# data[].attributes.body
https://www.readnaturally.com/article/sketching-vocabulary-words-valuable-word-learning-strategy

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
4854 Views

As you know, vocabulary is a key component for success in reading. There are many benefits to having a large vocabulary, but none is more valuable than the positive contribution that vocabulary size makes to reading comprehension (Nagy, 2005).

So how many vocabulary words should you aim to teach your students per year? It is estimated that there are about 88,500 distinct word families in printed school English, and the average twelfth grader probably knows about 40,000 of them (Nagy and Anderson, 1984). Our students need to learn tens of thousands of new words-way more than you have time to explicitly teach.

Fortunately, explicit word teaching is not the only way to expand vocabulary. It is essential to teach word-learning strategies as well. Combined with the instruction of high-utility words, word-learning strategies increase vocabulary and allow students to become independent word learners (Bauman, Kame'enui, and Ash, 2003; Beck et al., 1982). Students need a wide range of word-learning strategies that engage them in actively thinking about word meanings, the relationships between words, and how words are used in different situations.

Sketching vocabulary words is one such strategy. For many students, it is easier to remember a word's meaning in a specific context by making a quick sketch that connects the word to something personally meaningful to the student. To employ this strategy, instruct a student to sketch his or her understanding of a new word you are explicitly teaching. The student should not spend much time making a detailed drawing-the sketch simply needs to make sense and help the student remember the meaning. To confirm understanding, the student should be able to describe the sketch and explain how it illustrates the word's meaning.

Below are sketches one student made for the six target vocabulary words from the story "Bloop" in Read Naturally's Take Aim at Vocabulary program. Look at each sketch to see if it makes sense to you. Can you see how these sketches would prompt the student to connect with the meaning of each word?

Try this strategy with your students as you are teaching vocabulary words from your current content. Once students are comfortable with this strategy, encourage them to use it to remember the meanings of new words they encounter in the future. To work totally independently, they may use this strategy in conjunction with a dictionary or glossary.

Save time by providing a template with a small space for each sketch, so students can be encouraged to make quick (rather than elaborate) sketches. The free template listed below under "Resources" has spaces for sketching six target words.

Resources

​ Free template for vocabulary word sketches
​ Printable samples of the Take Aim at Vocabulary program

Bibliography

Baumann, J. F., Edwards, E. C., Boland, E., Olejnik, S., & Kame'enui, E. (2003). "Vocabulary tricks: effects of instruction in morphology and context on fifth grade students' ability to derive and infer word meanings," American Educational Research Journal, Vol. 40, No. 2, pp. 447-494.

Beck, I. L., Perfetti, C., & McKeown, M. G. (1982). "Effects of long term vocabulary instruction on lexical access and reading comprehension," Journal of Educational Psychology, Vol. 74, No. 4, pp. 506-521.

Graves, M. F. (2000). "A vocabulary program to complement and bolster a middle-grade comprehension program," in B. M. Taylor, M. F. Graves, and P. Van Den Broek (eds.), Reading for meaning: Fostering comprehension in the middle grades, New York: Teachers College Press.

Nagy, W. E. (2005). "Why vocabulary instruction needs to be long-term and comprehensive," in E. H. Hiebert and M. L. Kamil (eds.), Teaching and learning vocabulary: Bringing research to practice, Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

Nagy, W. E. & Anderson, R. C. (1984). "How many words are there in printed school English?" Reading Research Quarterly, Vol. 19, pp. 304-330.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sketching vocabulary words: valuable word-learning strategy

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
4854 Views As you know, vocabulary is a key component for success in reading. There are many benefits to having a large vocabulary, but none is more valuable than the positive contribution that vocabulary size makes to reading comprehension (Nagy, 2005). So how many vocabulary words should you aim to teach your students per year?

# data[].attributes.body
Graffiti walls, word wall, Wondrous Words!
A place in the room that encourages kids to see and interact with new words.
-Refer to it often.
-Kids add words of their own frequently. Write the word, part of speech, sentence and picture.
-Share a word and discuss or chart out.
-Group Words
-Change the board up every now and then for variety.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Graffiti walls are a simple, fun, and interactive way to get kids involved in their learning. All you need is a blank whiteboard or some sheets of butcher paper to get started. Kids can write, draw, and express themselves as they learn and review a variety of subjects. Here are some of our favorite graffiti walls for the classroom.

1. Have them tell all about themselves.

A perfect activity for the first week of class. Have each student make their own"All About Me" graffiti walls to help you and their classmates get to know them.

Source: clnaiva/Instagram

2. Take geography to a whole new level.

Whether kids are learning about colonies, states, countries, or continents, graffiti walls are a fun way to show off their knowledge. Have them draw or paint the geographic feature, then add fun facts all around.

Source: Teaching in Room 6

3. Pose a math teaser.

How many different ways can you answer the question? Math teaser graffiti walls have endless possibilities, and kids at all skill levels can get in on the action.

