduce his first-grade class to the concept of historical change. Mr. Kitts begins with a timeline from a previous unit on the family. The timeline defines periods of time based on events that students can relate to, such…

video: Making Bread Together

Video Summary: Kindergarten teacher Meylin Gonzalez brings economic concepts to life in the classroom by creating a hands-on assembly line in which her students make bread. Ms. Gonzalez begins by reading a book entitled Pasta, Please to help students understand how pasta is made and where commercially prepared food comes from. Then they discuss the…

section: Part A: Fractions to Decimals (65 minutes)

…1/16 16 1/32 32 1/64 64 1/1,024 1,024 1/2n 2n 2n Problem A4 Explain how you arrived at the decimal expression for 1/2n. Think about the relationship of this type of fraction to the powers of five.   Video Segment Why are powers of 10 important when converting fractions to decimals? Watch this segment to…

lesson: Part B: Cutting Up (50 minutes)

…triangle. Dissect the triangle so that you can rearrange the pieces to form a rectangle.     Problem B3 Start with a scalene, non-right triangle. Cut it into pieces that will form a parallelogram.   Video Segment In this video segment, groups of participants work to transform several shapes into new figures. As they progress…

video: Economic Dilemmas and Solutions

Video Summary: How can an exam review bring economic concepts to life? Steve Page’s 12th-grade economics class reviews for an exam by discussing real-life social dilemmas and their effect on the economy, and by developing viable economic solutions to those dilemmas. The class is divided into small groups, and Mr. Page assigns each group a…

video: Exploring Geography Through African History

Video Summary: How do you teach students about a world region as large and as culturally diverse as the continent of Africa? Seventh-grade teacher Lisa Farrow begins by focusing on the roles that geography and economics have played in shaping Africa’s history. On the first day of this two-day lesson, Ms. Farrow gives each pair…

video: Explorations in Archeology and History

Video Summary: How can ancient history and archeology be brought to life in the classroom? To launch her lesson on world civilizations, Gwen Larsen begins by looking at each student’s personal history. By taking on the roles of archeologists and presenting their own heirlooms, students learn how to decipher artifacts and make connections to the…

video: Understanding Stereotypes

Video Summary: How would you teach your students about stereotyping? You might begin by asking, What is a stereotype? What is the impact of stereotypes on our lives? What actions can we take to stop the perpetuation of stereotypes? These are a few of the questions that fourth- and fifth-grade students in Libby Sinclair’s class…

video: Making a Difference Through Giving

Video Summary: How do you teach students to become effective citizens? How can young children make positive contributions to their community? Darlene Jones-Inge challenges her fourth- and fifth-grade students to think of realistic solutions to some of the problems facing their school, community, country, and the world. Ms. Jones-Inge begins with a class discussion about…

section: Part C: Inferences and Predictions (30 minutes)

…Note 6, below. When viewing the video segment, keep the following questions in mind: • How does Ms. L’Esperance encourage students to make inferences and predictions? • What are some of the students’ preliminary conclusions? • How are the ideas of sampling and population embedded in this conversation?   Video Segment In this video segment,…

section: Part A: The Concept of Area (25 minutes)

…session video approximately 2 minutes and 20 seconds after the Annenberg Media logo.   Problem A1 Answer the questions based on what you saw in the video: What concepts and skills did the teachers mention as being important for students to understand? What types of activities might be used to help students make sense of…

lesson: Part A: Scale Drawings (50 minutes)

…of length to height. Looking at angles would be another method. Problem A1 Which of these pictures is a good copy of the original picture? Explain how you made your decision.       Video Segment In this video segment, participants explore different ideas that will help them decide which copy is the best copy…

video: Celebrations of Light

Video Summary: Eileen Mesmer uses the theme of holidays to teach students about social studies. Throughout the year her class has read stories about different cultures’ holiday celebrations, prepared foods traditionally eaten during those holidays, learned holiday greetings in other languages, and studied artifacts related to the various holidays. Shifting the emphasis from how holiday…

section: Part B: Metric Units (85 minutes)

…6   Video Segment In this video segment, Mary and Susan work together to establish some referents for measuring lengths using their own bodies, for example, the width of a hand or an arm length. They use those referents to make measurements and then compare them to standard-unit measurements.Why is it important to establish such…

section: Part A: Two Different Meanings of “More” (15 minutes)

Problem A1 Suppose there are two classes in a school, one with 20 students and one with 25. If the first class has 10 girls and the second class has 12, which class has more girls? Note 2   Video Segment In this video segment, participants share their answers to Problem A1 with Professor Cossey….

section: Part B: Developing Statistical Reasoning (45 minutes)

…that these students are developing? • What questions could be posed to determine the extent of students’ understandings of what the mode, mean, median, and range do and do not indicate about the data set? Video Segment In this video segment, Suzanne L’Esperance selects a group of students to present their findings. Each group of…

section: Class Context

…  YEAR AT A GLANCE Folktale Write original folktale and share with young children My Really Funny Valentine’s Day Make Valentine’s video about dating Cooking Show Make instructional cooking video and cookbook for Web Promoting Japanese Tourism Make video to increase tourism to Japan Illness/Promoting Health Publish booklet about health issues Survey/Let’s Find Out Conduct…

section: Part B: Reasoning About Number and Operations (40 minutes)

…value is not affected by the arrangement of the blocks” (NCTM, 2000, p. 81). As you watch another video segment from Ms. Weiss’s class, think about how the students are developing this understanding of number and operations. Video Segment In this video segment, two groups of students use Digi-Blocks to solve subtraction problems. See Note…

video: Creating Opportunities for Mathematical Discourse

Sarah Langer engages students with a multistep group project that uses their understanding of graph theory. Students work together to choose a question, communicate the answer both informally and in writing, and present their solution in a video. ​Teacher: Sarah Langer School: Boston Community Leadership Academy, Hyde Park, MA Grade: 12 Discipline: Mathematics (Advanced Mathematical…

video: History in the Real World: A Documentary Filmmaker

Introduction The Real World videos in the Reading and Writing in the Disciplines course support teachers’ daily efforts to effectively teach students using the Common Core State Standards as benchmarks for success. Through stories of professionals working toward social justice in different disciplines, these videos can serve as a tool for showing students the role…

video: Gender-Based Distinctions

Video Summary: When does the government have the right to treat men and women differently? Students in Tim Rockey’s twelfth-grade A.P. Government and Politics class have been studying the civil rights movement. In this lesson, students analyze and evaluate legal interpretations of gender discrimination based on the Civil Rights Act of 1964, its amendments in…

video: Migration From Latin America

Video Summary: Since the 1960s, unprecedented numbers of Latin Americans have left their homes to move to other countries. Some risked their lives to escape dangerous conditions; others sought better opportunities. For the vast majority, their destination was the United States. But why did they choose to come to America? And how does America decide…

video: Landmark Supreme Court Cases

Video Summary: Is flag burning an acceptable expression of free speech? Should evidence obtained without a search warrant be admissible in court? What constitutes a “clear and present danger” in wartime? Wendy Ewbank and her students use two simulation exercises to examine the nature of individual rights and the role of the Supreme Court in…

video: Population and Resource Distribution

Video Summary: How are resources divided among the world’s population? Who are the “haves” and the “have nots”? What is life like for each group? What actions can citizens of the world take to rectify inequities? To help her students understand the complex issues surrounding the distribution of resources throughout the world, Becky Forristal uses…

video: The Amistad Case

Video Summary: In this lesson, Gary Fisher’s students re-enact the Amistad trial, addressing the issues of slavery, property rights, rebellion, morality, justice, and the law. Amistad is one of several cases students in Mr. Fisher’s class have studied to understand a larger issue: how the Supreme Court has influenced the lives of African Americans past…

