It was once common practice for students to be graded in the area of “penmanship,” as children labored over lined paper to replicate their teachers’ cursive Qs and Zs. This was before computers became regular learning tools in the classroom, and since then, some schools have been making the decision to stop teaching cursive writing.Education News reports that this change is …

This blog was originally published on Finding Common Ground at Education Week by Peter DeWitt on October 21, 2012 6:27PM

Peter DeWitt (@PeterMDeWitt) is an elementary principal in upstate, New York. He blogs at Finding Common Ground for Education Week and is the author of 

October is National Book Month: a time to celebrate great books and emphasize reading in and beyond the classroom. To recognize National Book Month, and to promote avid reading in students, Teach.com is proud to present, for the second time, our Summer Reading Flowchart! Reading is a journey, and as you commemorate your favorite works of literature and encourage your students to become more active readers, let our Flowchart be your map. But we’re doing more than just re-launching our Summer Reading Flowchart! In response to the many inquiries we received after the wild success of Flowchart back in June, we’re offering the Summer Reading Flowchart as a limited edition poster for 50 exceptional teachers who are taking their passion for education beyond the classroom through blogs or social media. Each lucky teacher will receive …

Many teachers feel the need to supplement their income, often assuming part-time employment in addition to full-time teaching careers. But according to Education News, teachers have begun finding ways to profit from their existing curriculum and materials that they have created for classroom use. They are selling them online, and this practice is gaining momentum. Not only are teachers able to earn a little extra income, they are able to purchase materials that are less costly simply by purchasing them fr…

Peter DeWitt (@PeterMDeWitt) is an elementary principal in upstate, New York. He blogs at Finding Common Ground for Education Week and is the author of Dignity for All: Safeguarding LGBT Students (Corwin Press). He can be found at www.petermdewitt.com. Teach.com is thrilled to welcome Peter…

October 16 is Dictionary Day, a national celebration of words and grammar in honor of Noah Webster, one of the founders of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Born on October 16, 1758, Webster was a prodigious lexicographer, political writer and editor, and has often been called the father of American scholarship and education for his contributions to spelling and grammar. The Merriam-Webster Dictio…