Source: SHOJ Elementary

4. Visualize your vocabulary lessons.

This example is for math, but you could do this for any subject. In English, try boards labelled "Alliterations" or "Irony." For science, use concepts like "Physical Properties" or "Mammals." Get the idea?

5. Review for a test with graffiti walls.

Preparing for a big unit-end test? Review the concepts they've learned with graffiti walls. Pose a series of questions around the room, and have kids rotate from one sheet to the next to record their answers. When they're done, take a "gallery walk" as a class to review all the knowledge (and correct anything that's wrong).

6. Capture their favorite reading quotes.

This is one of everyone's favorite graffiti walls. Have kids post quotes from books they're reading to inspire others. Use chalk markers on black paper for a striking look.

Source: Lessons With Laughter

7. Prepare for a discussion on a serious topic.

Ready to tackle a tough topic? First, give kids time to gather their thoughts by having them write answers on the wall. (This will especially benefit students who are hesitant to speak up in class.) Then, use their answers as a jumping off point to start the discussion.

8. Encourage critical thinking skills.

One of the neat things about graffiti walls is getting to see people interact with each other. One comment sparks another, and before you know it, kids are building on each other's ideas at an amazing pace.

Source: Michelle Nyquist/Pinterest

9. Ask for reading recommendations.

This one would be especially fun in the school library. Ask kids to recommend their favorite books. They can include quotes or brief summaries to pique the interest of other students.

10. Make it motivational.

Pump up your students and send them out into the world with motivational messages to and from each other. We really love the idea of each child writing a special note to another student in the class.

Source: Teacher Idea Factory

11. Do a daily theme just for fun.

In addition to motivational activities, post themed questions each day (or every so often) that are just plain fun. It's a wonderful way to fill a few minutes at the end of class, or get them in learning mode before the bell rings.

Source: Tonya's Treats for Teachers

12. Show an image to spark discussion.

Prompts don't always need to be questions or even words. Display an image and ask students to jot down their feelings or reactions to it. It's an interesting way to talk about symbolism.

Source: Jillian Watto/Instagram

13. Use graffiti walls to share information during guided reading.

As kids read, have them jot down important points for others to note too. (Graffiti can be done on a table, too, as in this example. You can post them on the wall later if you like.)

14. Reflect on the week's learning.

Before students fly out the door on Friday, ask them to jot down one important thing from the week behind them. Leave it up and have kids look it over on Monday to get them ready for the new week ahead.

Source: Melissa R/Instagram

15. Hold a drawing contest.

One teacher holds a robot drawing contest every year, and her students love it. Choose any topic your kids will enjoy, then have them mark off their place on the board and go crazy!

16. Find out how they feel about music.

Working on music appreciation? Ask kids to listen to a piece of music, then write down how it makes them feel. They can also draw pictures of what the music brings to mind, or suggest their own song title.

Source: foxeemuso/Instagram

17. Introduce new concepts with open-ended questions.

Before starting a new unit or book, get kids to reflect on what they already know about a topic or idea. Ask them "What are clouds?" or "What do you know about the history of our state?" Save the graffiti walls and compare their answers after they've completed the unit to see what they've learned.

Source: Musings from the Middle School

18. Learn about graffiti as an art form.

Street artists like Banksy have shown that graffiti is a legitimate art form in many cases. Have a conversation in your class about the difference between graffiti and vandalism. Then have kids draw a brick wall and cover it with their own graffiti art.

Source: My Craftily Ever After

19. Build graffiti walls with LEGO bricks.

If your classroom has a good collection of LEGO bricks already, this project is easier than you might think. Buy bulk packages of flat base plates and attach them to the wall with double-sided tape. Then let kids build, build, build!

20. Just let them do whatever... really.

Don't overthink it! Just throw up a blank piece of paper and allow kids to add to it throughout the semester or year. At the end, they can all snap a picture so they'll have a record of some of their favorite memories.

Source: stephaniesucree/Instagram
How have you used graffiti walls? Come and share in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook. Plus, check out our guide to Anchor Charts 101 !

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
20 Engaging Ways to Teach With Graffiti Walls

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Graffiti walls are a fun and interactive way to teach a variety of subjects in the classroom. Get ideas for language arts, math, social studies and more.

# data[].attributes.body
Each student receives words to design a slide for. You decide what you want included, and they have freedom with the structure of the slide. Throughout the week, students will take turns sharing and discussing their slides. You can do this as a class or with partners or small groups.

# data[].attributes.body
These have some free access, but many are a very cheap monthly fee. Students can create their own flashcard banks or teacher can create and have them practice. Think out of the box when using them.

# data[].attributes.body
Use monthly to review words, word parts, synonyms, figures of speech, whatever! Can be designed by teachers, individual students, partners or small groups. This is a great way to continue to expose children to words already covered. Easy template to use.

