Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Enhancing Classroom Instruction with Collaborative Technologies
By Jody Bowie
Best Practices News,Communication and Collaboration,Featured Best Practice,Mobile and Handheld Technologies,Professional Development (PD),online learning
[1]
Incorporating collaboration and digital tools may boost student engagement.
“Technology presents a huge opportunity that can be leveraged in the rural communities and inner-city urban settings, particularly in subjects where there is a shortage of highly qualified teachers. Good teachers can utilize new technology to accelerate learning and provide extended learning opportunities for students.”
– Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education
The times have changed: A look at today’s students
Today’s students are raised in a completely different technology-rich world than previous generations. Typewriters are non-existent and cursive writing is becoming an art of the past. For our students, video games, laptops, MP3 players, cell phones, online gaming, and social networking are, and always have been, a part of everyday life.
These are the digital natives [2]. Technology–especially related to communications and interaction–is omnipresent. Their screens are not just those of the television, but also those of the laptop, digital tablet, and smart phone. Some of our peers may be skeptical about these technologies being used as educational tools, and that is understandable. Although they might be hesitant to embrace technology, the MacArthur Foundation found that time online is essential for youth to pick up the social and technical skills they need to be competent citizens in the digital age—skills such as critical thinking, decision making, collaboration, leadership and more.
Look around and you’ll find students from all demographics sending text messages, checking their Facebook, posting to their blog, playing video games, and tweeting. Often, they are doing them all at once. Students are highly engaged with the technology around them. Imagine the possibilities if teachers could capture students’ attention by using technologies students are already using, inside the classroom.
Struggling to engage? The solution may lie in collaboration
Many teachers struggle with keeping their students engaged in classroom activities. Many blame distractions from technology, but let’s face it: whether it’s passing notes in class, talking over the teacher or texting under the desk, keeping students’ attention has always been a challenge. I have found that if you allow students to direct their learning through an active voice in the materials and curriculum they are being taught, they respond with more involvement and excitement about their learning experience.
Whether teachers embrace technology or not, the classroom dynamic is changing. Students are connecting and collaborating with one another on school assignments, usually through social media. Students are creating and publishing content on wikis and blogs. They want immediate feedback, such as when they are using a discussion board or when they receive comments to their online posts. They want to work collaboratively, sometimes outside the hours of 8 am to 4 pm. Finally, they want some power and control over their education experience. In order for schools to meet these needs, we must incorporate the technological tools students love and interact with everyday into their daily curriculum at school.
The entire educational system is responsible for seeing today’s youth through to their ultimate goal: graduation. Currently, only about 70 percent of students graduate. This statistic indicates that teachers are still struggling to make education relevant to today’s digital learners. According to the Center for Exceptional Children, about half of students who drop out of school point to the fact that they find classes “uninteresting” as a primary reason. This is where Web 2.0 [3] technologies can come into play. Many educators are realizing the importance of Web 2.0 in the classroom and the role it can play in encouraging students.
Of pre-service teachers, 82 percent said collaborative tools such as blogs and wikis are important instructional tools in the classroom (Speak Up, 2009). Similarly, 67 percent of administrators said their ideal school of the future should include online collaborative tools. As more research is conducted and district administrators are presented with positive results, they are beginning to see that implementing collaborative Web 2.0 technologies could be the cornerstone of future learning strategies that engage our students.
Something great for both teacher and student
I knew changes needed to be made in my classroom. I saw my students losing interest in their studies. They were bored with assignments and with tackling the curriculum the routine way. They needed something more interactive and exciting to grab their attention. Thankfully, I was not the only one who noticed this change, and our district decided we needed to find a way to make learning more interactive and engaging, while improving the effectiveness of our teaching.
Many different learning tools were discussed, but our district decided on a student-centered learning network called journ(i)e. This solution allows students to blog, collaborate, and interact with other students on a safe and secure educational network. Most importantly, this tool has empowered my students to direct their learning experience while I, as the teacher, play a facilitative role.
The positive response to this new technology has been immediate. Students commented on the familiarity of the interface and were immediately more engaged in our classroom activities. They readily use journ(i)e, a student-centered mobile learning network from TH(i)NQ Ed, at home to collaborate on projects I assign, instead of putting them off and trying to finish in the minutes just prior to class.
Where they used to write essays with a pen and paper, students are now collaborating on topics and writing papers on their wikis. Students also blog about their activities, much like they do on social media platforms they are using at home. Additionally, they are collaborating on shared documents, such as group lab reports in the science classroom. They are learning in school but carry this learning behavior outside the boundaries of our classroom.
