POWER to the WOMEN!

Every aspect of history is important--as well as every voice. It’s no secret that many important stories and viewpoints of history are often overlooked because the voices of the tellers of that history might be deemed as unimportant.

It is for this very reason that months of celebration, like Women’s History Month, exist. The truth is that half of history is the story of womanhood. It’s a part of history that every human should learn and respect. So take a moment this month to learn, teach, or share some important history that is told about, or for, a positive, empowered woman. 

Looking for ways to keep up with Women’s History Month? Follow me on Twitter for a daily dose of quotes or facts related to women’s history, or follow me on Tumblr for daily posts about important women in history. Also, be sure to follow or subscribe to this blog for future articles and ideas throughout the month!

Smart ideas for busy educators: Tip #2

It's the age of technology my friend, and it's time that educators kept up. Using social media isn't beyond in realm of education. In fact, I could argue that it is the duty of the educational system to show students of today how social media can be used for more than just recreation.


A simple, easy, yet fabulous idea is to set up a class-related twitter account! You could use the account to send out reminders about homework and assignments. It's also another means you could use to be accessible to students. You'd find that most students are willing to send a quick tweet to you about things they either forgot to, or we're too shy, to talk to you about face-to-face. ("Hey, can I bring my project in on a flash drive instead of emailing it?" or "Could we go over Newton's theories again? I'm still lost.")


Also, you can get extra creative, and use the account to offer extra credit questions, giving credit to the first person who tweets back the right answer.


This idea works! Check out a working example from a tech-savvy teacher @nicolaihw


A word of caution: I would suggest making a stand-alone twitter account that is not connect to any personal account in anyway. Do not have your personal email address, website, Facebook, pintrest, or other social media attached to the site. Keep your tweets only related to class reminders and content. No personal opinions or jokes that could be misunderstood. In addition, fight the urge to make the profile private. Keeping the content and conversation open is actual a protection for you!

Black History Month: Remember the brave

Source: ushistoryscene.com via Yolanda on Pinterest

A long time coming: a national museum dedicated to African American history

"It's been a long time coming..."

-Sam Cooke

Source: google.com via Yolanda on Pinterest

On March 22, 2012 something that's been hundreds of years in the making is happening. This date will mark the groundbreaking of The National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) will break ground in Washington's National Mall.

The NMAAHC is a branch of the prestigious Smithsonian that will focus exclusively on the role of African Americans in national and international history. Even before opening, the museum's exhibits are causing a stir, with such offerings at Nat Turner's bible and an examination of slavery on Thomas Jefferson's Monticello Plantation.

Many historians and Americans feel that such a museum, visible and recognizable on an international level, is long overdue. The NMAAHC will focus on a section of American and World history that, by its very nature, is often shroud in mystery and question.

The planning of the museum has survived several government fiscal year budget cuts and presidents. It has been promoted, bi-partisan, by lawmakers for years. However the project has jointly been funded by private donations of people who believe that while a museum like this has "been a long time coming", the time for the NMAAHC to rise is now.

The museum is expected to open alongside it's Smithsonian compatriots in Washington D.C. in 2015.

Links

Official website: http://nmaahc.si.edu/

Educator's website: http://nmaahc.si.edu/Education/Educators

Primary Source Picture: Women's Rights

Here is a great picture you can use are a primary source document for the Women's Suffrage Movement.

Source: maudelynn.tumblr.com via Yolanda on Pinterest

Recap: This Week's Black History Month Facts

Source: theroot.com via Yolanda on Pinterest

1. The celebration of Black History Month was started by Harvard grad Dr. Carter G. Woodson in 1926

2. Haiti is the second oldest independent nation in the Western Hemisphere after the U.S.

3. Elizabeth Keckley was the free woman seamstress & confidant of BOTH Mary Lincoln & Mrs. Jefferson Davis

4. 34% of African American children live in #poverty. http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2010/2010015.pdf

5. Ralph Johnson Bunche was the 1st African American to recieve the Nobel Peace Prize in 1950

6. Two Liberians, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Leymah Gbowee, received the Nobel Peace Prizes in 2011

7. Dr. Mark Dean, an African American mathematician, holds 3 of the 9 patents for the first PC by IBM

8. William Carney was the 1st African American to receive a Medal of Honor for his service in the Civil War!

9. In 1890 King Behanzin Hossu Bowelle defeated the French with a well trained army including 5K women!

10. Geoffrey Holder won the 1975 Tony Award for directing "The Wiz" on Broadway!

11. Benjamin Banneker published an Almanac from 1791 to 1802

12. Vanessa Williams was the 1st African American crowned Miss America.

Smart ideas for busy educators: Tip #1

#1: The Out Of Town Trip

So it's going to happen: one day you are going to have to leave your students to go out of town. Maybe it will be business, a family emergency, or even a much needed vacation. If so, here is a fun, easy, educational game you can leave behind for them to play.

Have you ever seen the game "Where In The World Is Carmen Santiago?" Essentially it's a geography game where kids try to figure out a location based on clues. If you have to leave your students you can do the same thing. Leave one clue per-day for them to research and see if they can figure out where you've been before you return. You can add some competition to it by promising the first student who figures it out a special prize from where ever your going. A $3 or $4 item from the gift shop will do, and it will excite the kids.

The most important thing for this game is to keep your lips sealed! Don't give any clues before you leave, and make sure no one you left behind leaks the information either. Trust me, the kids will try to get you to leak information once you introduce the game; therefore i suggest announcing the game towards the end of the day or period right before you leave. You can collect your student's guesses (I'd suggest only one guess per student) easily by a leaving behind a lock box or even email.

The game is fun, and inspiring (kids are noisy and will dig to figure out the location!) You can make it as easy or difficult as you'd like.

Here is an example of the clues I left behind for my kids over my 5 day absence. See if you can figure out where I went!

1. Yes, I needed a passport to go where I am.
2. In 1970, this place had only 3 residence.
3. I'm currently sitting on the Yucatan Peninsular.
4. The average annual temperature is 80 degrees, and there are about 240 sunny days every year!
5. The Mayans used to call this city "nest of serpents" or "snake pit"