10/2/2020: Kamala Harris' Supreme Court hearing participation could be unprecedented - Stranger answers call to get Chromebooks to Baltimore teacher’s students

Today's Article: Kamala Harris' Supreme Court hearing participation could be unprecedented
From: ABC News
Readability Score: 11.7

Kamala Harris poised for unprecedented SCOTUS role

Click here to view the entire article and classroom discussion questions:
https://www.izzit.org/events/index.php

Today's Alternate Article: Stranger answers call to get Chromebooks to Baltimore teacher’s students
Readability Score: 7.0 

8/3/2020: Miami Police Setting Up 'Mask Traps,' Issuing $100 Fines - Back to School: The New Normal?

Today's Article: Miami Police Setting Up 'Mask Traps,' Issuing $100 Fines
From: Reason.com
Readability Score: 11.8

Should police issue tickets to those not wearing masks?

Click here to view the entire article and classroom discussion questions:
https://www.izzit.org/events/index.php

Today's Alternate Article: Back to School: The New Normal?
Readability Score: 9.2

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4/8/2020: Trump weakens fuel economy standards, rolling back key U.S. effort against climate change - Olympics Cancellation

Today's Article: Trump weakens fuel economy standards, rolling back key U.S. effort against climate change
From: The Los Angeles Times
Readability Score: 14.1

President Trump's EPA has relaxed some tough auto emission standards from the Obama administration. Instead of hitting 5% efficiency improvement each year, automakers will now be given a more modest goal of 1.5% annually. Is this a good or bad decision? Who gains, and who loses? Today's article will provide arguments for both; it is also useful as an analysis of objectivity in reporting.

Click here to view the entire article and classroom discussion questions:
https://www.izzit.org/events/index.php

Today's Alternate Article: Olympics Cancellation
Readability Score: 8.1

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3/30/2020: Philly schools forbid graded ‘remote instruction’ during shutdown - Teachers find many obstacles to learning amid shutdowns

Today's Article: Philly schools forbid graded ‘remote instruction’ during shutdown
From: whyy.org
Readability Score: 11.5

What happens when schools can't deliver instruction or students can't receive it? What's fair and who decides?

Click here to view the entire article and classroom discussion questions:
https://www.izzit.org/events/index.php

Today's Alternate Article: Teachers find many obstacles to learning amid shutdowns
Readability Score: 9.5

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More Helpful Tips for Parents & Educators Who Will Be Educating Kids Remotely Due to the Coronavirus Situation By Susan Gable

With more schools going to remote (online) learning because of the Coronavirus, we wanted to offer some help! Here are some things we've found that can help both parents and teachers during this time period. This is a good time to show kids that learning isn't just for in-school, or as directed by their teachers. Learning is everywhere and all the time. Here are some great places for you to find online opportunities for your kids.

Make sure students can access the internet!

Comcast is Offering 60 Days of Free Internet Access and Increased Speeds to Low-Income Customers

The U.S. Constitution & Black History  A FREE online course that explores how changes to the laws via Constitutional amendments and Supreme Court Cases impacted the history of black Americans.  (Your student will receive a certificate upon completion of the course at the email they sign up with. Ages 13 and older.)

Current Events – 2 lessons with vocabulary words and higher-level discussion questions each school day. (Or what would be school days under normal circumstances!) Engage your students with what's going on in the world. (Must be signed in to a FREE izzit.org account to view/use the lessons.)

Scholastic Learn at Home – PreK – Grade 6+

National Geographic Kids  

iCivics

Khan Academy   

Udemy Inexpensive courses (look for sales!) to learn all kinds of things, from economics and American History, to graphic design or Excel.  

Open Culture Online Courses – Listing of free online education courses from universities around the world. 

Academic Earth – Another site with listings of free online college courses.

 

Duolingo – This is a free app for online or your cell phone that allows you to study foreign languages, from Spanish and German to Japanese and even Klingon. It simultaneously immerses the learner in reading, writing, and speaking the language. (Seriously, this is FUN! Try it out.) 

How about a virtual field trip to a museum? Here's an article with links to 12 Famous Museums that you can explore without actually leaving home.