# data[].attributes.body
Keep a section in the notebook for new words. This can be done in many ways. Work from the back of the NB to the front. Create a structure you'd like them to follow or allow students to collect, define, show examples in writing or drawing-whatever is important to you.

# data[].attributes.body
One person from each team stands. Call out a definition, and the first person to say the word remains standing. The other person sits down and the next person on that person's (the one who just sat down) team stands. Play continues around the room until everyone gets to play.

# data[].attributes.body
You don't necessarily have to use these as is, but can do these kinds of activities in the notebook or digitally using chromebooks. Lots of fun ideas here!

# data[].attributes.body
Anytime that a student finds a word you've studied or discussed and then mentions it, takes a photo, or writes down the sentence or book title in which it was found, offer verbal recognition, a class share, a place to share (online, bulletin board, chartpaper, book in front of room) or extra credit. The idea is to build excitement around words and to show students that they WILL see them in print.

# data[].attributes.headline
Litfocus.com:  Connecting Vocab in Reading

# data[].attributes.subject
Litfocus.com:  Connecting Vocab in Reading

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Give students an opportunity to play with and manipulate letters to form new words using the wordsmith activity. Students try to spell as many words as they can using the letters in a specific word. For example, if your vocabulary words are related to a chapter on the Civil War, students would try to spell as many words as possible using the letters in "Civil War". Adding a time limit isn't necessary, but it adds a fun twist!

Ultimately, manipulating the letters to form new words will strengthen decoding skills, improving reading fluency and comprehension.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
8 Versatile Activities for Weekly Spelling and Vocabulary Practice | Literacy In Focus

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Give students an opportunity to play with and manipulate letters to form new words using the wordsmith activity. Students try to spell as many words as they can using the letters in a specific word.

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.alled.org/useful-resources/literacy-resources/pre-reading-strategies/frayer-model-of-vocabulary-development/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Frayer Model of Vocabulary Development helps students attain new vocabulary and concepts essential for understanding a reading by having them complete a chart with the definition, characteristics, examples and non-examples of the term to learn. Sample Frayer Model Graphic Organizer

# data[].attributes.body
Well-loved by many teachers, but there is a fee.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Educational Hip-Hop Songs & Videos for All Subjects, K-12

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Flocabulary is a library of songs, videos and activities for K-12 online learning. Hundreds of thousands of teachers use Flocabulary’s educational raps and teaching lesson plans to supplement their instruction and engage students. Our team of artists and educators is not only committed to raising test scores, but also to fostering a love of learning in every child.

# data[].attributes.body
Don't forget the power of watching a short video or listening to a podcast, then holding a discussion or jotting ideas and theories. Students could listen and jot down a few new words around the topic and then do some word study around them.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
I wanted to immerse my students in thought provoking TED Talks and videos as one of the new options in our final round of "Choose Your Own Learning." Watching these videos will allow us to continue the work we have done all year on expanding our world view and discussing "Whose Voices are Missing?" as well as allow students for a chance to work on their analysis skills. Students will watch one video a day and then either write or record a response to the video. While I wanted to draw in specific non-fiction skills, I also just wanted students to have a chance to connect and respond. To see my very much work in progress assignment, go here.

While I had several videos I knew I wanted to use with students, I also knew that there were many I had not yet discovered. Enter my incredible Twitter network. I sent out the following Tweet

