Today's Article: Laos records first Covid-19 related death over a year into
the pandemic
From: CNN
Readability Score: 14.2
Laos records first Covid-19 related death over a year into the
pandemic...but why?
Click here to view the entire article and classroom discussion questions:
https://www.izzit.org/events/index.php
Today's Alternate Article: Wyoming 11-year-old launches weekly newspaper
Readability Score: 9.5
Today's Article: US backs waiving intellectual property rules on vaccines
From: Associated Press
Readability Score: 15.3
As poorer countries see a devastating rise in COVID infections, the Biden
administration recently announced its support for waiving the intellectual
property rights of vaccine makers. The stated goal is to increase production,
but the drug companies have raised safety concerns. Why is intellectual property
protected? Who benefits, and who pays, when property rights are temporarily
waived? Follow up with a discussion of the importance of general property
rights with izzit.org’s The Road To Prosperity.
Click here to view the entire article and classroom discussion questions:
https://www.izzit.org/events/index.php
Today's Alternate Article: Nature at its craziest: Trillions of cicadas
about to emerge
Readability Score: 8.6
By Dean Graziano
Summer vacation is both a source
of pleasure and a component of good health.
You've done it! You've completed a remarkable school year under extraordinary circumstances. With the summer recess upon us, we at izzit.org want to say THANK YOU for your commitment and passion in educating our children. In fact, we want to say, “LET IT GO THIS SUMMER” and focus on YOU – your mental & physical wellness!
Professional
Development – If you want/need to acquire time toward
your certification this summer, we have several workshops recorded. We
generally offer two (2) topics per month or one topic with an encore
presentation. Our topics are derived from current education trends, input by
educators and new izzit.org releases and/or events. To obtain a certificate of
attendance after watching a recorded session, follow the instructions at the
end of each webinar.
While you are enjoying your summer,
we at izzit.org will be working hard to introduce two new bold projects:
Unlock
& Beat the Clock Challenge
This is an interactive, group-focused activity that students assemble in a classroom laden with supporting thematic clues. They have 45 minutes to “solve the challenge posed”. The challenge may apply to successfully completing your assignment which may be assisting someone that is lost or needs YOUR assistance, completing a historical retrieval of lost documents or supplying support to prove/disprove a historical event, etc. Therefore, a successful conclusion will require you to seek and decipher hidden clues, analyze, and break codes and solve challenging prepared dilemma. Every time students working in their teams solve a clue – an “aha” moment, draws them closer to successfully complete the challenge. The entire classroom or prepared room(s) task you to not take anything or anywhere for granted! Perhaps a closer sift through related books on the shelves, particular artwork and on the walls, to certain sequences and or patterns that are either pertinent or a distractor in locating clues- no matter what YOU may think, the team must understand EVERYWHERE/ANYWHERE provides the potential for the clues necessary in unlocking & beating the clock challenge! Remember, students must know once you start the provided izzit.org videos and the provided izzit.org timer- only 45 minutes to overcome the challenge!
Virtual International Field Trip
This activity allows participating students to experience a myriad of countries as they take their “Virtual International Field Trip” without leaving the classroom or home. The interest levels may vary – a student may never have known particular facts and background of countries. Others may need to become competent in Geography studies as part of the curriculum, and others just may want to “travel” this summer. Regardless of the reason, there are skills necessary to be successful in the classroom as they return in the fall. Research, fact-checking, critical-thinking, and self-reliance are must-have skills in a post-secondary career path. Summer vacation should NOT be a vacation form learning! Come travel the world this summer! Our pilot program at Westwood High School is building geography awareness—one country and one student at a time! This program will educate, engage, and empower students during a critical break in their studies. Our materials lend themselves to a wonderful inter-disciplinary approach as well as promoting critical thinking. Passport books are being distributed to each participating student and an amazing world tour “concert shirt” has been designed and will be given to students upon successfully completing this project!
Enjoy the summer! You've worked hard
and we at izzit.org look forward to assisting you in the fall with a myriad of
professional development, no-cost award winning educator resources and so much
more!
Our profound thanks for your
contributions to student learning. When the summer comes to an end, please
check out izzit.org and find out what's new for the 2021-22 school
year!
Happy Summer!
Dean
Graziano, J.D.
V.P. of
Education, izzit.org
413-306-2598
Today's Article: Births in U.S. Drop to Levels Not Seen Since 1979
From: The Wall Street Journal
Readability Score: 10.9
izzit.org refers to "people... skilled, spirited, and hopeful" as
the Ultimate Resource. However, in the US, as in other developed countries,
families are getting smaller. How will this affect our nation's future? Discuss
demographics and consequences with today's article. Then check out a video like
Recipe for Success or The People's Economy
to discuss the power of people!
