Few people can sit down and start writing. Most of us hem and haw as we mentally walk through how to get from introduction to conclusion. It’s called ‘prewriting’ and students are no different. Where they diverge from you and I is they haven’t tested all the available methods for planning a story, constructing non-fiction, or building the evidence-based argument. It’s up to us–as their teachers–to introduce these alternatives so they can pick one best suited to their learning and communication style.

Disclaimer: These are presented in random order because what works for your students will depend upon the writing method used in your school, whether its the 6+1 Traits, Common Core Writing Standards, or the tried-and-true who-what-when-where-why.

Brainstorm/Mindmap

Brainstorming, also called ‘mindmapping’, is a collaborative visual approach to thinking through and presenting ideas. It enables students to come up with many ideas without worrying about whether it’s realistic. It’s great for collaborative writing, notetaking, or an individual effort.

Here are basics for brainstorming in the classroom:

• There are no wrong answers.
• Get as many ideas as possible.
• Don’t evaluate ideas–just record them.
• Build on the suggestions of others.
• Stress quantity over quality–get as many ideas as possible. Sort them later.

There are many online tools that facilitate this process. If you’re looking for a webtool, try one from this list. (more…)

As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff, how to solve problems. I’ll share these with you. They’re always brief and focused. Enjoy!

I was helping one of the faculty at my school. She couldn’t print a document (server problems) so I suggested she email it to herself at home and print it there. She started going online to her Yahoo account and I stopped her. Click the email tool on the Word toolbar. She was so excited–an epiphany! What fun to share that with her. She was so happy about it, I’m going to email it to all the teachers in the school (I’m the tech teacher). (more…)

The greatest accolade given the Naval Academy was by the North Vietnamese commander Major Bui to captured John Sidney McCain III, USNA class of ’58 when he said, “They have taught you too well, McCain! They have taught you too well.”

You don’t have to be a third generation applicant, son and grandson of a four-star Admiral and future presidential nominee to be one of the 10% of applicants who lands a coveted spot in the Naval Academy, but you do need a plan. That’s the first secret. Plan. Here are eight more:

1. Compare yourself against the bare bones requirements here. Is that you? Now check the ‘average student’  here. Still in the running? Even if it’s not you right now, could it be in four years? If so, you’re half way there.
2. Know this is where you want to go. Research your options. A good checklist for comparing schools is available in the book, or create your own. Just do it so when you’ve made a decision, you know it’s right.
3. Look at the long To Do list and understand they must be done. It includes not just becoming physically/mentally fit, but getting a Congressional nomination, passing a physical examination, working with the Blue and Gold officer, filling out piles of forms, possibly attending several sessions at the Academy to be sure you’re right. Accept that. It may interfere with other High School duties, but that’s the Academy way. They want to see how many balls you can juggle at once and still come out with applause. It’s doable and you can be that person. There’s a checklist in the workbook I used (Building a Midshipman) that makes it easy to complete everything, but be ready: It’s quite long.
4. Make a resume. Yes, you’re young, but if you don’t start it now, you’ll forget that when you were in eighth grade, you won the Science Fair, and when you were a freshman, you were the #1 violinist at the area orchestra competition. There’s a sample in the book that can help you.
5. Are you a mix of physical/mental/verbal? You don’t have to be the best in any one category, but a Navy Officer requires all three. You have to be physically fit, mentally sharp and able to communicate your thoughts and ideas. Some schools just want one or two. The Navy challenge: You must have all three.
6. Keep trying. The Naval Academy values people who follow through even when they’re failing, even when there isn’t enough time (think about preparing for Pearl Harbor–did they have as much time as they needed), especially if it means working under pressure (like every battle America has ever been in). That ability to work through problems and stress is as important as the 4.0 and ASB President that Ivy Leagues want.
7. Follow through. Once you’re in the application stage, send the information the Admissions Office requests, then follow through to be sure it got there. They have a handy update feature you can check or use the one in the workbook. Your goal is to be sure they think you’re in the same spot you think you are.
8. Start now.

The biggest secret: Believe you can do it. Anything you can believe and conceive, you can achieve. Set your GPS to ‘USNA’ and get going. (more…)

Every year, the United Nations recognizes April 22nd as International Mother Earth Day. It is a day we all participate in making our air clean, water fresh and land unlittered rather than accepting the trash-filled oceans, the smoggy skies, and the debris-laden land that is becoming the norm.