87 replies later, still growing, and I could not believe once again the treasure trove of incredible videos that were suggested. My gratitude runs deep and so does my penchant for sharing, so without further ado, here are many of the replies given to me with thanks to those who shared them. I am so grateful for all of you. Some are not here that were suggested more than once. I have also ones that we have used throughout the year that have started great discussion in our classroom.
Jamila Lyiscott - Three Ways to Speak English
Jamila Lyiscott is a "tri-tongued orator;" in her powerful spoken-word essay "Broken English," she celebrates - and challenges - the three distinct flavors of English she speaks with her friends, in the classroom and with her parents. As she explores the complicated history and present-day identity that each language represents, she unpacks what it means to be "articulate."
NY Times - Growing Up Black in America
In this short documentary, young black men explain the particular challenges they face growing up in America.
Matthew Carter - Your Story is Your Superpower
When two teenage boys robbed Matthew at gunpoint almost 11 years ago in front of his own home, he spent many years being fearful of teenagers and feeling haunted by the memory of a cold gun barrel pressed against his head. He realized that living in a state of constant fear prevented him from living his best life, so he worked tirelessly to change his mindset and learn the difference between things he could control and things he couldn't. Decisions based in fear often result in not being in alignment with our true selves. At its core, the majority of problems seen in most media outlets are stemmed in the emotion of fear. A child is not born afraid. These emotions are imposed on them from another's fears or caused by life experiences which results in us building both emotional and physical walls to keep out what we're so fearful of. Being in the "flow" of life allows our natural state of being - love - to be the driving force in our decision making. Matthew works at The Ohio State University and is working to follow his life's purpose. He has survived two instances of gun violence. He visits schools throughout Ohio and across the country to share his story - a message of hope and perseverance.
Prince EA - What is School For? Kandice Sumner - How America's Public Schools Keep Kids in Poverty
Why should a good education be exclusive to rich kids? Schools in low-income neighborhoods across the US, specifically in communities of color, lack resources that are standard at wealthier schools - things like musical instruments, new books, healthy school lunches and soccer fields - and this has a real impact on the potential of students. Kandice Sumner sees the disparity every day in her classroom in Boston. In this inspiring talk, she asks us to face facts - and change them.
Noah Tavlin - How False News Can Spread
Dive into the phenomenon known as circular reporting and how it contributes to the spread of false news and misinformation.
Stephanie Buari - How Fake News Does Real Harm
On April 14, 2014, the terrorist organization Boko Haram kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls from the town of Chibok, Nigeria. Around the world, the crime became epitomized by the slogan #BringBackOurGirls - but in Nigeria, government officials called the crime a hoax, confusing and delaying efforts to rescue the girls. In this powerful talk, journalist Stephanie Busari points to the Chibok tragedy to explain the deadly danger of fake news and what we can do to stop it.
Asha de Vos - Why You Should Care About Whale Poo
Whales have a surprising and important job, says marine biologist Asha de Vos: these massive creatures are ecosystem engineers, keeping the oceans healthy and stable by ... well, by pooping, for a start. Learn from de Vos, a TED Fellow, about the undervalued work that whales do to help maintain the stability and health of our seas - and our planet.
Jarrett J - Krosoczka - Why Lunch Ladies are Heroes
Children's book author Jarrett Krosoczka shares the origins of the Lunch Lady graphic novel series, in which undercover school heroes serve lunch...and justice! His new project, School Lunch Hero Day, reveals how cafeteria lunch staff provide more than food, and illustrates how powerful a thank you can be.
Gene Luen Yang - Comics Belong in the Classroom
Comic books and graphic novels belong in every teacher's toolkit, says cartoonist and educator Gene Luen Yang. Set against the backdrop of his own witty, colorful drawings, Yang explores the history of comics in American education - and reveals some unexpected insights about their potential for helping kids learn.
McKenna Pope - Want to Be an Activist? Start with Your Toys.
McKenna Pope's younger brother loved to cook, but he worried about using an Easy-Bake Oven - because it was a toy for girls. So at age 13, Pope started an online petition for the American toy company Hasbro to change the pink-and-purple color scheme on the classic toy and incorporate boys into its TV marketing. In a heartening talk, Pope makes the case for gender-neutral toys and gives a rousing call to action to all kids who feel powerless.
Zak Ebrahim - I am the Son of a Terrorist. Here's How I Chose Peace.
If you're raised on dogma and hate, can you choose a different path? Zak Ebrahim was just seven years old when his father helped plan the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. His story is shocking, powerful and, ultimately, inspiring.
Kakenya Ntaiya - A Girl Who Demanded School
Kakenya Ntaiya made a deal with her father: She would undergo a traditional Maasai rite of passage, female circumcision, if he would let her go to high school. Ntaiya tells the fearless story of continuing on to college, and of working with her village elders to build a school for girls in her community, changing the destiny of 125 young women.
Shabana Basij-Raiskh - Dare to Educate Afghan Girls
Imagine a country where girls must sneak out to go to school, with deadly consequences if they get caught learning. This was Afghanistan under the Taliban, and traces of that danger remain today. 22-year-old Shabana Basij-Rasikh runs a school for girls in Afghanistan. She celebrates the power of a family's decision to believe in their daughters - and tells the story of one brave father who stood up to local threats.
Monique W. Morris - Why Black Girls Are Targeted for Punishment in Schools - And How to Change That
Around the world, black girls are being pushed out of schools because of policies that target them for punishment, says author and social justice scholar Monique W. Morris. The result: countless girls are forced into unsafe futures with restricted opportunities. How can we put an end to this crisis? In an impassioned talk, Morris uncovers the causes of "pushout" and shows how we can work to turn all schools into spaces where black girls can heal and thrive.
India Hawkins - Facing the Real Me: Looking in the Mirror with Natural Hair
Growing up, 18-year-old India Hawkins was taught how to maintain her hair, but not how to love her hair. A tangled history of political oppression, irresponsible advertising and unattainable beauty standards meant she spent her childhood using chemicals, heat, and protective styling to "manage" the hair that grew naturally from her head. Until one day India decided to "go natural." But she was in for a shock; India never knew how much she was hiding behind her hair, until the day she cut it all off. In her Talk, India describes the emotional sometimes difficult journey that led her to love her hair.
Haaziq Kazi - Cleaning Our Oceans