Click here to view the entire article and classroom discussion questions:
https://www.izzit.org/events/index.php
Today's Alternate Article: Why We Need New Logos
Readability Score: 7.5
Today's Article: The East Bay real estate market is so hot, houses are
selling for more than $1M over asking price
From: sfgate.com
Readability Score: 10.3
A seller's market on fire: how prices emerge.
Click here to view the entire article and classroom discussion questions:
https://www.izzit.org/events/index.php
Today's Alternate Article: Raindrops on alien worlds will obey Earth-like
rules
Readability Score: 8.2
Today's Article: USPS admits to spying on Americans’ social media posts:
report
From: NY Post
Readability Score: 13.1
Should the Post Office monitor your social media?
Click here to view the entire article and classroom discussion questions:
https://www.izzit.org/events/index.php
Today's Alternate Article: A Giant Organic Farm Faces Criticism That It's
Harming The Environment
Readability Score: 9.4
During 2018, King Mwsati of Swaziland said the new name of his country would be eSwatini. He was switching because he wanted to erase reminders of colonial rule and eliminate mix-ups with Switzerland.
The downside though is the cost.
eSwatini
The cost of replacing Swaziland with eSwatini has been estimated at $6 million.
Publicly, it includes new signage for government properties, for roadways, a new domain name, and a flag (our featured image). The tourist board has to rebrand and create new maps. A frugal official said to use up the old stationery rather than discarding it. In addition, existing coins and bank notes would remain valid as would international agreements.
Privately, businesses need new stationery and signage, new marketing, website adjustments. On the global level, we can think of mapping sites. Checking Google Maps, I saw eSwatini as the country’s name but then a map created by a “user” still used Swaziland.
eSwatini is located near South Africa:
Kolkata and Mumbai
Like eSwatini, places in India also wanted to erase the British names that echoed their colonial past. Once Calcutta became Kolkata in 2001, businesses named after the city had to decide what to do. The Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation kept its old name even though it supplied Kolkata with electricity and students still attended Calcutta University. Somewhat similarly, when Bombay became Mumbai, residents, business owners, and the city needed to make countless changes.
A long list of cities have new names. New York City used to be New Amsterdam and Austin, Texas was briefly Waterloo. Istanbul had been Byzantium and then Constantinople, while Saigon is now Ho Chi Minh City. In South Africa, during February, Port Elizabeth became Gqeberha.
Imagine the tax dollars that were spent for these changes as well as the business expenditures. Looking at the money, the time, the tangible and intangible costs, an economist could say that renaming creates a slew of negative externalities. It has an impact that ripples to parties quite distant from the original decision makers. Also though, especially on the political level the externalities can be rather positive.
And that returns us to eSwatini and its new identity.
My sources and more: Thanks to Business Daily for a podcast that alerted me to the impact of a city’s name change. From there, I discovered more on the Port Elizabeth story through CNN while NPR focused on India. As for eSwatini, the BBC and this blog had the details. And finally, this article shows why renaming just one street can be expensive.
Ideal for the classroom, econlife.com reflects Elaine Schwartz’s work as a teacher and a writer. As a teacher at the Kent Place School in Summit, NJ, she’s been an Endowed Chair in Economics and chaired the history department. She’s developed curricula, was a featured teacher in the Annenberg/CPB video project “The Economics Classroom,” and has written several books including Econ 101 ½ (Avon Books/Harper Collins). You can get econlife on a daily basis! Head to econlife.
Today's Article: USA Today may have let Stacey Abrams stealth edit op-ed to
downplay support for Georgia boycotts
From: National Review
Readability Score: 0.0
Stacey Abrams, former gubernatorial candidate in Georgia, apparently changed
some of her language in an op-ed published in USA Today after Major League
Baseball decided to move the All-Star game from her state. Should USA Today
have allowed her to do so? Discuss the role and responsibility of the press in
today's article; then follow up with izzit.org's Read All About It!
Click here to view the entire article and classroom discussion questions:
https://www.izzit.org/events/index.php
Today's Alternate Article: Understanding Your
COVID-19 Vaccine Card
Readability Score: 9.7
Today's Article: Georgia Tech structure certified as "living
building"
From: Associated Press
Readability Score: 10.1
Helped by a $25 million grant, Georgia Tech has constructed a building that
was designed to demonstrate sustainability and that might even help its
environment. Learn what innovations the builders used, and discuss what impact
such a building might have.
Click here to view the entire article and classroom discussion questions:
https://www.izzit.org/events/index.php
Today's Alternate Article: An African Trade Deal
Readability Score: 9.6
Today's Article: Degree designs inclusive deodorant for people with physical
disabilities
From: cnet
Readability Score: 12.4
Designing for disabilities: profitable inclusivity?
Click here to view the entire article and classroom discussion questions:
https://www.izzit.org/events/index.php
Today's Alternate Article: Gov. Greg Abbott says
he’ll sign bill allowing permitless carrying of handguns, believes Senate is
“making progress”
Readability Score: 9.5