Despite the questionable health of our world, we have made progress. Back in 1970, when Earth Day was first celebrated, trucks spewed black smoke as they drove down the highways, toxic waste was dumped into oceans with no repercussions, and the general opinion was that the Earth took care of itself. That changed when U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, Earth Day’s founder, witnessed the ravages of the 1969 massive oil spill in Santa Barbara California and decided it was time to do something. He started with a “national teach-in on the environment” with a simple goal: Encourage people to recognize the importance of protecting the Earth:

“It was on that day [Earth Day] that Americans made it clear they understood and were deeply concerned over the deterioration of our environment and the mindless dissipation of our resources.”

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As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff, how to solve problems. Each Tuesday, I’ll share one of those with you. They’re always brief and always focused. Enjoy!

This week’s tip: I’m supposed to find a tool on the toolbar, but there are so many and I have no idea what they are for? It’s just as bunch of pictures to me. Is there an easy way to figure this out?

A: To figure out what a tool does on the toolbar, hover your mouse over the tool (place the mouse above it without clicking). A tool tip will appear with a clue as to what it’s for.

This works in any program with a toolbar or ribbon–MS Office, the internet, Photoshop, and more.

If you’d like to add screentips (tips that appear when you hover over a word in a document), check out this video:

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Financial Literacy Month is recognized annually in Canada in November, and the United States in April. It’s purpose: to teach how to establish and maintain healthy financial habits.

When kids read America’s almost $40 trillion debt (update by clicking image):

is ‘business as usual’ for many, I wonder how that news will affect their children. Do they understand the consequences of unbalanced budgets? The quandary of infinite wants vs. finite dollars? Or do they think money grows on some fiscal tree that always blooms? The good news is: Half the nation’s schools require a financial literacy course. The bad new is: Only half require a financial literacy course.

If your school doesn’t teach personal economics but would like to, there are many online sites that address the topic as mini-lessons. Some are narrative; others games. Here are some I like. See if one suits you (check here for updates on links):

1. BizKids–games to teach business and finance
2. Cash Crunch–games for youngers and olders (HS and college)
3. Financial Literacy Games for Students
4. Financial Literacy Quizzes–in a variety of financial topics for high schoolers
5. General Financial Literacy Course
6. Living Wage–what’s it cost to survive–by state, cities, counties
7. Personal Finance for MS
8. Personal Finance Lab–stock market game
9. Practical Money Skills
10. Spent
11. Stock Market Game

Curriculum

1. Banzai
2. Budget Challenge
3. EverFi–course in financial literacy for high schoolers
4. Financial Literacy for High School Students–a course
5. General Financial Literacy Course–an online course in meeting financial literacy needs
6. Next Gen Personal Finance

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Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-12 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, and author of the tech thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days. You can find her resources at Structured Learning.

Here are the most-read posts last month:

It’s a little short this month because I was out of town for a few weeks:

1. 16 Tech Problems Every 5th Grader Can Solve
2. 40+ Visual Learning Options for your PBL
3. Celebrate Pi Day and Maths Day

Here’s a preview of what’s coming up:

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A lot of teacher-authors read both my Ask a Tech Teacher education blog and my writer’s blog, WordDreams. In this monthly column, I share a popular post from the past month: 

Casey, my beautiful, beloved Labrador is finally four, out of the Terrible Twos and the Threatening Threes. He’s our fourth lab, and by far our most problematic. Here’s what I mean:

At two, he was diagnosed with elbow dysplasia which is like hip dysplasia but in the arms. That requires ongoing treatment which should be mild until he’s older. Then, we’ll see.

At three, he developed broken ACLs in both legs. This required four surgeries, big metal plates in both legs, bone grafts in the left, a special diet, a panoply of medications (to treat that and related symptoms), and a whole lot of personalized help with every part of Casey’s day. (more…)

One lesson I’ve learned in my long teaching career is that students benefit when teachers and parents work together. They achieve more, get better grades, and experience greater success upon graduation. Not only that, their behavior overall is better, their attendance more reliable, their self-esteem higher, and their social skills soar.

That’s a lot to take in. The Ask a Tech Teacher team breaks this down into bite sized goals:

How Teachers and Parents Can Work Together to Support Student Well-Being

Student well-being is not shaped by one person alone. It grows through daily support, small conversations, and the feeling that the adults in a child’s life are paying attention. When teachers and parents work together, students are more likely to feel understood, supported, and safe. That matters not only for emotional health, but also for learning. The CDC notes that students who feel connected at school are less likely to face certain mental health risks, and that sense of connection can have lasting effects on health and well-being.

It helps to remember that student well-being is not just about preventing crises. It is also about helping children feel steady enough to learn, ask questions, recover from setbacks, and build confidence over time. Some students show stress openly. Others do not. A student may still be getting good grades and quietly feel overwhelmed. That is why strong communication between home and school matters so much. (more…)

Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching.

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4-22-26 through 4-27-26

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