Digital Learning Day | eMINTS National Center – Inspired Teachers

Can you imagine education without technology? In order to prepare the next generation for college and for their place in the workforce, it is very important that students and teachers embrace the benefits that modern instructional tools can provide.

This is why thousands of educators answer the “call to action” and join the celebration of Digital Learning Day each February. A national event designed to allow educators to gather virtually to share and discuss the successes and challenges that they are experiencing with integrating digital tools in their classrooms.

To help build this awareness and to promote enhanced instruction with modern technology tools, join us by participating in national Digital Learning Day which is scheduled for February 5, 2014! The online event will feature demonstrations, interactive lessons, presentations, resource sharing, tips, and even tricks designed for classroom educators that possess a passion for incorporating powerful digital tools into their lessons.

Here are some ways you can participate…

Take the Digital Learning Day Pledge
Use the Digital Storytelling Challenge
View the Digital Lesson Idea Bank
Participate in the Virtual Learning Conference (Live from the Library of Congress)
Tweet out announcements from your classroom using the #DLDay and #emints tags!

I hope to see you participating and making a difference with digital learning on Digital Learning Day!

-Doug Caldwell, EdS, is an instructional specialist for the eMINTS National Center.

After the webinar I overviewed in CCSS Tidbits – Episode 1, I did some additional research to gather more information about the CCSS. Below is a collection of links that you might find helpful as you move forward with your Common Core implementation. I have also linked to this great infographic on becoming a Common Core Ninja! For anyone interested, I am working on pulling together some resources for developing and using infographics in the classroom, so stay tuned!

Resources:

Explanation of the Standards
Common Core State Standards: Deconstructed for Classroom Impact Sample	This is a sample document that shows how the standards are broken down, which grade levels teach to the standard, the DOK level of the standard, what it might look like in the classroom, and much more. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a full copy of the book for free, however, you can get a full copy from Amazon.com.
North Carolina’s CCSS Resources	The North Carolina State Board of Education has developed a site with a great deal of resources, including an explanation of the standards “unpacked.” They also have tool for implementing the standards.
EduCore (from ASCD)	ASCD has pulled together several great resources that provide an explanation of the CCSS as well as tools to help teachers implement.
Common Core Navigator – LearnZillion	If you’re a visual learner like me, you will love LearnZillion’s visual representation of the standards!
COREpedia	COREpedia is a resource tool to assist you in the understanding and implementation of the Common Core State Standards

Teacher Professional Development
Teaching Channel	This site is AMAZING! They have a great deal of videos that will help teachers implement the common core standards.
Pearson Common Core State Standards	Pearson has done an excellent job at developing some top notch professional development resources! Teachers can watch webinars, they can access practice tests, find information for ELL students, and learn about rigor, instruction, assessment and much, much, more!

Classroom Tools / Resources
Livebinder of 5th Grade Common Core Resources	This is a nice collection of common core resources for 5^th grade.
CorePlanner	An CCSS integration tool that allows you to plan and track standards in your lesson plans.
Common Core 101 – Pinterest	“We Are Teachers” has a nice collection on Pinterest for Common Core including great visuals, infographics, and other images.
engage^ny	This is a comprehensive site for all things Common Core including curriculum, assessments, PD, Videos, and tons more!

Curriculum Alignment
Achieve the Core	This sight helps schools ease the transition into Common Core. They have excellent explanations of the shifts taking place in both math and ELA.
P21 Common Core Toolkit	Partnership for 21^st Century Skills has additional information and resources on how to align to the CCSS and meet the needs of our 21^st century learners.

Common Sense for the Common Core	Scholastic has pulled together some really great lesson plans, glossary of terms for teachers, Nonfiction & Literature lists, info on assessment, and professional development tools for teachers.

Jen Foster is an eMINTS Instructional Specialist and blogger. Check out her blog at eMINTS Classroom Strategies where she shares her thoughts on learning theories, teaching tips and strategies, practical classroom applications, and reflections on her journey to continue learning. This post was originally published on August 5, 2013.