The students are more engaged, and the new tools make learning more concrete for them. Our teachers like the simplicity of the technology. The ability to present the curriculum in a new way is exciting for both teachers and students. Parents have some peace of mind, knowing their students are in a controlled environment. Students can showcase their work for parents in a way parents find valuable and insightful. Students are even able to keep up with their assignments through integration with various grade book programs.
Blended learning [4]: Matching education with the times
With students, teachers, and district administrators all in agreement that there is a growing need for technology in classrooms, more districts are using blended learning to improve student engagement and achievement. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said: “Effective teachers need to incorporate digital content into everyday classes.” Technology should not be a special event; it should be an integral part of each classroom. Every day should be technology day! The days of rolling out the television to show a video lecture are, hopefully, a thing of the past.
As a teacher, I do not think the problem with technology is that we teachers are not capable of integrating its uses into our classrooms. I think the problem lies with the disconnect between our students’ technology use outside of school and the technology they are, or are not, being asked to use inside the classroom.
Students are changing, and our teaching methods need to match the times in which students live. Technology is relevant to them; to hold their interest, we need to make technology relevant to our curriculum.
We need to provide our students with the best education possible. That may mean looking for new ways to engage our students and, in this case, technology is one of the keys to our success. By no means do I think it is the solution to all the woes of the education system. It is simply one of the pieces of the puzzle.
Education needs to keep up with the other areas of our lives, and technology is already a part of every student’s life. Personally, I wouldn’t go back. Seeing my students excel because of the addition of blended learning is the only evidence I need to convince me students are as willing to learn as ever. We just need to give them, and ourselves, the right tools.
Jody Bowie is a high school teacher at Putnam City Schools in War Acres, Okla. He is a Physics and Education instructor with a focus in technology integration.
• [5]
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________________________________________
Article printed from eSchoolNews.com: http://www.eschoolnews.com
URL to article: http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/12/20/enhancing-classroom-instruction-with-collaborative-technologies/
URLs in this post:
[1] Image: http://www.eschoolnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/GirlSleepingComputerShutterstock.jpg
[2] digital natives: http://www.eschoolnews.com/?p=42866/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=keywordlink16
[3] Web 2.0: http://www.eschoolnews.com/?p=44795/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=keywordlink15
[4] Blended learning: http://www.eschoolnews.com/?p=48527/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=keywordlink12
[5] Image: http://delicious.com/post?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eschoolnews.com%2F2010%2F12%2F20%2Fenhancing-classroom-instruction-with-collaborative-technologies%2F&title=Enhancing+classroom+instruction+with+collaborative+technologies
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Best Practices News,Communication and Collaboration,Featured Best Practice,Mobile and Handheld Technologies,Professional Development (PD),online learning
[1]
Incorporating collaboration and digital tools may boost student engagement.
“Technology presents a huge opportunity that can be leveraged in the rural communities and inner-city urban settings, particularly in subjects where there is a shortage of highly qualified teachers. Good teachers can utilize new technology to accelerate learning and provide extended learning opportunities for students.”
– Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education
The times have changed: A look at today’s students
Today’s students are raised in a completely different technology-rich world than previous generations. Typewriters are non-existent and cursive writing is becoming an art of the past. For our students, video games, laptops, MP3 players, cell phones, online gaming, and social networking are, and always have been, a part of everyday life.
These are the digital natives [2]. Technology–especially related to communications and interaction–is omnipresent. Their screens are not just those of the television, but also those of the laptop, digital tablet, and smart phone. Some of our peers may be skeptical about these technologies being used as educational tools, and that is understandable. Although they might be hesitant to embrace technology, the MacArthur Foundation found that time online is essential for youth to pick up the social and technical skills they need to be competent citizens in the digital age—skills such as critical thinking, decision making, collaboration, leadership and more.
Look around and you’ll find students from all demographics sending text messages, checking their Facebook, posting to their blog, playing video games, and tweeting. Often, they are doing them all at once. Students are highly engaged with the technology around them. Imagine the possibilities if teachers could capture students’ attention by using technologies students are already using, inside the classroom.
Struggling to engage? The solution may lie in collaboration
Many teachers struggle with keeping their students engaged in classroom activities. Many blame distractions from technology, but let’s face it: whether it’s passing notes in class, talking over the teacher or texting under the desk, keeping students’ attention has always been a challenge. I have found that if you allow students to direct their learning through an active voice in the materials and curriculum they are being taught, they respond with more involvement and excitement about their learning experience.