When 11-year-old Haaziq Kazi first prototyped his invention to clean plastic from the surface of the ocean, it lasted for about 7 seconds before coming apart in his bathtub. But that didn't stop him! In fact, his invention just got better and more elaborate. In this Talk, Haaziq's enthusiasm and creativity remind us that, when it comes to solving some of earth's biggest problems, our imagination may be one of our greatest assets.
Susan Cain - The Power of Introverts
In a culture where being social and outgoing are prized above all else, it can be difficult, even shameful, to be an introvert. But, as Susan Cain argues in this passionate talk, introverts bring extraordinary talents and abilities to the world, and should be encouraged and celebrated.
Drew Dudley - Everyday Leadership
We have all changed someone's life - usually without even realizing it. In this funny talk, Drew Dudley calls on all of us to celebrate leadership as the everyday act of improving each other's lives.
Matt Cutts - Try Something New for 30 Days
Is there something you've always meant to do, wanted to do, but just ... haven't? Matt Cutts suggests: Try it for 30 days. This short, lighthearted talk offers a neat way to think about setting and achieving goals.
Shane Koyczan - To This Day
By turn hilarious and haunting, poet Shane Koyczan puts his finger on the pulse of what it's like to be young and ... different. "To This Day," his spoken-word poem about bullying, captivated millions as a viral video (created, crowd-source style, by 80 animators). Here, he gives a glorious, live reprise with backstory and violin accompaniment by Hannah Epperson.
Ash Beckham - We're All Hiding Something
In this touching talk, Ash Beckham offers a fresh approach to empathy and openness. It starts with understanding that everyone, at some point in their life, has experienced hardship. The only way out, says Beckham, is to open the door and step out of your closet.
Proud to Be (Mascots)
Watch the #BigGame commercial the NFL would never air.
Indigenous in New York
Where does history begin? New York's infamous Columbus Circle memorializes the founding of a new world and perpetuates the myth of American exceptionalism, while denying the violence against Indigenous people-a will to ignorance. With a crew of Natives, we asked over 100 New Yorkers to identify the "origin" of our Native models to understand where contemporary Native lives exist in popular consciousness. The indigenous story is more accurate and a story that we all deserve to hear. Let us begin to write and speak a healing narrative that honors Native people, let us get to know each other, let us hug each other-you can and should #HugANative today.
Ron Finlay: A Guerrilla Gardener in South Central LA
Ron Finley plants vegetable gardens in South Central LA - in abandoned lots, traffic medians, along the curbs. Why? For fun, for defiance, for beauty and to offer some alternative to fast food in a community where "the drive-thrus are killing more people than the drive-bys."
Sugatra Mitra - Kids Can Teach Themselves
Speaking at LIFT 2007, Sugata Mitra talks about his Hole in the Wall project. Young kids in this project figured out how to use a PC on their own - and then taught other kids. He asks, what else can children teach themselves?
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - The Danger of a Single Story
Our lives, our cultures, are composed of many overlapping stories. Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice - and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding.
Ismael Nazario - What I Learned as a Kid in Jail
As a teenager, Ismael Nazario was sent to New York's Rikers Island jail, where he spent 300 days in solitary confinement - all before he was ever convicted of a crime. Now as a prison reform advocate he works to change the culture of American jails and prisons, where young people are frequently subjected to violence beyond imagination. Nazario tells his chilling story and suggests ways to help, rather than harm, teens in jail.
Joy Buolamwini - How I'm Fighting Bias in Algorithms
MIT grad student Joy Buolamwini was working with facial analysis software when she noticed a problem: the software didn't detect her face - because the people who coded the algorithm hadn't taught it to identify a broad range of skin tones and facial structures. Now she's on a mission to fight bias in machine learning, a phenomenon she calls the "coded gaze." It's an eye-opening talk about the need for accountability in coding ... as algorithms take over more and more aspects of our lives.
Stacy Smith - The Data Behind Hollywood's Sexism
Where are all the women and girls in film? Social scientist Stacy Smith analyzes how the media underrepresents and portrays women - and the potentially destructive effects those portrayals have on viewers. She shares hard data behind gender bias in Hollywood, where on-screen males outnumber females three to one (and behind-the-camera workers fare even worse.)
George Takei - Why I Love a Country that Once Betrayed Me
When he was a child, George Takei and his family were forced into an internment camp for Japanese-Americans, as a "security" measure during World War II. 70 years later, Takei looks back at how the camp shaped his surprising, personal definition of patriotism and democracy.
Judge Helen Whitener - Claiming Your Identity Michaela Horn - Teen Stress From a Teen Perspective
A simple experiment to discover what stresses high school students leads to disturbing results that soon become a story on their own. Michaela Horn shares her journey, results, and the alarming turn of events that unfolded.
Mac Barnett - Why a Good Book is a Secret Door
Childhood is surreal. Why shouldn't children's books be? In this whimsical talk, award-winning author Mac Barnett speaks about writing that escapes the page, art as a doorway to wonder - and what real kids say to a fictional whale.
Brene Brown - The Power of Vulnerability
Brené Brown studies human connection - our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity. A talk to share.
Kids on Race "Because I'm Latino, I Can't Have Money?"
Hear some straight talk from middle-schoolers about race and what it's like to grow up in such racially charged times.
Michael Jr - Know Your Why
Comedian Michael Jr. goes Off the Cuff at live comedy show and uses this completely improv moment as a great illustration for knowing your why and purpose in life. See what happens after he asks if he can sing...
Charlie Todd - The Shared Experience of Absurdity
Charlie Todd causes bizarre, hilarious, and unexpected public scenes: Seventy synchronized dancers in storefront windows, "ghostbusters" running through the New York Public Library, and the annual no-pants subway ride. His group, Improv Everywhere, uses these scenes to bring people together.
Phil Hansen - Embrace the Shake
In art school, Phil Hansen developed an unruly tremor in his hand that kept him from creating the pointillist drawings he loved. Hansen was devastated, floating without a sense of purpose. Until a neurologist made a simple suggestion: embrace this limitation ... and transcend it.
Ed Thomas - What Will Be Your Legacy?
A short documentary for the 2010 ESPN Espy awards. This year the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage was presented to Ed Thomas and family of Parkersburg, Iowa.
Derek Sivers - How to Start a Movement
With help from some surprising footage, Derek Sivers explains how movements really get started. (Hint: it takes two.)
Maya Penn - Meet a Young Entrepreneur, Cartoonist, Designer, Activist
Maya Penn started her first company when she was 8 years old, and thinks deeply about how to be responsible both to her customers and to the planet. She shares her story - and some animations, and some designs, and some infectious energy - in this charming talk.
Adora Svitak - What Adults Can Learn From Kids
Child prodigy Adora Svitak says the world needs "childish" thinking: bold ideas, wild creativity and especially optimism. Kids' big dreams deserve high expectations, she says, starting with grownups' willingness to learn from children as much as to teach.