video: State Government and the Role of the Citizen

Video Summary: How does government function at the state level? How are state laws made? In this lesson, Diane Kerr’s students examine the branches of state government, the powers of each branch, and how a bill becomes a law. Ms. Kerr begins by identifying the three branches of government and describing the role of each…

video: Explorers in North America

Video Summary: Who were the first Europeans to step foot in the New World? What were they hoping to find? And what impact did their arrival have on the people already living there? Rob Cuddi uses essential questions like these to teach his fifth-grade students about the early explorers in North America. Mr. Cuddi begins…

video: Caring for the Community

Video Summary: For students in Debbie Lerner’s multiage classroom, the remodeling of their school is an opportunity to learn how individuals can contribute to a community project. In this lesson, students learn where funding for such a project comes from, discuss the procedures involved in planning and executing a school remodeling project, identify the resources…

video: Competing Ideologies

Video Summary: From declaring war to waging peace, history is shaped by the ideological beliefs of the people who lived it. Different people hold different ideas about human nature and how a society should be organized. In his ninth-grade world history class, Wendell Brooks explains how competing ideologies drive the world events that make up…

video: Mathematics in the Real World: An Epidemiologist

Introduction The Real World videos in the Reading and Writing in the Disciplines course support teachers’ daily efforts to effectively teach students using the Common Core State Standards as benchmarks for success. Through stories of professionals working toward social justice in different disciplines, these videos can serve as a tool for showing students the role…

video: The Middle East Conflict

Video Summary: How do you introduce to sixth-graders a topic as complex and controversial as the Middle East? Justin Zimmerman starts by asking guided questions to assess his students’ background knowledge of the region, then has them practice their negotiating and conflict resolution skills. (Note: This lesson was taught prior to September 11, 2001.) First,…

lesson: Part C: Circles

…the diameters. d. Measure your inscribed ∠ACB. e. What conjecture can you make about the measure of an angle that is inscribed in a semicircle? f. What conjecture can you make about the measure of an angle that is inscribed in a quarter-circle?   Video Segment In this video segment, Ric and Michele construct an…

session: Japanese: Promoting Attractions of Japan

CLASSROOM AT A GLANCE Teacher Yo Azama 2012 ACTFL Teacher of the Year Language Japanese III-IV Grades 10-12 School North Salinas High School, Salinas, California Lesson Date May 14 Class Size 16 Schedule Block schedule, 100 minutes every day for one semester Video Summary In this lesson, students learn about the regions and tourist destinations…

video: Science in the Real World: A Biotech Startup

Introduction The Real World videos in the Reading and Writing in the Disciplines course support teachers’ daily efforts to effectively teach students using the Common Core State Standards as benchmarks for success. Through stories of professionals working toward social justice in different disciplines, these videos can serve as a tool for showing students the role…

video: Building Community

…in the classroom and that’s wonderful.” Latosha Rowley, 4th- and 5th-Grade Teacher Indianapolis Public Schools Center for Inquiry Indianapolis, Indiana In this video, you will watch Latosha Rowley working with her fourth and fifth graders in a multiage setting as they discuss their novels — all historical fiction — in small groups. You will then…

video: English in the Real World: A Sports Journalist

Introduction The Real World videos in the Reading and Writing in the Disciplines course support teachers’ daily efforts to effectively teach students using the Common Core State Standards as benchmarks for success. Through stories of professionals working toward social justice in different disciplines, these videos can serve as a tool for showing students the role…

video: Rights and Responsibilities of Students — Workshop Session

…sessions. The support materials identify key concepts, provide discussion ideas for each video segment, and recommend follow-up activities for after the workshop session. Additional Materials The following materials—Lesson Plan, Teacher and Student Perspectives, Essential readings and Other Lessons—provide background and context for the lesson seen in the workshop video. They also supply the tools you…

video: Electoral Politics — Workshop Session

…key concepts, provide discussion ideas for each video segment, and recommend follow-up activities for after the workshop session. Additional Materials The materials described below—Lesson Plan, Teacher Perspectives, Student Perspectives, Essential Readings and Other Lessons— provide background and context for the lesson seen in the workshop video. They also supply the tools you need to adapt…

video: Voices in the Conversation

…you’re going through,’ that’s what education is all about…” Katherine Bomer, 5th-Grade Teacher Pleasant Hill Elementary School Austin, Texas This video presents a close-up of Katherine Bomer using the daily read-aloud to help her students learn how to think and talk about literature. Because this experience is central to Ms. Bomer’s teaching, her approach is…

video: Patriotism and Foreign Policy Workshop Session

…video segment, and recommend follow-up activities for after the workshop session. Additional Materials The following materials—Lesson Plan, Teacher and Student Perspectives, Essential Readings and Other Lessons—provide background and context for the lesson seen in the workshop video. They also supply the tools you need to adapt this lesson and its teaching strategies for your classroom….

video: Civic Engagement — Workshop Session

…lead you through the viewing of the workshop video and the related activities and discussions for “Civic Engagement.” These materials can be used by individuals and by facilitators of workshop sessions. The support materials identify key concepts, provide discussion ideas for each video segment, and recommend follow-up activities for after the workshop session. Additional Materials…

section: Reflect on Your Learning | Building Comprehension

…are taking this workshop for credit, include it in your Literacy Practices Portfolio. Which ideas from the video struck you as most relevant to your teaching of comprehension? What questions from your chart were answered after watching the video? What classroom practices might you change or modify? What new instructional practices will you implement in…

video: Constitutional Convention Workshop Session

…video segment, and recommend follow-up activities for after the workshop session. Additional Materials The following materials—Lesson Plan, Teacher Perspectives, Student Perspectives, Essential Readings and Other Lessons—provide background and context for the lesson seen in the workshop video. They also supply the tools you need to adapt this lesson and its teaching strategies for your classroom….

video: Public Policy and the Federal Budget — Workshop Session

…workshop sessions. The support materials identify key concepts, provide discussion ideas for each video segment, and recommend follow-up activities for after the workshop session. Additional Materials The following materials—Lesson Plan, Teacher and Student Perspectives, Essential Readings and Other Lessons—provide background and context for the lesson seen in the workshop video. They also supply the tools…

video: Controversial Public Policy Issues — Workshop Session

…workshop video and the related activities and discussions for “Controversial Public Policy Issues.” These materials can be used by individuals and by facilitators of workshop sessions. The support materials identify key concepts, provide discussion ideas for each video segment, and recommend follow-up activities for after the workshop session.   Additional Materials The following materials—Lesson Plan,…

section: Part B: Reasoning About Situations (45 minutes)

…predicting “algebraic”? Why or why not?   Video Segment In this video segment, Professor Cossey and the participants discuss strategies for solving a problem with sheep shearing and then discuss the involvement of the number three in all the solutions. Were you surprised by the different ideas presented in solving this problem? Which of these…

video: The Teacher’s Role in a Literary Community

About This Video Clip “Literature comes alive when kids have a chance to interpret and to interact. It allows kids to not only see themselves as active readers, but as people who can make meaning.” Barry Hoonan The Odyssey School Bainbridge Island, Washington Barry Hoonan believes teaching is much like poetry. It is crafted, it…

section: Part A: A Framework for Algebraic Thinking (15 minutes)

…are a natural extension of what we know about computation.   Video Segment In this video segment, participants discuss their initial impressions of algebraic thinking. Does thinking algebraically require formal “algebra?” Think of some situations in everyday life in which a person might think algebraically but would not consider themselves to be performing “algebra.” You…

lesson: Part B: Rotation Symmetry (30 minutes)

…have rotation symmetry? For each polygon, what are the center and angle of rotation?   Video Segment In this video segment, watch the participants as they explore rotational symmetry and try to come up with the rule for regular polygons’ rotational symmetry. Were you able to come up with the rule? Does the rule work…

section: Part B: Which Rock Is the Largest? (65 minutes)

