For Teachers — YES! Magazine

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Education Newsletter:
REAL Heroes for Your Students :: Teaching Teens Empathy
Our December newsletter is packed with resources for teaching and learning. Read it here.

Keep History Alive! This February Teacher Activist Groups (TAG) launched the "No History is Illegal" campaign in response to the banning of the Tucson Mexican American Studies program. Visit the TAG site for solidarity teach-in resources and curriculum.	To Dye For! Questions help students interpret this image and its message: What do you notice? What are you wondering? And, after uncovering some facts, What’s next?	When You Tell My Story Middle school students from rural and urban Oregon take the risk of writing someone else’s life story—a stranger from another school—in poetry form.

In the Current Issue:

The Breakthrough 15 the Winter 2012 issue of YES! Magazine

Browse this issue

Allison Smith Cleans Up

by Paul Loeb

Tired of hearing about money buying elections? Read about how a quiet, stay-at-home mom became a clean-elections champion.

Unstuff the Holidays

by Fran Korten

Were you overwhelmed by the holidays? 2012 may be your year to “unstuff”! YES! Publisher Fran Korten makes a resolution to live and give with less.

Ban the Bag

by Rebecca Leisher

Paper or Plastic? Read about "Ban the Bag" campaigns across the country, and new laws that encourage consumers to bring their own bags.

For Your Classroom

Curriculum & Resources

Relevant and empowering curricula and lesson plans ranging from sustainability to happiness.

Stories from Educators

Your inspiring stories direct from the classroom, or the field.

Tools from YES! Magazine

Posters, charts, and other visuals from the pages of YES! Magazine that capture student interest and learning.

YES! National Student Writing Competition

Here's an opportunity that not only will push your students' writing and critical thinking, but will also meet Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for Reading: Informational Text, and Writing.

Winter 2012 Writing Competition

For Winter 2012, students will read and respond to the YES! article, "What's the Harm in Hunting?" by Alyssa B. Johnson. Alyssa's story is about her venture into the wild with a hunter whom she trusts, and her own reflections about the morality of hunting.

Your students will write a persuasive essay of up to 700 words answering the question: "Is hunting moral?

Essays are due by March 31, 2012.

Essays from Fall 2011 writing competition winners will be featured in our February 2012 Education Connection newsletter.

Spring 2011 “What is Your Gift?“ Writing Competition Winners

For Spring 2011, participants read and responded to the YES! article, “Blessings Revealed,“ by Puanani Burgess. Congratulations to our essay winners, and a big thank you and thunderous applause to all writers who submitted an essay.

	Middle School Winner Alex Gilliland Alex Gilliland is a student at Aka'ula School in Molokai, Hawaii. Read Alex's essay, “Who's Inside Dementia?“ on how she has the ability to see what others cannot.
	High School Winner Kamron Yazdani Kamron is a student with the Global Village School, an international homeschooling program. Read Kamron's essay, “Finding Your Gift,“ on the gift that isn't easy to see.
	University Winner Tim Hefflinger Tim is a student at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. Read Tim's essay, “Realizing My Gift,“ on how he learned to give voice to his concerns and passions.
	Powerful Voice Winner Bronson Afong Bronson is a student at Blanche Pope Elementary in Oahu, Hawaii. Read Bronson's essay, “My Gift,‘ on how his gifts help keep his Hawaiian culture alive.

Spotlight on Visual Learning

Use the wonder of a photo to dive into deep discussions and understanding.

We create a new Visual Learning lesson for each Education Connection Newsletter. Using a single photo, your students are asked what they notice and are wondering. After sharing facts behind the image, watch a lively discussion unfold—ignited by more questions and a flurry of opinions—resulting in students who know that much more about their world.

Choose one of the lessons below (can you guess what the image is?) and have a go with your students. To see the complete Visual Learning series, click here.