Rita Pierson - Every Kid Needs a Champion
Rita Pierson, a teacher for 40 years, once heard a colleague say, "They don't pay me to like the kids." Her response: "Kids don't learn from people they don't like.'" A rousing call to educators to believe in their students and actually connect with them on a real, human, personal level.
Richard Turere - My Invention that Made Peace With Lions
In the Maasai community where Richard Turere lives with his family, cattle are all-important. But lion attacks were growing more frequent. In this short, inspiring talk, the young inventor shares the solar-powered solution he designed to safely scare the lions away.
Fernando Pérez - The Importance of Bearing Witness
The importance of listening, and validating the stories of others, is demonstrated through an intimate look at Pérez's great-grandmother who emigrated from Mexico to the U.S. and moved to Los Angeles in the 1920s
Paul Nicklen - Animal Tales from Icy Wonderlands
Diving under the Antarctic ice to get close to the much-feared leopard seal, photographer Paul Nicklen found an extraordinary new friend. Share his hilarious, passionate stories of the polar wonderlands, illustrated by glorious images of the animals who live on and under the ice.
Simon Sinek - Start With Why Cole Plante - Getting Started as a DJ
DJ and producer Cole Plante is only 17 years old, but he's already worked alongside industry superstars Skrillex, Avicii and Major Lazer (to name just a few). In this combination talk and DJ set, Plante shows off his mixing magic and gives tips to aspiring DJs.
CM Hall - Social Justice...In a Cookie
The social justice issue no one is talking about...
I, Pencil: The Movie Beau Lotto & Amy O'Toole - Science is for Everyone
What do science and play have in common? Neuroscientist Beau Lotto thinks all people (kids included) should participate in science and, through the process of discovery, change perceptions. He's seconded by 12-year-old Amy O'Toole, who, along with 25 of her classmates, published the first peer-reviewed article by schoolchildren, about the Blackawton bees project. It starts: "Once upon a time ... "
Joseph Lekuton - A Parable for Kenya
Joseph Lekuton, a member of parliament in Kenya, starts with the story of his remarkable education, then offers a parable of how Africa can grow. His message of hope has never been more relevant.
Vivian Connell - The Monti Video Series
After learning of her terminal illness, Vivian Connell sets out to take her ESL class to the Holocaust Museum.
Suki Kim - This is What It's Like to Go Undercover in North Korea
For six months, Suki Kim worked as an English teacher at an elite school for North Korea's future leaders - while writing a book on one of the world's most repressive regimes. As she helped her students grapple with concepts like "truth" and "critical thinking," she came to wonder: Was teaching these students to seek the truth putting them in peril?
Kelvin Doe - Building a Radio
THNKR is proud to present the next chapter in the riveting story of 15-Year-Old engineering prodigy Kelvin Doe. THNKR has exclusive access to Kelvin as he returns to the United States to deliver a riveting talk at TedxTeen and grapples with the impact of newfound YouTube superstardom.
Kevin Alloca - Why Videos Go Viral
Kevin Allocca is YouTube's Head of Culture & Trends, and he has deep thoughts about silly web video. In this talk from TEDYouth, he shares the 4 reasons a video goes viral.
Pamela Meyer - How to Spot a Liar
On any given day we're lied to from 10 to 200 times, and the clues to detect those lies can be subtle and counter-intuitive. Pamela Meyer, author of Liespotting, shows the manners and "hotspots" used by those trained to recognize deception - and she argues honesty is a value worth preserving.
Ann Makosinski - Why I Don't Use a Smartphone
Imagine all the things you can do...off of your phone. Parents be warned.
Cameron Russell - Looks Aren't Everything. Believe Me, I'm a Model
Cameron Russell admits she won "a genetic lottery": she's tall, pretty and an underwear model. But don't judge her by her looks. In this fearless talk, she takes a wry look at the industry that had her looking highly seductive at barely 16 years old.
Grace Lin - The Windows and Mirrors of Your Child's Bookshelf
What your child reads sets the path for their own self-worth as well as how they see others. Grace Lin is a children's book author/illustrator whose book, "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon," received the Newbery Book Honor. She shows how the books that are not on your child's bookshelf are just as important as those that are.
Clint Smith - The Danger of Silence
"We spend so much time listening to the things people are saying that we rarely pay attention to the things they don't," says poet and teacher Clint Smith. A short, powerful piece from the heart, about finding the courage to speak up against ignorance and injustice.
Lindsay Malloy - Why Teens Confess to Crimes They Didn't Commit
Why do juveniles falsely confess to crimes? What makes them more vulnerable than adults to this shocking, counterintuitive phenomenon? Through the lens of Brendan Dassey's interrogation and confession (as featured in Netflix's "Making a Murderer" documentary), developmental psychology professor and researcher Lindsay Malloy breaks down the science underlying false confessions and calls for change in the way kids are treated by a legal system designed for adults.
Laura Rovner - what Happens to People in Solitary Confinement
Imagine living with no significant human contact for years, even decades, in a cell the size of a small bathroom. This is the reality for those in long-term solitary confinement, a form of imprisonment regularly imposed in US prisons. In this eye-opening talk, civil rights lawyer Laura Rovner takes us to ADX, the US federal government's only supermax prison, and describes the dehumanizing effects of long-term solitude on the mind, personality and sense of self. What emerges is an urgent case for abolishing solitary confinement - and evidence for how our tax dollars, public safety and values are implicated in it. "Prisons are administered in our name and on our behalf," she says. "We have an obligation to bear witness."
Aaron Huey - America's Native Prisoner of War Camps
Aaron Huey's effort to photograph poverty in America led him to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, where the struggle of the native Lakota people - appalling, and largely ignored - compelled him to refocus. Five years of work later, his haunting photos intertwine with a shocking history lesson.
Bryan Stevenson - We Need to Talk about an Injustice
In an engaging and personal talk - with cameo appearances from his grandmother and Rosa Parks - human rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson shares some hard truths about America's justice system, starting with a massive imbalance along racial lines: a third of the country's black male population has been incarcerated at some point in their lives. These issues, which are wrapped up in America's unexamined history, are rarely talked about with this level of candor, insight and persuasiveness.
David R. Williams - How Racism Makes Us Sick
Why does race matter so profoundly for health? David R. Williams developed a scale to measure the impact of discrimination on well-being, going beyond traditional measures like income and education to reveal how factors like implicit bias, residential segregation and negative stereotypes create and sustain inequality. In this eye-opening talk, Williams presents evidence for how racism is producing a rigged system - and offers hopeful examples of programs across the US that are working to dismantle discrimination.

