The Atlantic published a great article on class sizes today. It’s headlined Too Many Kids. Here’s how it ends: I’m adding it to The Best Resources For Learning About How Class Size Does Matter.

The new "question-of-the-week" at my Education Week Teacher column is: What is your best advice to a new teacher? Feel free to leave your responses in the comments section there or here…

Here are new additions to The Best TV/Movie Scenes Demonstrating A "Growth Mindset" - Help Me Find More. I can always use more! Jen Marten suggests this from Meet The Robinsons: Fred Delventhal made these recommendations: I’d follow up that last video with this one: Keep your suggestions coming!

I’ve invited Laura Gibbs to contribute this guest post about a creative project she’s doing and inviting others to join, too. I’m adding this post to The Best Resources On Helping Our Students Develop A "Growth Mindset." Laura Gibbs is an online instructor who teaches mythology and folklore at the University of Oklahoma; find out more at mythfolklore.net. Growth mindset: this a term familiar to many teachers, but it’s even more important for students to learn what the growth mindset can mean for them. You can tell students about Carol Dweck’s research that shows how learning results from effort over time, not simply from "brains" or raw talent. You can provide details about neurobiology, and you can talk about potential, persistence, and other abstract notions. But how can you really reach students, especially younger students, with these ideas? Here’s a possibility: growth mindset memes! By combining text and images, memes are able to make a powerful impression, often conveying complex ideas in just a few words. The brevity of memes makes them a great option for student composition, and free online tools like Cheezburger and Automotivator (to name just two) make it easy for everyone — students and teachers alike — to create memes and share them on the Internet. So, after a great presentation on growth mindset by Laura Slade at the Upgrading Online conference on June 24, 2015, I decided to create a blog where I could publish and collect growth mindset memes while also inviting others to share and contribute. You can see the blog here: Growth Mindset Memes. Another teacher has joined in, too: Susan Strickland has started her own Cheezburger Board of Latin LOLCat memes to promote the growth mindset with her Latin students. We hope that others will want to contribute either by creating your own blog of growth mindset memes, or perhaps a Cheezburger Board like the one by Magistra Susan — or even just by sharing your memes with the #growthmindset hashtag at Twitter. There are lots of possibilities; here are some ideas about How to Contribute. And to give you an idea of what the memes can do, see what you think of these LOLCats with a growth mindset (made with Cheezburger): I love a challenge! The bigger the challenge, the more you stretch. You can even make animated gifs for multilingual memes like this Spanish-Latin-English LOLcat (animation done with GIMP): Si puedes soñarlo, puedes hacerlo. Si potes somniare, facere potes. If you can dream it, you can do it. Any type of meme can work, of course — it’s not just about cats. For example, here are some motivational poster memes (made with Automotivator): They wouldn’t make erasers if we didn’t make mistakes. Fall down seven times, get up eight. So, if you are a teacher with an interest in growth mindset (and it’s valuable for teachers of all subjects at all ages), see what kinds of memes you can invent, and then set your memes in motion by sharing them online. To learn more about growth mindset and what it can offer both students and teachers, be sure to check out Carol Dweck’s book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, and you can also follow the #growthmindset hashtag at Twitter.

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

The PBS News Hour just did this segment on "Amazing Grace," recently sung by President Obama in Charleston (see Video: "Watch President Obama deliver eulogy at Rev. Pinckney’s funeral"):

My wife shared this hilarious video with me - it’s perfect to show to English Language Learners and have them write and verbally describe what they see. You might also be interested in The Best Fun Videos For English Language Learners In 2015 - So Far.

© 2012 Daniel Schildt, Flickr | CC-BY-ND | via Wylio Here’s a new short video of Hans Rosling describing the world’s population. I’m adding it to The Best Hans Rosling Videos.  

