The Salem Witch Trials are one of those early American history topics that really capture students' attention. Between the court proceedings, stories of the people involved, and the hysteria surrounding the belief in witchcraft, teaching this topic is an opportunity to help students understand life in colonial Massachusetts. It gives students a chance to examine historical evidence and consider how fear, beliefs, and the justice system shaped the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. T

I have been thinking about how to put my recent trip to Indonesia into words, because the experience came about in an unexpected way. A few years ago, while researching and creating my Indonesia Virtual Field Trip, I became more and more fascinated by the country. I remember telling my husband, Scott, how interesting Indonesia was and that it was somewhere I wanted to experience myself. So I added it to our travel bucket list (yes, we have a shared list!). But flights to Indo

Civic education has been pushed to the back burner over the years with a higher focus on subject areas like Math, Science, and ELA. Ensuring students receive a high-quality civics education has not been a high priority for many schools, and one of the problems is that textbooks are not adequate for teaching civic skills. Studies show that teachers need to take a holistic approach to teaching civics (The Six Proven Practices of Effective Civic Learning). It's not just about te