Waffle Bytes

The Broadway musical Hamilton —based on Ron Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton—can be a classroom resource to boost understanding of American history. The Rockefeller Foundation and the producers of Hamilton are giving students and schools an opportunity to connect to the past in a contemporary context and to become engaged with the content they are studying in an exciting way. The musical has infused Chernow’s retelling of history with hip-hop, rap, and pop and has given life to a story that, for many, has been difficult to relate to in the modern era. The historically valid choice to emphasize Hamilton’s status as an immigrant wanting to make a name for himself in his adopted country has made the story even more relatable to students today. The nonprofit Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History has put together a curriculum and created a website with copies of the primary documents that undergird the book and lyrics, along with videos , essays , and oth...

FROM PBS: In the formative years of the United States, two key figures helped shape a new government: Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson. However, their vision of what that government should be and do often conflicted. In this interactive from PBS LearningMedia ’s A Biography of America , students read statements by Jefferson and Hamilton on the role of government, the virtue of people, the institution of slavery, and the role of cities. Then they decide who, in their opinion, had the more enduring vision for America. The website also provides background information and discussion questions to support teachers in using the interactive with their students. Click Here to Access Free Interactive and Support Materials Plus : A video segment adapted from PBS ’s American Experience describes the early life of Alexander Hamilton. Born outside the 13 American colonies on a small tropical island, Hamilton struggles early when his father leaves and his mother dies of y...

Just found out about this! A FREE Webinar from Office Depot - Watson for Education April 28, 2016, 4:00 - 5:00 PM EST     Join a free presentation led by Kevin Baird, Chairman and National Supervising Faculty, Center for College and Career Readiness; and Kathy Brooks, Principal K-12 Technology Consultant, Office Depot. Learning in a Cognitive Era and the advancement of self-learning computing technology defines the cutting edge of EdTech.  In this session, we recap the comments made by IBM’s education team at SXSWedu, as they look forward to an era of Cognitive Computing in Schools.  In the second half of the session, Office Depot’s team provides a first-look into the new Office Depot / IBM Personalized Learning Solution.   We’re proud to be convening these education thought leaders and know you’ll find each session to be enlightening and enjoyable. We hope you’ll join us.

Great opportunity from the Library of Michigan!  From Karren Reish-   Making in Michigan Libraries hits the road from May – August, visiting ten Michigan communities to talk with participants about building maker momentum in their libraries, schools, troops, organizations, and neighborhoods. Educators, librarians, scouting troop leaders, 4-H leaders, Boys and Girls Club mentors, and others wishing to build or expand their maker programming are welcome to attend.  All workshops are free, though lunch is on your own. Each location has a customized agenda for the program. Registration is available on the website. Take a look for dates, times and promotional information. The maker workshops will be held in the following communities this summer and registration can be found here: http://imlsmaking.sites. uofmhosting.net/road-trip/ Benton Harbor – May 10 Making Maker Learners: A One-day Workshop for Those Working with Youth Ann Arbor – May 14 Makin...

Mobile Learning Conference    May 13, 2016 8:30 am - 3:30 pm Kalamazoo RESA 1819 E. Milham Road Portage,  MI 49002   Registration Cost: $65 Register here»   Featured Speakers:  Andy Mann, Director REMC 4 and Instructional Technology Consultant at Muskegon Area ISD.  Andy will be presenting Google's Secret Projects and Hangout Hoedown. Michael Miller, Elementary Technology Teacher, Otsego Public Schools. Michael will be presenting Project Ignite and 3D Printing! Joe Rommel, Educational Technology Consultant, Berrien RESA. Joe will be presenting the World of Maker in the Classroom.

From Eunice Borrelli - Michigan eLibrary Internet Librarian- Since March 2004, when the U.S. Senate passed Resolution 316 officially recognizing April as National Financial Literacy Month, organizations including libraries have provided resources and training for youth and adults. ALA’s Money Smart Week® initiative in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank (Chicago) offers many ideas and tools for bringing sound financial information to the public.   MeL databases can help too.   All of the following MeL databases contain information on investment, personal finances, real-life math, taxation, savings, banking, and related topics:   eBook Collection , Gale Virtual Reference Library , Research in Context , Britannica School , and Gale Legal Forms .   April 23-30, 2016 is designated ALA’s Money Smart Week® . Michigan residents or Michigan library access only. MeL Minutes are brought to you by the Library of Michigan.  Want more information on MeL?...

2016-2017 Grant Program Michigan Educators: Have a great idea you would like to implement into your classroom, but need some help with funding?  MACUL is currently accepting Grant Proposals for the 2016-2017 school year! Purpose To encourage and support members interested in promoting effective instructional uses of the computer or related-equipment. Goal Each project should focus on an instructional use of the computer or related equipment, which has the potential of being replicated in other educational settings. Deadline Applications must be submitted online by  5:00 pm on Monday, May 16, 2016 . Grant Worksheet »  - Use the worksheet to create your answers for the grant. When ready, copy and paste the answers into the application form and submit. Grant Rubric »  - Check your answers with the rubric to make sure you have fully answered the question. Grant Application »  - Grant Limit per Application: $1,500. MACUL members who ...

USAGE DRIVE:  ANNOUNCING DISCOVERY EDUCATION’S SPRING TRAINING!   Spring Into Digital Hit it out of the park with  Discovery Education's Spring Training . Bring new instructional ideas into your everyday practice with this series of exercises to use with Discovery Education. We all need a little workout every now and again to hone our skills and develop our practice and that's what Discovery Education's Spring Training is all about. You're invited to participate in a weekly challenge where, over the next five weeks, you will be given a new instructional strategy to practice and discover ways to use Discovery Education to be an ace pitcher in your classroom. Start Conditioning Sign Up  to receive your weekly challenge and get started with the week one challenge below.  You can join Spring Training anytime throughout the challenge. Each Wednesday during Spring Training, you will receive your training plan. You can also go to thi...

  Have you wanted to participate in the 21 Things 4 Teachers PD during the summer?  Here is your opportunity!   From the 21 Things Team: The 21Things4Teachers Statewide summer course runs June 20 to Sept 6, 2016 . After registering for the course, you will receive instructions on how to login to Moodle and how to attend the virtual event June 20 at 4:30 p.m.   21Things4Teachers helps educators make connections between technology tools and best practice instructional strategies. It provides a chance for you to collaborate with fellow teachers in a cohort or as an individual to learn more about 21st century technology skills in a supportive environment with a highly skilled instructor. You can opt to take just 7, 14 or all 21 Things and need a computer, speakers and Internet access to participate.   On June 20 you will meet online with your instructor for two hours. Throughout the summer you will have virtual sessions that you may at...