Reading Critically - courtesy of ASCD Smart Brief

• How to teach students to read critically
  Veteran school administrator Ben Johnson in this blog writes about the importance of teaching students to read with a critical eye. Students must first be encouraged to love reading, and then be taught to do so actively through techniques, such as reading with a pen in hand to take notes and identify key concepts, processes that could be made easier through the use of digital textbooks. Educators also should model reading critically with students to help them develop the habit with every assignment, he writes. Edutopia.org/Ben Johnson's blog (2/22)     

Ideas for teaching students to craft logical arguments - courtesy of ASCD smart brief

• With the increased focus on argument, here are some effective instructional strategies for teachers to use.
  The writer of this blog post suggests ways in which educators can teach students to construct logical arguments, a key element of the new Common Core State Standards on writing. Among other ideas, Katherine Schulten suggests students analyze a series of opinion blog posts on a topic that interests them, or create a collection of classroom opinions on a new topic of their choosing. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)/The Learning Network blog (2/13)     

As we move into the digital age, we need to think about how to provide a framework for the use of the new technology. Here is a good article, coutesy of ASCD - Smartbrief.

• Will students learn more using digital textbooks?
  Apple's launch on Jan. 19 of new digital-textbook software has educators and experts considering whether students will learn more and better using these and other tablet-based resources. Measuring the effect of these tools may prove complicated, and experts, including Ron Owston of Canada's York University, say teacher effectiveness and the environment in which the technology is used are important factors. "Kids need some structure. They need guidance. They need feedback. They're not going to get that from electronic books alone," Owston said. Wired.com/Wired Science blog (1/26)