MULTIMODAL CREATION Multimodality occurs when students use several modes to create a product and/or communicate a message. These modes can involve speaking, writing, listening, and visual resources. When we have a student create a multimedia project that involves music, narration, and images, the goal should be for these resources to be used to create meaning
November 2017: Web-ulous tools, part 2
Back in March of 2014, my Kathy’s Katch blog post highlighted some of my favorite online tools– Google Docs Story Builder, Magisto, Pixiclip, Thinglink, and Narrable. Story Builder and Narrable are gone. Thinglink has expanded into the VR arena. Magisto is now a paid service. Pixiclip has stayed the same. Apps and online tools come
4 Steps to Measure Growth in an Inquiry-Based Science Classroom
By Jeanette Edelstein I loved science as a young kid. A paper model of the solar system hung across my bedroom ceiling. I marveled at the sight of tiny onions pulled from grass clumps in my backyard. And I dutifully gave my cats checkups with the real stethoscope I got from my dad. So what
How to Unlock Your Students’ Potential with Formative Assessments
Anyone with experience in the classroom can recognize the power behind the word “test.” Uttering the word itself can change the atmosphere of a classroom. Tests can be stressful, high-stakes, and often fail to yield the kind of information teachers need to adjust their instruction to suit their students’ needs. Testing doesn’t have to lead
3 Webinars this Spring Could Supercharge Your Math Instruction
Our math webinar series from May-June is brimming with expertise on how to get instruction back on track. Register here >> Being the Director of Mathematics at Discovery Education has its perks. Sure, it’s nice meeting the stars of the Puppy Bowl and receiving free Deadliest Catch bumper stickers, but my favorite perk is interacting
DfE – grammar and punctuation SATS 2016
This post pulls together some key information regarding the forthcoming SATS test, featuring a new uplevelled test for grammar and punctuation. These uplevelled SATS will obviously be a challenge for schools to face this year, and through Discovery Education Espresso, we provide support for schools, teachers and students with our engaging resources. There will be
Why a Retake doesn’t enhance learning.
Recently, a post on a listserv I am part of was discussing retakes at the secondary level and how different schools have structured them. The thread was well responded to and well thought out. We had responses from giving them in every case no questions asked to not ever allowing a retake. Some schools require
DfE updates: Assessment
With all the changes to assessment, this first post in our ‘DfE updates’ series brings together some resources from the DfE that may be of use. This summary video from the Standards and Testing Agency (just over 10 minutes) details the key changes for primary schools, KS1 and KS2. This is the final report of
Let’s Make Our Testing Smarter, from President Barack Obama
At the request of the White House, we would like to share this blog post from President Barack Obama. An Open Letter to America’s Parents and Teachers: Let’s Make Our Testing Smarter Here’s a simple question: If your kids had more free time at school, what would you want them to do with it? If
Walk and Talk Episode 13: Tim Childers
Remember the Walk and Talk series? Sure you do. At least pretend you do and go back and watch the past episodes and then reshare them. They’re pretty good. Tim kicks off this school year with some interesting thoughts on grading. Watch and give him some feedback, he’s asking for some.