Some of the amazing things Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) students are saying about the newly designed library and media center:

• *the colors are amazing
• *awesome environment
• *creative, calm setting
• *like a home
• *stands out
• *goes with college students

See the fantastic new furniture designed by Hertz Furniture and hear more from the students themselves. Watch and then tell us how your library measures up!

The post SUNO Students Are In Love With Their New Upbeat Library appeared first on A Blog for Principals and Teachers - School Matters.

Introducing 21rst century classrooms into our already existing school infrastructure is a challenge that school leaders including principals, assistant principals, school business managers and edtech professionals are facing today.

Whether you expanding or renovating school, are in the midst of school construction or are planning a new school, you will face many challenges including space, logistics, planning and of course, budget constraints.  How can you relieve the stress, design and succeed while  keeping to your plans and budget?  Watch this 1 minute video!

The post Project Solutions for 21st Century Classrooms appeared first on A Blog for Principals and Teachers - School Matters.

Guest Post by Ember Reichgott Junge

What a fun interview with Bob Bowdon of Choice Media TV, in New York City! We talked chartering and education issues from the 1990s to now, and he even included a 1997 C-Span clip of my presentation to President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore. I was in New York to participate in the Writer’s Digest conference, where my book, Zero Chance of Passage: The Pioneering Charter School Story was recognized as the 2013 Grand Prize Winner of the Self-Published Book Awards. Whether you are a long-time veteran in chartering and education or just curious to learn more, I think you’ll find this a fun conversation!

Watch the interview I recently did for Choice Media TV about the myths of chartering:

Former Minnesota State Senator Ember Reichgott Junge is author of the first charter school law in Minnesota and of the award-winning book  Zero Chance of Passage:  The Pioneering Charter School Story.  

The post Video: The Myths of Chartering appeared first on A Blog for Principals and Teachers - School Matters.

Video blogger Mor Rossler discusses play based learning. Learning through play has become the goal of many early childhood centers.  The idea is that a child learns about the world around them, societal norms,  the basics of problem solving, math skills and language skills best through play.  Does it work? Watch the video and learn more!

What experiences have you had with play based learning? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

The post Video: Play Based Learning appeared first on A Blog for Principals and Teachers - School Matters.

Is there a place in our schools for teaching our students wellness and fitness? While physical education classes have always been a part of our education system, is there a place for developing and strengthening a health education curriculum that encourages students to live a healthy and responsible lifestyle? Watch the video and share your thoughts!

The post Video: Wellness and Health Education appeared first on A Blog for Principals and Teachers - School Matters.

Hertz Furniture video blogger Mor Rossler discusses class size and how it affects students. Recently, schools have been trying to reduce the amount of students in each classroom.  Is this to our student’s benefit?  Would resources be better spent on teacher resources and the quality of our teachers?  Does class size affect academic success?

Watch the video and learn more!

The post Video: Does Class Size Matter? appeared first on A Blog for Principals and Teachers - School Matters.

Video blogger Mor Rossler discusses the benefits and consequences of learning a second language. Learning a second language is not nationally mandated but many elementary and high schools require it.

Is there value in acquiring a second language? Learning a second language helps with listening and memory skills as well as to hold a firm grasp on their first language acquired. On the other hand, it may be nice to know  a second language but should we spend our time and money on extras when we could be investing in core subjects that are required for our students to get into college?

Watch the video!

The post Video: Learning A Second Language appeared first on A Blog for Principals and Teachers - School Matters.

School Matters Video Blogger Mor Rossler explores the school uniform debate.  Are school uniforms and/ or school dress codes beneficial to students, teachers and educational institutions?  Some claim that school uniforms lead to better discipline and better focus on academics in schools. Watch the video and learn more about this important topic!

What has been your experience with school uniforms?

The post Video: School Uniforms: Are they Beneficial? appeared first on A Blog for Principals and Teachers - School Matters.

Should teachers serve primarily as presenters of predetermined material or facilitators of student-initiated learning? Hertz Furniture video blogger Mor Rossler compares the strengths and weaknesses of inquiry-based learning and direct learning; watch the video to learn more about this fundamental pedagogical issue. What has been your experience with these two modes of classroom learning? Please share your thoughts with us!

The post Video: Inquiry-Based Learning vs. Direct Learning appeared first on A Blog for Principals and Teachers - School Matters.

Hertz Furniture video blogger Mor Rossler discusses the role of social media in education today. Google images and youtube videos are just some of the ways that students are experiencing information in a way that they have never done before. Game based learning sites, blogs, and twitter are allowing students to connect to the world in new ways. Watch the video and learn more about using social media in the classroom!

How are you integrating social media in your classroom?

The post Video: Integrating Social Media in The Classroom! appeared first on A Blog for Principals and Teachers - School Matters.