I know there are many more incredible videos out there to use, I know I discover new ones every year and have missed many here. So leave your favorite in the comments, and again, thank you to all who contributed to this list.

If you are wondering where I will be in the coming year or would like to have me speak, please see this page. I offer up workshops and presentations both live and virtually that are based on the work I do with my own students as we pursue engaging, personalized, and independent learning opportunities. I also write more about the design of my classroom and how to give control of their learning back to students in my first book, Passionate Learners.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Great TED Talks to Use With Middle Schoolers and Other Ages Too

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
I wanted to immerse my students in thought provoking TED Talks and videos as one of the new options in our final round of "Choose Your Own Learning." Watching these videos will allow us to continue the work we have done all year on expanding our world view and discussing "Whose Voices are Missing?"

# data[].attributes.headline
Podcasts to expand knowledge and vocabulary

# data[].attributes.subject
Podcasts to expand knowledge and vocabulary

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
If you haven't thought about how you might use podcasts in your teaching, take note: A 2019 study found that over 50% of people in the U.S. age 12 and up have listened to a podcast. In addition, podcast listening among young people age 12-24 increased 48% from 2017 to 2019. This fresh, engaging medium has gone mainstream and can be a great addition to your lessons.

There are lots of benefits to using podcasts in the classroom. For one, podcasts are free. Plus, you can find podcasts on nearly every topic, from science questions to lesser-known history, and in nearly every genre, from short fiction to in-depth journalism. And, as the popularity of podcasts continues to grow, more creators are focusing on content for young people. So why not give podcasts a try?