…you draw?   Video Segment In this video segment, Laura and David measure the surface area of a rock. They wrap tinfoil around it and then approximate its area using grid paper. Watch this segment after you’ve completed Problems B1-B4. What are some of the difficulties they came across? Did you experience similar or different…

section: Part C: Nonstandard Units (30 minutes)

…If we can measure without using standard units, why do we need standard units?   Video Segment In this video segment, Lori demonstrates the method her group used to figure out the perimeter of the five different figures, using a nonstandard unit of measure. As you watch the segment, think about the possible difficulties one…

section: Part B: Fractions With Cuisenaire Rods (45 minutes)

…Rods onto the grid Cuisenaire® is a trademark of ETA hand2mind. All rights reserved. Video Segment In this video segment, Rhonda and Andrea use rods to model multiplication and division with thirds and fourths. First they must figure out what their model is going to be in order to do their computations. Watch this segment…

section: Part A: What Do You See? (40 minutes)

…finding patterns in the table, you can watch the video segment to help you. If you wanted to extend the table of Problem A1, which of these descriptions would be most effective? Would they all produce the same table? You can find this segment on the session video, approximately 4 minutes and 46 seconds after…

section: Part B: The Mixture Blues (45 minutes)

…comparisons in Problems B1-B7.   Problem B2   Problem B3   Problem B4   Problem B5   Problem B6   Problem B7   Video Segment In this video segment, Frederick uses relative comparison to solve Problem B4. Watch this segment after you have completed Problems B1 through B7 and compare your reasoning with Frederick’s. Why…

video: Dramatic Tableaux

About This Video Clip “Helping them to look at characters as people and try to personalize and make connections is something that I have found really is helpful and I know is an important thing to do.” Dr. Jan Currence Stephen Decatur Middle School Berlin, Maryland Integrated language arts provides an interdisciplinary learning experience for…

section: Part A: Models for the Multiplication and Division of Fractions (45 minutes)

…use the area model to multiply fractions. They relate this model to the multiplication algorithm and check for ways to visually reduce fractions. Watch this video segment after you’ve completed Problems A1 and A2. You can find this segment on the session video approximately 4 minutes and 32 seconds after the Annenberg Media logo. In…

Celebrating the Games for Change Student Challenge LA Finalists and Winners

…Arts, and Games for Change. Students share their video games in the Games for Change Arcade. Photo Credit: Annenberg Foundation The ceremony opened with an arcade of the finalists’ games. Families and community members played the video games and talked with the students. Then actress Anjali Bhimani emceed an Awards Ceremony. Allison Holmes from the…

section: Part A: Number Sets (35 minutes)

…from one set to the next biggest, what new types of numbers do you need to include? Video Segment In this video segment, Donna and Susan contemplate the relationships between different sets of numbers in the real number system. They discuss the operations and how different operations require them to expand the number sets they’re…

section: Part B: Building from Directions (35 minutes)

…unclear? What elements of the descriptions made it possible for you to picture (or not to picture) what was described and recreate it? Problem B2 How closely did your designs match the target? Describe any differences between them and why you think they occurred. Video Segment In this video segment, the participants discuss how they…

video: Journey to the West

This video introduces you to the Stone Monkey King, a whirlwind of willful energy, egomaniacal pride, and zany humor who is forced by Buddha himself to pair up with a humble, peaceful Buddhist monk and get him safely to India. The wide range of art that Monkey’s story has inspired is on display in this…

video: Readers as Individuals

About This Video Clip “I am excited. The kids are excited. I see what they’ve done and what they can do. I think it’s important that we expect the best from these kids… and that [our] expectations are high because they can do it.” Flora Tyler Picacho Middle School Las Cruces, New Mexico Flora Tyler…

section: Part C: Precision and Accuracy (30 minutes)

…more we have “narrowed it down,” and thus the more precise the measurement.   Video Segment Watch this video segment to see the participants discuss whether a measurement is an approximate or an exact value. They also discuss the role partitioning plays in answering this question.Can you think of any other reasons that would support…

video: Seminar Discussion

About This Video Clip “Literary reactions in a whole-group setting are important because students get a chance to gauge the opinions of their peers. They get to see how their thinking rates with everyone else. It also puts them in a position where sometimes they have to defend what they’re thinking.” Dorothy Franklin, Teacher DeWitt…

section: Part B: Data Measurement and Variation (65 minutes)

…less accurate than a ruler or a yardstick? Why? If you have a tape measure available, use it to measure the same room five times and see how the results compare with your previous measurements. Video Segment In this video segment, participants discuss the results of the Room-Measurement Activity. Professor Kader then introduces the concept…

section: Part D: Basic Objects (20 minutes)

…from a sheet of paper?   Problem D4 What is a circle? Why is it impossible to draw a true circle?   Problem D5: Write and Reflect Reflect on your learning of geometry in the past. What is geometry “all about”? What is important in becoming a successful learner of geometry?   Video Segment In…

section: Part B: Reasoning About Number and Operations (40 minutes)

…two factors” (NCTM, 2000, p. 151). Problem B1 Try creating your own puzzle. Watch another video segment from Ms. Donnell’s class, and think about how the students are developing an understanding of number and operations. Video Segment In this segment, Ms. Donnell prepares the students to create their own puzzles by discussing how to categorize…

section: Part A: Organizing Data in a Stem and Leaf Plot (55 minutes)

…not be a useful way to illustrate this data set? Video Segment In this video segment, participants discuss why a line plot would not be a useful way to display the results of their statistical inquiry. They then discuss how grouping the data could provide them with more information. Watch this segment after completing Problem…

video: Popol Vuh

This video introduces the Mayan creation story in all its grotesque humor, luminous beauty, and unique language. See the Mayan writing and drawing that originally brought this story to life, and follow its journey around the world. All Video on Demand files are protected by copyright law and are free for this streaming purpose only….

lesson: Part B: Nets (30 minutes)

…method did you use to generate different nets, and how did you check whether or not a new one really was different? ​ Video Segment Modeling objects in three dimensions as well as finding their two-dimensional representation is an important part of geometric thinking. Additionally, finding all possible nets of an object can be a…

section: Part A: Meanings and Relationships of the Operations (40 minutes)

…b. Which would you use for 100 2? Video Segment In this video segment, Susan and Jeanne explore the different notions of quotative and partitive division problems. They challenge their understanding with new insights. Watch this segment after you’ve completed Problems A4 and A5. Think about which method is easier to do in a particular…

section: Part B: Area Models for Multiplication and Division (45 minutes)

…the right of the 10 you already have. See Note 8 below. Problem B6 Does the algorithm match the area model? Explain. Video Segment In this video segment, Susan explains how her group resolved the division problem by using the quotative approach. Next, Professor Findell relates the group’s method to an algorithm that is very…

section: Part C: Colored-Chip Models (35 minutes)

…with a missing number in the following way: (+6) (-2) = ? means (-2) • ? = +6 Video Segment Watch this video segment for a quick demonstration of why this model falls apart when dividing a positive number by a negative one. Note that the participants in this segment use yellow chips instead of…

section: Part A: A Problem-Solving Process (15 minutes)

…your question? Be as specific as possible. Video Segment In this video segment, group members use the data they collected to answer their statistical question. The entire class then discusses related questions suggested by the collected data. Watch the segment after you have completed Part A. What additional questions would you ask based on this…

video: The God of Small Things

This video introduces the world of caste, where people are born into a certain level of society and mingle with others on pain of death. You’ll see a culture struggling with the burdens of the past yet reaching for a new future, and hear from passionate readers of the novel. All Video on Demand files…

section: Part A: Area and Perimeter (45 minutes)

