The West Virginia Department of Education has been actively promoting 21st century education for many years.  This includes a variety of paradigm shifting concepts such as:

• Thinking-based rather than memorization-based education
• Student-centered classrooms rather than teacher-based lectures
• Integration of technology rather than banning its use
• Group work rather than individual study
• Project-based learning instead of “read a chapter, take a test”
• And, utilizing multiple forms of assessment rather than relying on multiple choice tests at the end of a lesson

Mark Moore, Thinkfinity’s West Virginia State Training Administrator, says that discussing these topics has met with positive comments but getting teachers to move outside of their comfort zone is another matter.  To encourage teachers to take a risk and try something new, the WV Department of Education and Verizon Thinkfinity have announced a contest for the best design and implementation of a truly 21st century lesson.  The winners of this contest will receive $2,000 grants to be spent as they wish on WV state purchasing contracts, to purchase interactive white boards, projectors, personal responders, software and other items as they see fit. Learn more about the contest here.

How is your state encouraging more 21st century teaching and learning?

Looking for books to keep kids reading over the summer? Visit EDSITEment's Summer Reading List for excellent book ideas and related lesson plans, plus a host of new resources.

Featuring: To Kill a Mockingbird

This July 11th marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of To Kill a Mockingbird (1960.) To honor the anniversary of the publication of Harper Lee’s masterpiece, EDSITEment has updated two lessons: Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird: Profiles in Courage and To Kill A Mockingbird and the Scottsboro Boys Trial: Profiles in Courage.

We have also reviewed resources that will enhance your students understanding of what, author, Mary McDonagh Murphy in her book, “Scout, Atticus & Boo: A Celebration of 50 Years of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ considers “our national novel.” Banned from the shelves of certain libraries while being voted as the best novel of the 20th century by American librarians, and often cited by readers of all ages as the book that had the most profound influence on them, Mockingbird continues to stir emotions, create controversy, and transform the lives of everyone it touches.

Have you read and/or taught To Kill a Mockingbird?

Join us in our discussion of this book!