To help you get started, we've put together a list of our favorite podcasts for the classroom. We took our best guess for the target grades since we couldn't listen to every episode. Use the grade recommendations as a guide, and age them up or down as needed. Some content in these podcasts can be mature, so always preview the episodes before you share them with students.

Grades K-5
Kids are always asking seemingly simple questions that have surprisingly complex answers, such as "Why is the sky blue?" and "Who invented words?" This cute biweekly radio show/podcast takes on answering them. Each episode features several kid-submitted questions, usually on a single theme, and with the help of experts, it gives clear, interesting answers.

Grades K-5
Wow in the World takes kids (and their grown-ups) on a journey fueled by curiosity and wonder. In this weekly show, hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz explore the science behind topics kids will love -- from singing mice and wombat poop to the amazing power of a dog's nose. Teachers can get access to classroom activities and conversation starters with a membership to Tinkercast, the company that produces Wow in the World. Plus, in response to the school closures due to the coronavirus pandemic, the creators launched a spin-off podcast called Two Whats?! and a Wow, an interactive, science-based game show with daily 10-minute episodes.

Grades 1-6
Similar to But Why, this is another podcast that takes kid-submitted science questions and answers them with the help of experts. What makes this one different is that it tends to skew a bit older, both in its questions and answers, and it has a different kid co-host each week. The result is a fun show that's as silly as it is educational. Teachers can encourage students to take one of the topics and research it more completely or to use it as a jumping-off point for science experiments and research-related questions.

Inspire young writers with this innovative series in which award-winning children's authors interview a kid or tween with a great story idea, and then write and read aloud a story inspired by the kid's idea. Kids can submit a "story seed" on the podcast's website and join The Story Seeds Society to get writing prompts and inspiration.

Grades 3-6
Often compared to a kid-friendly Radiolab, this podcast not only addresses fascinating topics but also tries to foster a love of science itself by interviewing scientists about their process and discoveries. The hosts don't assume that listeners have a science background -- but even kids who think they don't like science may change their minds after listening to this podcast. Teaching materials for the episodes are available for purchase on the podcast's website.

History meets humor in this silly series that introduces little-known stories (like the origin of Typhoid Mary) and unsung heroes from the past. There's even a quiz at the end of every episode to test how well kids have paid attention.

Grades 3-8
This fun and fast-moving spin-off of the popular Brains On! podcast is a kid-friendly debate podcast. A kid judge listens to and scores the rousing, fact-based arguments of two contestants. With episodes like "Piranhas vs. Venus Flytraps" and "Pizza versus Tacos," kids will be hooked, and they won't even notice that they're learning how to defend their ideas along the way. Use Smash Boom Best in a persuasive writing or speech unit, or as a fun addition to your science or history class!

Grades 5-8
This excellent biweekly podcast features middle schoolers talking about a popular middle-grade or YA book as well as sharing their favorite book recommendations. Public radio figure Kitty Felde runs the discussion, and each episode includes a passage of that week's book read by a celebrity guest.

Grades 6-12
This Peabody award-winning radio series/podcast delivers scientific ideas in a creative, innovative way. The episodes are a joy to listen to, with a great deal of emphasis put on sound design in addition to the hosts' clever banter. Teachers of science, math, ELA, and other subjects can use full episodes or segments as prompts to get kids thinking or to kick off a discussion. Some episodes feature strong language, so be sure to preview them before sharing with students.

Part of the New York Times' Pulitzer Prize-winning project observing the 400th anniversary of American slavery, this audio series is challenging, thought-provoking, and an essential resource for teaching about the history and legacy of slavery. Consider pairing the series with The 1619 Project Curriculum from the Pulitzer Center.

Another excellent resource for learning about race and culture, this NPR podcast looks at news and history through a multiracial, multigenerational, and multicultural lens. Although some episodes might not be appropriate for younger students, the creators of the podcast have created a playlist of kid-friendly episodes.
Frannie Ucciferri contributed to this article.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
19 Great Learning Podcasts for the Classroom | Common Sense Education

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Add diverse voices and fresh content to your lessons with free, high-quality podcasts.

# data[].attributes.headline
This I Believe Website (collecting short essays)

# data[].attributes.subject
This I Believe Website (collecting short essays)

# data[].attributes.body
Students choose an article, read, write thoughts and jot a few words to discuss.

# data[].attributes.body
This can be used to choose students to share a word and define or discuss. You can also list vocabulary words on the wheel, spin and have kids jot, draw or orally define.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Enter names, spin wheel to pick a random winner. Customize look and feel, save and share wheels.

# data[].attributes.body
Students write a vocabulary word on a piece of paper and then crumple it up into a "snowball". Throw the paper and everyone picks up a different snowball. Student can define the word and provide a sentence or decide to give clues so that others can guess. May be easier to do in partnerships or small groups.