…square, rectangle, semicircle — and collect data for each of them.   Video Segment In this video segment, David Cellucci and David Russell examine how to maximize the area of the puppy pen built against a barn. They try several different shapes, including rectangles and semicircles. Watch this segment after you’ve completed Problem A6. Were…

section: Part E: Bar Graphs and Relative Frequencies (30 Minutes)

…is variation in your data. Some answers may be stated as intervals, and some answers, like the mode and the median, use a specific value to represent all the different data values. Video Segment In this video segment, meteorologist Kim Martucci demonstrates how she solves the statistical problem of predicting the weather. Watch this segment…

section: Part B: Surface Area and Volume (40 minutes)

…8 by 8   Video Segment Watch this video segment after you’ve completed Problem B4 to see what Lori and Jayne found out about the relationship between the volume and surface area of solid objects.Did you express this relationship differently?You can find this segment on the session video approximately 11 minutes and 49 seconds after…

section: Part B: The Median and the Three-Number Summary (35 Minutes)

…is not part of your data set. Video Segment In this video segment, participants discuss the process of finding the median of a data set with an even number of values (in this case n = 20). Watch this video segment to review the process you used in Problem B6 or if you would like…

lesson: Children’s Ideas About Heat and Temperature

…of heat that many eighteenth-century scientists (like Lavoisier) had. In the Science Studio, Lydia rethought her idea that heat is matter when she was asked if it had weight and took up space. As stated in the video, heat is the transfer of energy between different temperatures of matter. 2. Cold, like heat, is a…

lesson: A Closer Look

A Closer Look Look for the following topics in the video, indicated by the onscreen icon, and click below to learn more. Chemical Vs. Physical Change Chemical Reactions in the Video Are All Atoms the Same? Where Does the “Weight” Go?…

video: The Thousand and One Nights

This video introduces the world of high Islamic culture, lowbrow comedy, and encounters with the spirit world, all through the stories of the brave Shahrazad, who saves her own life, her husband’s sanity, the kingdom, and all of her readers from the evils of life with her stories. All Video on Demand files are protected…

video: My Name Is Red

This video introduces My Name Is Red, Orhan Pamuk’s evocative novel of miniaturists in 16th-century Istanbul. Then, as now, the city is on the edge of two worlds, responding to the demands of change and tradition. All Video on Demand files are protected by copyright law and are free for this streaming purpose only. Downloading,…

video: One Hundred Years of Solitude

This video introduces the idea of magical realism, of a world where the impossible and the possible are mingled, and people accept the presence of both in their daily lives. How much of the novel is a metaphor for life in Latin America? Decide for yourself as you dive into this novel by the winner…

video: Things Fall Apart

This video introduces the world of the Igbo, whose civilization is threatened by the colonial advances of the British into their lands in Nigeria. You’ll see this native world in all its logic, beauty, and problems, and then watch it begin to crack under internal and external pressure. All Video on Demand files are protected…

video: Candide

This video introduces a question: is everything that happens, good or bad, part of a larger cosmic plan that justifies it? Or is life a game of chance, with no greater good or larger aim? Follow Candide through all of his hellish but hilarious adventures and see what conclusions people who love this book have…

video: Program 16: Writing in Science

Watch the 30-minute video “Writing in Science.” Apply what you have learned in “Writing Across the Curriculum” as you watch the extended video of a classroom example. Answer the questions that follow each segment, jotting down your answers in your notebook or using them as discussion starters. Lindsay Dibert’s Class In Lindsay Dibert’s science class,…

unit: Interview with Featured Scientist David J. Wineland

…the lab, we’re not able to see this with our eye. It’s actually bright enough to see with our eye, but it’s in the ultraviolet. We typically just use a simple video camera that’s very similar to the one you could buy at the store, but it’s sensitive to ultraviolet light, and we see the…

unit: What Is Disciplinary Literacy?

…writing, and general instructional practices that support literacy development. During this course, you will view classroom videos across the disciplines and grade levels in middle school and high school that illustrate key ideas in a section. Each video is accompanied by suggestions for reflection and response before, during, and after viewing, so you may want…

video: Program 14: Modeling Revision

Watch the 30-minute video “Modeling Revision.” Apply what you learned in “Learning to Revise” as you watch the extended video of a classroom example. Answer the questions that follow each segment, jotting down your answers in your notebook or using them as discussion starters. Nicole Outsen’s Class Nicole Outsen and her fifth-grade students are writing…

video: The Bacchae

This video introduces one of the greatest of Greek tragedies, The Bacchae of Euripides, a story of Dionysus and his followers, and the effect they have on Thebes, and its young leader, Pentheus. All Video on Demand files are protected by copyright law and are free for this streaming purpose only. Downloading, in whole or…

video: The Epic of Gilgamesh

This video introduces the earliest work of literature—The Epic of Gilgamesh. Learn how this ancient story still inspires readers and artists today, and how its themes of power and leadership, and friendship still resonate. All Video on Demand files are protected by copyright law and are free for this streaming purpose only. Downloading, in whole…

unit: Reading and Analyzing Texts

unit: Learning Challenges

…We have selected a series of scenes from the video programs that can be looked at through different “lenses” of learning theory. For each of the scenes, we have provided a number of “tools” to guide your learning: Suggested writing assignments for reflecting on the scenarios and analyzing them in light of learning theories. Sample…

video: Issues in Social Studies: Dealing With Controversial Issues

…How can teachers help students understand the ideas and values behind historical controversies, competing ideologies, and changing laws? In the video, “Dealing With Controversial Issues,” teachers and students explore issues in social studies by: conducting research using several resources, discussing the facts linked to the controversy, determining points of view, supporting a point of view…

video: Issues in Social Studies: Unity and Diversity

…and ability. Social studies provides a natural forum for teaching students to recognize and respect differences within the classroom and beyond. In the video, “Unity and Diversity,” teachers help students understand differences by: assigning group work that requires consensus about different values, examining artifacts to explore other cultures, integrating other languages in studying a culture…

video: Book Buddies

…In this video, you will see how Tim O’Keefe and his third-graders meet with his colleague Julie Waugh and her fifth graders for Book Buddies — paired discussions about a book they have read together. The book they have chosen, Chicken Sunday by Patricia Polacco, is one that many of the students are already familiar…

video: Issues in Social Studies: Groups, Projects, and Presentations

…order to understand, retain, and apply them in new contexts. In the video, “Groups, Projects, and Presentations,” teachers increase the success of cooperative group work by: setting a purposeful goal that helps teach important content and skills making groups as heterogeneous as possible ensuring that each team member has a role in completing the task,…

Lens on Literacy

…it can be difficult to know how to approach literacy instruction. In developing this video library, we focused on “what works” by featuring the instruction of exemplary teachers who, year after year, successfully teach students to read. Collectively, these teachers represent a range of teaching styles and practices. Each teacher’s instruction, crafted to meet the…

video: The Odyssey

This video introduces the twisting, turning, and eternally tricky hero of the story, Odysseus. His many adventures—from the fanciful to the horrible—on his way home to Ithaca from the Trojan War are described, as well as his eventual, emotional reunion with his faithful wife, Penelope. All Video on Demand files are protected by copyright law…

video: Freedom of Religion — Workshop Session

…Materials listed under Sessions will lead you through the viewing of the workshop video and the related activities and discussions for “Freedom of Religion.” These materials can be used by individuals and by facilitators of workshop sessions.   Additional Materials The materials described below—Lesson Plan, Teacher Perspectives, Student Perspectives, Essential Readings and Other Lessons— provide…

video: Assessment-Driven Instruction

Hildi Perez’s First-Grade Class Teacher: Hildi Perez Years Teaching: 7 School: Young Achievers School for Science and Mathematics, Boston, MA Grade: First Class Size: 20 Students Lesson Dates: December 11 and 12 “Reading is more than having one skill … reading is about having a balance of different skills. We need to work on making…

video: Discussion Strategies

…experiences as readers, and the particular text at hand are a few. When introducing students to such strategies, teachers use direct instruction, demonstrations, and guided practice to help students incorporate new approaches into their personal repertoires. However, as you will notice in this video, even with repeated assistance, students may not embrace new techniques immediately….

