A visual rubric in the multicultural classroom.

This visual rubric is obviously a bit elementary but I think it is a clever way to offer assessment on a visual basis (and it is certainly appropriate for the elementary level). For the secondary level it could be useful in communicating how you are grading a student with a language barrier.

Source: This image came from a great art education website I found. Check it out.http://www.thesmartteacher.com/

Your Place or Mine?

While much of the subject matter of Your Place or Mine is seemingly "old hat" (at least when it comes to classroom content), there are some excellent ideas/subjects brought up worth focusing on. Foremost, the aspect of making collaborative and interdepartmental cooperation more within reach. The article suggests utilizing the time saving convenience of giving a learner a picture book to read on their own time, and from the multiple themes of an appropriately selected book, teaching lessons in multiple subjects from the various themes. I feel this intense examination of one book in multiple subject lessons would be a good lesson in itself. This could teach students to examine and re-examine something in every frame of mind possible, extracting all possible ideas from a resource.

Another noteworthy discussion within the article is the relationship between the learner and their local community/environment. The article phrased it perfectly, "...promote the reading of the word and the reading of the world...". Discussing the subject matter of an appropriate picture book can bring understanding to a learner regarding certain local issues, and can even bring empathy to a community.