Author Archives: Angela

On Being Critical…..

So last week, I was planning my work with teachers in a district that is beginning to design curricula. At one point, I knew we’d be taking a peek at the draft of the new Core Standards, and I wanted to provide everyone the opportunity to highlight different aspects of the draft that they were [...]

Spaaze: A Virtual Corkboard

Fans of Wallwisher, Glogster, Virtual Whiteboard, and Stixy might want to take a peek at Spaaze. I’ve been playing around with it a bit this week….kinda fun, and I like the bookmarklet feature. Don’t know that it allows for collaboration though. Anyone know for certain?

Compare and Contrast

The newly released draft of the Common Core Standards and The National Ed-Tech Plan.
Now…synthesize?

60 Second Recap

Resources like this stir up all sorts of questions and inspire all kinds of ideas too. I can imagine that some of the teachers that I get to work with might appreciate tools like this for what they might contribute to learning. I can also imagine that others will worry that students will use it [...]

Congratulations: Your Standardized Test Scores Improved!

So……now what? Seriously. Scores have improved in many of our local schools over the last several years. What does that even mean anyway?
If all of the professional development initiatives teachers have been a part of, all of the learning community work they’ve participated in, and every formative assessment they’ve “given” students inside of classrooms [...]

Aimee Mullins: The Opportunity of Adversity

In recent weeks, I’ve been spending nearly as much time writing with kids as I have been working with teachers, and let me tell you–this is good for the soul. Particularly when I’m given the space and time to really get to know who these kids are and the gifts they bring. I’ve been teaching [...]

Aligning Writing Purposes With Powerful Tools: Digital Storytelling

Some of the middle and high school writers I’m working with this year have just begun researching what digital storytelling is and how they might begin crafting their own stories. There are so many different ways to approach this and an abundance of fantastic resources available online for those interested in doing so. Rather than [...]

Making Curriculum Pop

I’ve been spending more time in nings  than anywhere else online over the last long stretch of time. Some of my favorites include the English Companion ning, Working Together 2 Make a Difference, and the WNY Young Writers’ Studio ning. This weekend, I stumbled upon another place that you might consider visiting as well. Making [...]

How Does Temple Grandin Inspire You?

Over the last few weeks, Temple Grandin has come up in conversations everywhere I’ve traveled. Mostly because I keep bringing her up. Inevitably though, someone in every circle has heard of her, attended one of her presentations, or shared her story with others for a wide and interesting variety of purposes.
I’d never heard of her, [...]

The WNY Young Writers’ Studio is Hosting a Celebration of Writing!

Young writers and educators are invited to join the fellows of the WNY Young Writers’ Studio at our first annual Celebration of Writing, which will be held on June 5th from 9:30am until noon at Pinnacle Charter School in Buffalo, New York. This year’s theme is A Celebration of Writers and Teachers in Progress.
What makes [...]