section: Lesson Plans

This section includes summaries of the lessons featured in the in the video programs. The lessons explore the literature through an inquiry approach. Lesson Plan 1: Inquiry: Tomás Rivera Jorge Arredondo uses an inquiry-based approach to the study of …y no se lo tragó la tierra… (And the Earth Did Not Devour Him) by Tomás…

lesson: Part B: Similar Triangles (35 minutes)

…your sketch, and explain how the teacher does her mirror trick. Note 4 Video Segment Similarity of triangles is frequently used in indirect measurement. In this segment, the participants watch a demonstration of the mirror trick and see how similarity of triangles can be used to estimate Brad’s height. Watch this segment after you’ve completed…

unit: Argument Writing

Introduction The previous unit focused on practices that support the reading and analysis of text for developing interpretations. This unit looks at a process for argument writing, which is important for communicating interpretations and further developing the evidentiary base to support claims. The ELA/Literacy Common Core Standards identify three types of writing: (1) writing as…

section: Lesson Plans

This section includes summaries of the lessons featured in the video programs. The lessons explore the literature through through a critical pedagogy approach. Lesson Plans Session 8: Critical Pedagogy: Abiodun Oyewole Cathie Wright-Lewis uses critical pedagogy to help students understand the political underpinnings of Abiodun Oyewole’s spoken word poetry, and to learn how to express…

video: Issues in Social Studies: Creating Effective Citizens

…classroom, students can apply their skills on the community and national level. Overview Social studies is the subject area most directly linked to developing the knowledge, skills, and values associated with responsible citizenship in a democratic society. In the video, “Creating Effective Citizens,” teaching students how to become active and effective citizens is illustrated by:…

unit: Big Ideas in Literacy – English

Introduction The English language arts classroom has always been the primary place where students are taught academic literacy practices. These days, as teachers of other subjects, like math and science, are asked to incorporate academic literacy into their classrooms, some English teachers ask each other, “If reading and writing are taught in science, math, and…

video: Classroom Case Studies, 6-8

…own classroom and to the approaches your students might take to mathematical tasks involving number and operations concepts.   As in other sessions, you will be prompted to view short video segments throughout the session; you may also choose to watch the full-length video for this session. Note 1 Learning Objectives In this session, you…

section: Lesson Plans

This section includes summaries of the lessons featured in the video programs. The lessons explore the literature through a reader-response approach. Lesson Plan 1: Reader Response: Keith Gilyard Alfredo Lujan uses the reader-response approach to explore Keith Gilyard’s poetry. The students examine the meaning of the title Poemographies, work in small groups to discuss several…

video: Classroom Case Studies, Grades 3-5

…focus to your own classroom and to the approaches your students might take to mathematical tasks involving statistics. See Note 1 below. As in other sessions, you will be prompted to view short video segments throughout the session; you may also choose to watch the full-length video for this session. LEARNING OBJECTIVES In this session,…

video: Before You Watch | Supporting the English Language Learner

Video Summary In the video for this session, Dr. Mileidis Gort presents research-based principles that support English Language Learners’ literacy and language development. She describes the characteristics of beginning and intermediate second-language learners, then presents instructional practices that best meet their needs. Workshop participants then watch classroom excerpts illustrating teaching practices that support English Language…

video: Classroom Case Studies, 6-8

…might take to mathematical tasks involving geometry. As in other sessions, you will be prompted to view short video segments throughout the session; you may also choose to watch the full-length video for this session. Note 1   Learning Objectives In this session, you will do the following: Explore the development of geometric reasoning at…

video: Before You Watch | Teaching Writing as a Process

Video Summary The video for this session examines how to teach writing as a process. Dr. Jeanne R. Paratore begins her lecture by distinguishing between the different forms of writing and the various purposes for writing. She reviews the stages of the writing process and outlines the classroom practices that develop students’ writing. The workshop…

section: Part D: Fitting Lines to Data (60 minutes)

…sum of squared errors for the line Height = Arm Span. Based on your calculations, which line provides the better fit?                     Video Segment In this video segment, Professor Kader introduces two rules: the sum of errors and the sum of squared errors. He explains that…

video: Classroom Case Studies, Grades 6-8

…to your own classroom and to the approaches your students might take to mathematical tasks involving statistics. See Note 1 below. As in other sessions, you will be prompted to view short video segments throughout the session; you may also choose to watch the full-length video for this session. LEARNING OBJECTIVES In this session, you…

video: Before You Watch | Differentiating Instruction

Video Summary In the video for this session, Dr. Jeanne R. Paratore presents research-based principles that support the use of a flexible grouping model for literacy instruction. She reviews basic formats for flexible grouping, and applies the research to effective teaching practices and routines that advance all students’ reading development. The workshop participants watch classroom…

video: Classroom Case Studies, K-2

…students might take to mathematical tasks involving geometry. As in other sessions, you will be prompted to view short video segments throughout the session; you may also choose to watch the full-length video for this session. Note 1 Learning Objectives In this session, you will do the following: Explore the development of geometric reasoning at…

video: Classroom Case Studies, 3-5

…your students might take to mathematical tasks involving geometry. As in other sessions, you will be prompted to view short video segments throughout the session; you may also choose to watch the full-length video for this session. Note 1   Learning Objectives In this session, you will do the following: Explore the development of geometric…

video: Classroom Case Studies, K-2

…classroom and to the approaches your students might take to mathematical tasks involving number and operations concepts. As in other sessions, you will be prompted to view short video segments throughout the session; you may also choose to watch the full-length video for this session. See Note 1 below. LEARNING OBJECTIVES In this session, you…

video: Before You Watch | Using Assessment To Guide Instruction

Video Summary The video for this session examines assessment practices that measure student performance and progress, and inform instructional decisions. In her lecture, Dr. Jeanne R. Paratore reviews the principles of classroom-based assessment and engages the workshop participants in a discussion of their own assessment practices. The participants then watch and discuss a set of…

Kinematics: Mouse Trap Car

…a working car powered by a mousetrap. Video: Watch this Project in Action Related Materials include: The Mouse Trap Car – Objectives Activity Overview Lesson Plans for Winding UP Winding Up/Student Walk Worksheet Galileo’s Inclined Plane Worksheet Galileo’s Falling Objects Worksheet Mousetrap Car Culminating Activity How a Lab Write-up Should Look Video Analysis Guide  …

video: Classroom Case Studies, 3-5

…classroom and to the approaches your students might take to mathematical tasks involving number and operations concepts. As in other sessions, you will be prompted to view short video segments throughout the session; you may also choose to watch the full-length video for this session. See Note 1 below. LEARNING OBJECTIVES In this session, you…

video: Engagement and Dialogue: Julia Alvarez, James McBride, Lensey Namioka, and more

