TED-Ed has just published a new lesson and video on History vs. Genghis Khan. I’m adding the video to my World History class blog under Civilizations In The Middle Ages.

Teachers tap into brain science to boost learning was the title of a PBS News Hour report last night. You can read the transcript here. There was some ridicule of the program on social media, but I think what the teacher is doing is pedagogically sound. Though I don’t have students in my mainstream students combine words with gestures, as she does, it’s certainly a common practice among ELL teachers. I even have a related "Best" list: The Best Resources On Students Using Gestures & Physical Movement To Help With Learning.

Every month I make a few short lists highlighting my choices of the best resources I through (and learned from) Twitter, but didn’t necessarily include them in posts here on my blog. I’ve already shared in earlier posts several new resources I found on Twitter — and where I gave credit to those from whom I learned about them. Those are not included again in post. If you don’t use Twitter, you can also check-out all of my "tweets" on Twitter profile page. You might also be interested in The Best Tweets Of 2015 - So Far. [View the story "July’s (2015) Best Tweets — Part One" on Storify]

© 2009 Niyam Bhushan, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio In another somewhat futile attempt to reduce the backlog of resources I want to share, I’m starting this weekly "Ed Tech Digest" post where I’ll share three or four links I think are particularly useful and related to…ed tech: The NMC Horizon 2015 K-12 Report reviews "key trends, significant challenges, and important developments in educational technology." MindShift has a nice summary. Home Internet Access for Poor, Rural Students Aim of New Federal Bill is from Ed Week. I’m adding it to The Best Resources For Learning About Schools Providing Home Computers & Internet Access To Students. Digital Portfolios: The Art of Reflection is from Edutopia. I’m adding it to The Best Resources For Developing Student Digital Portfolios. Meaningful Learning with Digital Portfolios: Tools & Examples is from Shelly Sanchez Terrell. I’m adding it to the same list. Ed-Tech Lessons from ‘The Simpsons’ is from Ed Week. I’m adding this tweet to The Best Education Articles From "The Onion": Vending Machine Most Up-To-Date Technology In School http://t.co/RBhYGaYJ2D pic.twitter.com/0tvol7rhPh — The Onion (@TheOnion) June 23, 2015

Advice To New Teachers From Veterans is the headline of my latest Education Week Teacher column. In it, five veteran educators — Valeria Brown, Julia Thompson, Roxanna Elden, Sean McComb and Megan Allen — share advice they wish they thought they had at the beginning of their careers. Here are some excerpts:

I’m adding this video to The Best Sites For Learning About The World’s Different Cultures:

The Declaration Project, which went public just yesterday, collects all the world’s declarations of independence. Here’s how it describes itself: The Declaration Project is an interactive site that features a comprehensive collection of declarations of independence and kindred declarations crafted in the U.S. and the world over. While the ‘Declaration Collection’ component of this project is a centerpiece, there are two other key parts to this initiative: ‘My Declaration™‘ gives you the opportunity to compose and post your own declaration, and for others to respond to it. And the ‘Spirit of ’76 Cafe™’ features ongoing participatory explorations of the themes that resonate in our July 4, 1776 Declaration of Independence and others included here . I’m not sure how useful the last two parts are really going to be to teachers or students, but the collection itself could be very helpful. In some ways it’s like a less slick Constitute, which was created by the University of Texas at Austin and funded by Google, and provides an easily searchable database of the constitutions from 160 countries. The really extraordinary feature there is the ability to search for common themes (click "browse topics").

© 2014 Alan Levine, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio I have a number of good videos at The Best Video Clips Demonstrating "Grit." However, theoretically at least, grit is supposed to mean perseverance focusing on a longer-term goal. Most of the clips on that "Best" list communicate the idea of perseverance, but more on shorter-term goals. I’d like to find more clips like these next two — any ideas? More sports ones are fine, though I’d like to find non-sports examples, too. Yes, I’m aware of many of the criticisms of grit, too, and have written about them, as well. However, I still think it’s possible to recognize and celebrate the grit our students show every day, and that they’ve shown in the past, in other arenas, and also encourage them to transfer it to the classroom. A video or two can’t hurt.

Richard Byrne wrote about a new tool a couple of days ago called Actively Learn, and it really looks like a winner. Richard provides a pretty thorough explanation of the site, and I’d encourage you to go to his post to read about it. A quick summary is that it teachers can create virtual classrooms, students can read and annotate tons of materials the site already has (and teachers can upload their own, too - including webpages), and teachers can embed questions they want students to answer. And it’s free (you can pay for a premium service, but what it offers for free works for me). I’ve embedded a video below that provides a short overview. One other great feature of the site is that it has tons of videos clearly explaining how to use each of its features. I’m adding this post to: The Best Sites That Students Can Use Independently And Let Teachers Check On Progress Best Applications For Annotating Websites

© 2015 sylviaduckworth, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio I’ve recently begun this weekly post where I’ll be sharing resources I’m adding to The Best Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Resources or other related "Best" lists: I’m adding these first two links to The Best Posts About Helping Students Develop Their Capacity For Self-Control: How Can We Help All Students Pass The Marshmallow Test? is by Jessica Weible at the Center For Teaching Quality. New research challenges the idea that willpower is a "limited resource" is from BPS Research Digest (though I’m not convinced). Survey Suggests Social and Emotional Learning Has Staked a Claim in Schools is from Ed Week. I’m adding it to The Best Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Resources. ‘That’s Good Enough': Three Little Words to Explain a Box-Office Flop is from The Atlantic and ends with a perfect quotation to help teach a growth mindset - if only it didn’t contain a word inappropriate for the classroom. Innovative student survey & intervention for #SEL & positive school climate @caselorg @TimShriver @thomascmurray http://t.co/tdjrPCfQaf — Esther Quintero (@EstherQuinCo) July 3, 2015