Light Brigading via Compfight Here are new additions to A Collection Of Useful Posts, Articles & Videos On Race & Racism - Help Me Find More: How Educators Can Respond to Charleston is from Bright. Attitudes Toward Racism And Inequality Are Shifting is from Five Thirty Eight. Confronting Racial Injustice in Schools is from Ed Week. via John Holland Lots of white people ask how to be a good ally to the movement. So @michaelskolnik wrote a playbook for white people. http://t.co/wkWWbJNATj — Cornelius Minor (@MisterMinor) July 3, 2015 Teachers: @tanehisicoates' article on Confederate flag & Civil War, ideal 4 classroom. http://t.co/FBXXqneVna #sschat pic.twitter.com/u0QfCfTjpC — Zinn Ed Project (@ZinnEdProject) June 30, 2015 Not Just Us? Using Classrooms to Get (White) People to Talk about Race https://t.co/OiCZ1WeLL0 pic.twitter.com/jrIDnRK2kE — David E. Kirkland (@davidekirkland) June 29, 2015 Very thoughtful piece for culturally responsive educators. Whiteness: Guilt, Privilege, & Opportunity via @iserotope http://t.co/1FNqBO3719 — Zaretta Hammond (@Ready4rigor) June 26, 2015 As part of our teacher's guide to "The New Jim Crow," we have a section on how to talk about race and racism. http://t.co/stbv8MdA2x — Teaching Tolerance (@Tolerance_org) June 24, 2015 White Americans support the right to protest injustice — unless the protestors are black http://t.co/A7kfJyflTo pic.twitter.com/jXZQ9AUmQe — Vox (@voxdotcom) June 23, 2015

You may or may not be familiar with the book, They Say, I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing, but it’s a great resource for writing instruction. You can see its influence in a number of my posts at The Best Posts On Writing Instruction. You can also read more about it at these two Voice Of America Learning English pieces: Tips for Writing: ‘They Say, I Say’ Good Academic Writing Doesn’t Have to Be A Struggle In addition, all you have to do is search "they say i say templates" online and you’ll get a ton of excellent student resources. I just hope they’re posted legally.

I was searching online today to find simple tools for making online matching games (the ones that, for example, have questions on the left and mixed-up answers on the right) and was pleasantly surprised to find the SuperTeacherTools site. Not only does it let teacher and students create these kinds of matching games without having to register and very easily, it also has other game-making features. Here’s a quick one I did on a growth mindset. There were a few others, including Eduplay, but SuperTeacherTools was by far the best one. Also, if you’re interested, there were a few easy tools that let you create those kinds of matching worksheets for printing out, too, including Education.com, The Teachers Corner and Armored Penguin. I’m adding SuperTeacherTools to: The Best Websites For Creating Online Learning Games The "All-Time" Best 2.0 Tools For Beginning English Language Learners

© 2006 Procsilas Moscas, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio As regular readers know, I do an annual "The Best…" list on the "words of the year" that various organizations name. They usually don’t start making the announcements until the last few months of the year, but one group has already announced their words for 2015. So, I figured I’d get a head start on the list, post it now, and add links as new announcements are made. Here’s the first announcement: Hashtag is ‘children’s word of year’ is from The BBC. And here are links to my previous annual lists: The Best "Words Of The Year" Features For 2014 The Best "Words Of The Year" Features For 2013 The Best "Words Of The Year" Features For 2012 The Best "Words Of The Year" Features For 2011 The Best "Words Of The Year" Features For 2010

I’m adding this video to The Best "Language Maps":

© 2015 GotCredit, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio I just cleaned out a bunch of dead links from The Best Places Where Students Can Write For An "Authentic Audience." You might find it useful….

© 2015 Alan Levine, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio I guess I’m in a "cleaning" mood this morning - I’ve just cleaned out all the dead links at The Best Places Where Students Can Create Online Learning/Teaching Objects For An "Authentic Audience." This is a companion list to The Best Places Where Students Can Write For An "Authentic Audience," which I also just updated today.