…a monologue. O’Donnell uses historical documents and a documentary video about the U.S. Census to provide context for the works. Through a series of innovative drama, role play, and writing activities, the students examine the social and cultural experiences of the characters and reflect on their own definitions and experiences of identity. Teacher educator Valerie…

video: Before You Watch | Connecting School and Home

Video Summary The video for this session examines the research and related practices for building positive home-school connections. Dr. Paratore presents research on how language, culture, and socio-economics influence the different ways parents use literacy at home. After the lecture, workshop participants discuss their experiences in promoting parent involvement. They then watch and discuss classroom…

video: Before You Watch | Word Study and Fluency

Video Summary The video for this session examines word study and explicit fluency instruction in the primary grades. Dr. Jeanne R. Paratore’s lecture reviews the four foundational elements of emergent literacy, the principles of phonics instruction, and the development of accuracy and fluency. The workshop participants then watch a set of classroom excerpts that illustrate…

section: Lesson Plans

This section includes summaries of the lessons featured in the video programs. The lessons explore the literature through a cultural studies approach. Lesson Plan 1: Cultural Studies: Ishmael Reed Betty Tillman Samb uses a cultural studies approach in her literature class by comparing trickster figures in Ishmael Reed’s “Railroad Bill, A Conjure Man” and “High…

video: Before You Watch | Creating a Literate Community

Video Summary In this video session, Dr. Jeanne R. Paratore presents three research-based principles for creating an effective literacy environment — accessible materials, purposeful room and wall displays of print materials, and classroom routines that promote reading and writing. Following the lecture, workshop participants watch two sets of classroom excerpts illustrating routines and physical arrangements…

video: Before You Watch | Comprehension and Response

Video Summary The video for this session examines comprehension and response to literature in grades K-2. In her lecture, Dr. Jeanne R. Paratore reviews the essential comprehension strategies of proficient readers, and the explicit and strategic instruction that promotes these strategies. The workshop participants then watch and discuss a set of classroom excerpts that illustrate…

section: Lesson Plans

This section includes summaries of the lessons featured in the video programs. The lessons explore the literature through a critical pedagogy approach. Lesson Plan 1: Session 7: Critical Pedagogy: Octavia Butler Using critical pedagogy, Cathie Wright-Lewis encourages students to connect current events with fiction. In this lesson, Wright-Lewis provides perspective on Octavia E. Butler’s novel…

video: Classroom Case Studies, Grades K-2

…to your own classroom and to the approaches your students might take to mathematical tasks involving statistics. See Note 1 below. As in other sessions, you will be prompted to view short video segments throughout the session; you may also choose to watch the full-length video for this session. LEARNING OBJECTIVES • Explore the development…

video: Writer’s Journal

  Classroom Profile Teacher: John Sinnett Years Teaching: 23 School: Collins Elementary School, Houston, TX Grade: Kindergarten Class Size: 16 Students Lesson Dates: November 14 and 1 “I want them to start thinking in kindergarten about how they need to make some kind of plan in their head for their writing. I have them draw…

unit: Disciplinary Literacy: Big Ideas

Introduction Adolescent students are expected to develop knowledge and understanding of each discipline in school through very focused instruction that includes attention to related reading and writing practices, collaborative discussions about ideas, and ongoing assessment of learning. Within each discipline, these practices differ due to the nature of the content, the structure and language of…

section: Part C: Using Line Plots (30 minutes)

…Video Segment In this video segment, participants compare their ordered stacks of snap-cubes to a line plot of the same data. Watch this segment after completing Problems C1-C3 to observe the transition from a physical representation of the data to a graphical representation. What is one stack of snap-cubes equivalent to on the line plot…

video: Whole-Group Discussions

About This Video Clip “I want kids to be asking big questions of themselves. I want them to put themselves in characters’ roles. I want them to say, “Where would I fit and what stance would I take if I were a character in this book? And what is this book making me think about…

unit: Human Evolution

…of modern humans. ONLINE TEXTBOOK The online textbook chapters support and extend the content of each video. The Web version can be viewed as a full chapter or as individual sub-sections, and includes links to glossary terms and other related material. ANIMATIONS & IMAGES Explore the archive of animations, images and figures from the videos…

unit: Microbial Diversity

…of each video. The Web version can be viewed as a full chapter or as individual sub-sections, and includes links to glossary terms and other related material. ANIMATIONS & IMAGES Explore the archive of animations, images and figures from the videos and online textbook. All of the images can be viewed online or downloaded as…

section: Part B: Patterns in Situations (45 minutes)

…of triangles, explain how to tell them the number of toothpicks they would need. How do you know your description will always give the right number of toothpicks? Problem B4 Use your explanation to complete this table: Triangles Toothpicks 2 3 4 10 100 26 46 102   Video Segment In this segment, participants describe…

unit: Neurobiology

…textbook chapters support and extend the content of each video. The Web version can be viewed as a full chapter or as individual sub-sections, and includes links to glossary terms and other related material. ANIMATIONS & IMAGES Explore the archive of animations, images and figures from the videos and online textbook. All of the images…

lesson: Material Cycles in Ecosystems: A Closer Look

A Closer Look Look for the following topics in the video, indicated by the onscreen icon, and click below to learn more. What is an Ecosystem? Matter and Life The SPONCH CaFe Building Bodies Material Cycles Scientist at Work Curriculum Resources…

section: Part D: Are You a Random Player? (20 minutes)

…    Problem D3 Use your data from Problem A5 to determine whether you were developing any skill for Push Penny. Then play another 20 times to see if your skill has improved over the course of this session. Video Segment In this video segment, Doug McCrum explains how his company, Global Specialty Risk, uses…

Free K-12 Educational Resources (online and for noncommercial broadcasting)

…can use directly from www.learner.org. Search classroom resources by grade levels and subject areas. Some video resources also include coordinated online materials, such as user guides, downloadable textbooks, labs and interactives, and more. Or look at the full list of available content and professional development resources, under Series Availability in our FAQ. You can also find…

section: Part A: Probability in Statistics (20 minutes)

…vice versa. Video Segment In this video segment, participants discuss probability and how it relates to statistics. Watch this segment after recording your own thoughts on Problems A1 and A2. When many people think of probability, they think of rolling dice, picking numbers at random, or playing the lottery. In fact, games of chance, which…

unit: HIV and AIDS

…animations, images and figures from the videos and online textbook. All of the images can be viewed online or downloaded as jpg files. EXPERT INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTS Read profiles of the expert scientists featured in the video and find the complete transcripts of the interviews conducted for this unit. Edward A. Berger, Ph.D. Laurie Garret, Journalist…

unit: Cell Biology and Cancer

Cancers, though studied for decades, continue to amaze researchers with their complexity. This unit reveals new information on normal cell function, proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genres, current research in drug design, as well as an overview of tumor biology and angiogenesis. ONLINE TEXTBOOK The online textbook chapters support and extend the content of each video….

section: Part C: Modeling Linear Relationships (35 minutes)

…arm span? e. Other than the points that fall on the line Height = Arm Span, which six points represent the smallest differences between height and arm span? Video Segment In this video segment, Professor Kader draws the line Y = X on the class’s scatter plot and asks participants to consider points in relation…

section: Part C: Absolute and Relative Reasoning (30 minutes)

…problems, think about the ways in which they use both relative and absolute reasoning. See Note 8 below. Problem C2 Which of these rectangles is most square: 75′ by 114′, 455′ by 494′, or 284′ by 245′? Video Segment In this segment, Vicki and Nancy explore several different methods for solving the problem of which…

section: Part B: Selecting the Sample (30 minutes)

…              To select 10 sub-regions from the 100 total sub-regions in a “fair” way requires that each of the 100 sub-regions has the same chance of being selected. You can accomplish this with random selection. How might you select 10 sub-regions in a random fashion? Video Segment In this…

video: What Is Matter?: Properties and Classification of Matter

…solids, liquids, and gases Video Overview What is matter? This question at first seems deceptively simple — matter is all around us. Yet how do we define it? What does a block of cheese have in common with the Moon? What are the characteristics of matter that set it apart from something that is definitely…

unit: Biology of Sex and Gender

…The online textbook chapters support and extend the content of each video. The Web version can be viewed as a full chapter or as individual sub-sections, and includes links to glossary terms and other related material. ANIMATIONS & IMAGES Explore the archive of animations, images and figures from the videos and online textbook. All of…

session: Spanish: Routes to Culture

CLASSROOM AT A GLANCE Teacher Pablo Muirhead Language SpanishII Grades 9-10 School Shorewood High School, Shorewood, Wisconsin Lesson Date November 14 Class Size 19 Schedule 49 minutes daily Video Summary In this lesson, students explore some historical and cultural aspects of the African presence in Latin America. After a warm-up activity of charades, students participate…

unit: Biodiversity

…of each video. The Web version can be viewed as a full chapter or as individual sub-sections, and includes links to glossary terms and other related material. ANIMATIONS & IMAGES Explore the archive of animations, images and figures from the videos and online textbook. All of the images can be viewed online or downloaded as…

section: Part A: Fair Allocations (25 minutes)

…people: Each person gets the same number of coins.       Video Segment In this video segment, Professor Kader asks participants to create snap-cube representations of the number of people in their families. He then asks them to find a way of finding the mean without using calculation. Watch this segment for an exploration…

section: Part D: The Effect of Sample Size (30 minutes)

…to the actual value of 500 Video Segment In this video segment, the participants discuss what percentages of their data fell in particular interval ranges for samples of size 10 and 20. Professor Kader then introduces the Central Limit Theorem to further discuss the connection between probability and statistics. What is the give-and-take between selecting…

section: Part B: Measuring Heights of Tall Objects (35 minutes)

…make sure that the tree won’t hit your house when it falls. How might you approximate the height of the tree?   Video Segment In this segment, Katy and Lombi use the method described in this section to find out the height of a tree in the schoolyard. They set up a similar triangle by…

section: Part A: Scatter Plots (45 minutes)

…160 23 196 184 Here is the completed scatter plot for all 24 people: Scatter for all 24 Problem A3 Judging from the scatter plot, does there appear to be a positive association between arm span and height? That is, does an increase in arm span generally lead to an increase in height? Video Segment…

unit: Genetics of Development

Organisms as different as flies, fish, and humans share genes with remarkable similarity that guide development. This unit explores new understanding of these molecules and processes, and examines how they work to coordinate– or misdirect– the formation of an entire organism. ONLINE TEXTBOOK The online textbook chapters support and extend the content of each video….

section: Part C: Geo-Logo (40 minutes)

…with simpler shapes, such as an equilateral triangle.   Video SegmentWatch this segment to see Mary and Susan experiment with Geo-Logo commands to create different regular polygons. They examine the relationship between the angle of turn and exterior and interior angles. Do you think computer technology can enhance exploring mathematical tasks such as this one?…

section: Art: I Hear you Bro

…Medium: Video, Installation, and Performance Dimensions: H: approx. 18 in. (46 cm.), W: approx. 18 in. (46 cm.) Location: Brooklyn, NY Credit: Courtesy of the artist Leon Reid IV, who sometimes works under the alias Darius Jones, practices a form of art known as Street Art. First developed in the late twentieth century, Street Art…

unit: Evolution and Phylogenetics

…and extend the content of each video. The Web version can be viewed as a full chapter or as individual sub-sections, and includes links to glossary terms and other related material. ANIMATIONS & IMAGES Explore the archive of animations, images and figures from the videos and online textbook. All of the images can be viewed…

lesson: Children’s Ideas About Density and Pressure

…in will rise and float. 2. Objects with holes in them will always sink, especially once water gets into the holes. Children may carry this idea from their experiences or memories of having seen boats “spring a leak” and sink. However, objects like the plastic piece with a hole in it in the video may…

section: Part A: The Data Set (20 minutes)

…from the Two-Number Summary? Video Segment In this video segment, Professor Kader asks participants to identify the “typical” value in a data set. Watch this segment after completing Problem A4. Note: The data set used by the onscreen participants is different from the one provided above. How do participants define the “center” of a data…

video: Cassandra Becomes a Fluent Reader: A Student Case Study

Student Case Study: Cassandra Student: 1st grade, age 6, November Birthday School: Young Achievers School for Science and Mathematics, Boston, MA Teacher: Hildi Perez Class Size: 20 Students “When I think about Cassandra back in September and where she was, and how hard she’s worked throughout all this time to get where she is, there…

video: Facilitating Discussion

About This Video Clip “I like kids to write their own questions because…they’re more involved. If I always come up with the questions…[we] wouldn’t get to what is important to them.” Tanya Schnabl, Teacher Sherburne-Earlville Middle School Sherburne, New York Questions are at the center of classroom discussion for Tanya Schnabl’s students. Because they are…

unit: Genetically Modified Organisms

…research. ONLINE TEXTBOOK The online textbook chapters support and extend the content of each video. The Web version can be viewed as a full chapter or as individual sub-sections, and includes links to glossary terms and other related material. ANIMATIONS & IMAGES Explore the archive of animations, images and figures from the videos and online…

unit: Emerging Infectious Diseases

New diseases are evolving all around us and old diseases, such as malaria and influenza, are returning with renewed vigor. This unit studies the complex causes and far-reaching impacts of emerging infectious diseases around the globe. ONLINE TEXTBOOK The online textbook chapters support and extend the content of each video. The Web version can be…

video: Building a Literary Community

About This Video Clip “…My goals are to have them have meaningful interactions with texts, to have meaningful interactions with literature, to frame literature the same way they might frame talking about…something as common as…wrestling or a TV show.” Joe Bernhart, Teacher Fondren Middle School Houston, Texas Students in Joe Bernhart’s classroom explore literature in…

section: Part C: Fibonacci Numbers (30 minutes)

…also have their place in nature. The spiral chambers of a nautilus shell can be traced into the growing squares of a golden rectangle. Video Segment Why do we study the golden rectangle? What applications could it have? In this segment, architect Ed Tsoi explains how the golden rectangle has been an important architectural element…

video: William Finds His Base: A Student Case Study

Student Case Study: William Student: 2nd grade, age 7, July Birthday School: Hemenway Elementary School, Framingham, MA Teacher: Stacey Soto Class Size: 24 Students “I remember the first book we read, and William said, ‘I can read this whole thing!’ All of a sudden, a light bulb went on. His writing increased, his mechanics increased,…

video: Connecting Skills to Text

Charmon Evans’s First-Grade Class Teacher: Charmon Evans Years Teaching: 9 School: Richard E. Bard Elementary School, Port Hueneme, CA Grade: First Class Size: 20 Students Lesson Dates: October 23 and 24 “There can be a balance between good literature, an exciting classroom environment, and skills-based learning. We all know that’s important, we’ve got to teach…

video: Staying on Topic

Martha Duran-Contreras’s Second-Grade Class Teacher: Martha Duran-Contreras Years Teaching: 22 School: Will Rogers School, Santa Monica, CA Grade: Second Class Size: 22 Students Lesson Dates: October 16 and 17 “Creating a community of learners is the most important thing I do all year long. Because in establishing a community for them I make the students…

video: Promoting Readers As Leaders

Valerie Kostandos’s First-Grade Class Teacher: Valerie Kostandos Years Teaching: 20 School: Decius Beebe School, Melrose, MA Grade: First Class Size: 20 Students Lesson Dates: November 5 and 6 “What I would like my students to get by the end of this year is to become independent readers and writers — to want to take risks…

session: Arabic: Making Sales Calls

CLASSROOM AT A GLANCE Teacher Eric Bartolotti Language Arabic I Grades 9 and 11 School Watertown High School, Watertown, Massachusetts Lesson Date April 13 Class Size 10 Schedule 1 hour, 4–5 days per week اضغط هنا للترجمة باللغة العربية Video Summary In this lesson, high school students demonstrate their ability to use basic greetings and…

video: Becoming Readers and Writers

Classroom Profile Teacher: Sheila Owen Years Teaching: 10 School: Wellwood School, Beaumont, CA Grade: Kindergarten Class Size: 21 Students Lesson Dates: October 18 and 19, 2001 “I believe that the best thing a teacher can do is to watch her students. And so kid watching is what I do… so that we are immediately following…

unit: Writing in Science

video: Exploring Borderlands

Chicana writer Gloria Anzaldúa tells us that the border is “una herida abierta [an open wound] where the lifeblood of two worlds is merging to form a third country — a border culture.” This program explores the literature of the Chicano borderlands and its beginnings in the literature of Spanish colonization….

video: Making Connections

video: Students Making Choices

Becky Pursley’s First-Grade Class Teacher: Becky Pursley Years Teaching: 14 School: Barton Hills Elementary School, Austin, TX Grade: First Class Size: 18 Students Lesson Dates: November 12 and 13 “I hope all first graders learn how to unlock words, use all parts of literature to make connections to their own lives, and make meaning from…

video: Spirit of Nationalism

Declaring Independence, 1710-1850 The Enlightenment brought new ideals and a new notion of selfhood to the American colonies. This program begins with an examination of the importance of the trope of the self-made man in Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography, and then turns to the development of this concept in the writings of Romanticist Ralph Waldo Emerson….

video: 100 Days of Reading

Shari Frost’s First- and Second-Grade Class Teacher: Shari Frost Years Teaching: 20 School: Norwood Park Elementary School, Chicago, IL Grades: First and Second Class Size: 23 Students Lesson Dates: February 14 and 15 “Life in school reflects what happens in the world. When something is going on in the world it creeps into your classroom….

video: Overview

video: Assessing Students’ Learning

video: Utopian Promise

Puritan and Quaker Utopian Visions, 1620-1750 When British colonists landed in the Americas they created communities that they hoped would serve as a “light onto the nations.” But what role would the native inhabitants play in this new model community? This Unit compares the answers of three important groups, the Puritans, Quakers, and Native Americans,…

video: Masculine Heroes

American Expansion, 1820-1900 In 1898, Frederick Jackson Turner declared the frontier the defining feature of American culture, but American authors had uncovered its significance much earlier. This program turns to three key writers of the early national period (James Fenimore Cooper, John Rollin Ridge, and Walt Whitman) and examines the influential visions of American manhood…

video: Slavery and Freedom

Race and Identity in Antebellum America How has slavery shaped the American literary imagination and American identity? This episode turns to the classic slave narratives of Harriet Jacobs and Frederick Douglass, and the fiction of Harriet Beecher Stowe. What rhetorical strategies do their works use to construct an authentic and authoritative American self?…

video: Southern Renaissance

“My subject in fiction,” Flannery O’Connor tells us, “is the action of grace in the territory held largely by the devil.” One might do well to ask what, if not the devil, haunts the American South in this era between the wars. This program uncovers the revisioning of Southern myths during the modernist era by…

video: Building Oral Language

Classroom Profile Teacher: Cindy Wilson Years Teaching: 25 School: Josiah Quincy Elementary School, Boston, MA Grade: Kindergarten Class Size: 24 Students Lesson Dates: February 6 and 8 “Many of the people who come into my classroom — casual observers — do not notice that many of my children have lots of learning and behavior issues….

video: Thalia Learns the Details: A Student Case Study

Student Case Study: Thalia Student: Kindergarten, age 5, August Birthday School: Amigos, Cambridge, MA Teachers: Jim St. Clair and Maria Castro Class Size: 36 students in two classes “Thalia’s very interested in the idea of literacy and she’s interested in books. It’s the details she’s a little bit fuzzy on. That’s a big part of…

video: Social Realism

Class Consciousness in American Literature, 1875-1920 This program presents the authors of the American Gilded Age, such as Edith Wharton, and juxtaposes them with social realists like Anzia Yezierska. These writers expose the double world that made up turn-of-the-century New York: that of the elite and that of the poorest of the poor. Which of…

video: Rhythms in Poetry

Amidst the chaos following World War I, Ezra Pound urged poets to “Make it New!” This call was heeded by a large range of poets, from T.S. Eliot to Jean Toomer. This episode explores the modernist lyrics of two of these poets: William Carlos Williams and Langston Hughes. What is modernism? How did these poets…

unit: Reading In Science

video: Becoming Visible

Ethnic Writers and the Literary Mainstream, 1945-1969 This episode guides the viewer through the works and contexts of ethnic writers from 1945-1965. Starting with the works of Ralph Waldo Ellison, Philip Roth, and N. Scott Momaday, we explore the way writers from the margins took over the center of American culture….

video: Engaging Students in Active Learning

video: Regional Realism

Depicting the Local in American Literature, 1865-1900 Set in the antebellum American South, but written after Emancipation, Mark Twain’s novel The Adventure’s of Huckleberry Finn remains a classic of American Literature. This episode compares Twain’s depiction of Southern vernacular culture to that of Charles Chestnutt and Kate Chopin, and in doing so, introduces the hallmarks…

video: Teaching Social Studies

video: Using Resources

video: Applying Themes and Disciplines

video: Native Voices

Native Americans had established a rich and highly developed tradition of oral literature long before the writings of the European colonists. This program explores that richness by introducing Native American oral traditions through the work of three contemporary authors: Leslie Marmon Silko (Laguna Pueblo), Simon Ortiz (Acoma Pueblo), and Luci Tapahonso (Navajo).

video: Migrant Struggle

Americans have often defined themselves through their relationship to the land. This program traces the social fiction of three key American voices: John Steinbeck, Carlos Bulosan, and Helena María Viramontes.

lesson: Part C: Definitions and Proof (45 minutes)

In this part: Definitions Understanding Definitions Dividing Polygons into Triangles Triangles in Convex Polygons Definitions Definitions and proof both play essential roles in mathematics. Definition is crucial, because you need to know what something is (and what it’s not) before you can make conjectures about it and prove these conjectures. When mathematicians create a definition,…

video: Bureaucracy: A Controversial Necessity

video: The Courts: Our Rule of Law

video: Teaching for Understanding

video: Exploring Unity and Diversity

section: Assignments + Projects

video: Interest Groups: Organizing To Influence

video: Federalism: U.S. v. the States

video: Civil Liberties: Safeguarding the Individual

video: Elections: The Maintenance of Democracy

video: Civil Rights: Demanding Equality

The promise of political and social equality has a powerful hold on American life. This unit brings to life the roles that individuals played in changing our understanding of equality both socially and politically.

video: Legislatures: Laying Down the Law

video: The Modern Presidency: Tools of Power

video: Understanding Media: The Inside Story

video: Public Opinion: Voice of the People

This program examines the power of public opinion to influence government policy, the increasing tendency of public officials to rely on polls, and the need to use many forms of feedback to get an accurate measure of public opinion.

video: Political Parties: Mobilizing Agents

video: Search for Identity

American Prose Writers Even as the poets covered in Unit 15, Poetry of Liberation, were fostering a rebellion, contemporary prose writers began creating a new American tradition comprised of many strands, many voices, and many myths about the past. This program explores the search for identity by three American writers: Maxine Hong Kingston, Sandra Cisneros,…

video: Historical and Cultural Context: Langston Hughes and Christopher Moore

unit: Reading: Big Ideas

Introduction Reading is a complex process that involves interactions among the reader, the text, and the context. Meaning does not reside solely on a page of text, with the intent that the reader will extract meaning from that page. Rather, meaning is actively constructed by what the reader brings to the text and how this…

video: Modernist Portraits

Jazz filled the air and wailed against the night. Caught in the sway, American prose writers sought out the forbidden – the slang, the dialects, and the rhythms of the folk and of everyday life. Writers such as Hemingway, Stein, and Fitzgerald forged a new style: one which silhouetted the geometry of language, crisp in…