Whether teachers embrace technology or not, the classroom dynamic is changing. Students are connecting and collaborating with one another on school assignments, usually through social media. Students are creating and publishing content on wikis and blogs. They want immediate feedback, such as when they are using a discussion board or when they receive comments to their online posts. They want to work collaboratively, sometimes outside the hours of 8 am to 4 pm. Finally, they want some power and control over their education experience. In order for schools to meet these needs, we must incorporate the technological tools students love and interact with everyday into their daily curriculum at school.
The entire educational system is responsible for seeing today’s youth through to their ultimate goal: graduation. Currently, only about 70 percent of students graduate. This statistic indicates that teachers are still struggling to make education relevant to today’s digital learners. According to the Center for Exceptional Children, about half of students who drop out of school point to the fact that they find classes “uninteresting” as a primary reason. This is where Web 2.0 [3] technologies can come into play. Many educators are realizing the importance of Web 2.0 in the classroom and the role it can play in encouraging students.
Of pre-service teachers, 82 percent said collaborative tools such as blogs and wikis are important instructional tools in the classroom (Speak Up, 2009). Similarly, 67 percent of administrators said their ideal school of the future should include online collaborative tools. As more research is conducted and district administrators are presented with positive results, they are beginning to see that implementing collaborative Web 2.0 technologies could be the cornerstone of future learning strategies that engage our students.
Something great for both teacher and student
I knew changes needed to be made in my classroom. I saw my students losing interest in their studies. They were bored with assignments and with tackling the curriculum the routine way. They needed something more interactive and exciting to grab their attention. Thankfully, I was not the only one who noticed this change, and our district decided we needed to find a way to make learning more interactive and engaging, while improving the effectiveness of our teaching.
Many different learning tools were discussed, but our district decided on a student-centered learning network called journ(i)e. This solution allows students to blog, collaborate, and interact with other students on a safe and secure educational network. Most importantly, this tool has empowered my students to direct their learning experience while I, as the teacher, play a facilitative role.
The positive response to this new technology has been immediate. Students commented on the familiarity of the interface and were immediately more engaged in our classroom activities. They readily use journ(i)e, a student-centered mobile learning network from TH(i)NQ Ed, at home to collaborate on projects I assign, instead of putting them off and trying to finish in the minutes just prior to class.
Where they used to write essays with a pen and paper, students are now collaborating on topics and writing papers on their wikis. Students also blog about their activities, much like they do on social media platforms they are using at home. Additionally, they are collaborating on shared documents, such as group lab reports in the science classroom. They are learning in school but carry this learning behavior outside the boundaries of our classroom.
The students are more engaged, and the new tools make learning more concrete for them. Our teachers like the simplicity of the technology. The ability to present the curriculum in a new way is exciting for both teachers and students. Parents have some peace of mind, knowing their students are in a controlled environment. Students can showcase their work for parents in a way parents find valuable and insightful. Students are even able to keep up with their assignments through integration with various grade book programs.
Blended learning [4]: Matching education with the times
With students, teachers, and district administrators all in agreement that there is a growing need for technology in classrooms, more districts are using blended learning to improve student engagement and achievement. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said: “Effective teachers need to incorporate digital content into everyday classes.” Technology should not be a special event; it should be an integral part of each classroom. Every day should be technology day! The days of rolling out the television to show a video lecture are, hopefully, a thing of the past.
As a teacher, I do not think the problem with technology is that we teachers are not capable of integrating its uses into our classrooms. I think the problem lies with the disconnect between our students’ technology use outside of school and the technology they are, or are not, being asked to use inside the classroom.
Students are changing, and our teaching methods need to match the times in which students live. Technology is relevant to them; to hold their interest, we need to make technology relevant to our curriculum.
We need to provide our students with the best education possible. That may mean looking for new ways to engage our students and, in this case, technology is one of the keys to our success. By no means do I think it is the solution to all the woes of the education system. It is simply one of the pieces of the puzzle.
Education needs to keep up with the other areas of our lives, and technology is already a part of every student’s life. Personally, I wouldn’t go back. Seeing my students excel because of the addition of blended learning is the only evidence I need to convince me students are as willing to learn as ever. We just need to give them, and ourselves, the right tools.
Jody Bowie is a high school teacher at Putnam City Schools in War Acres, Okla. He is a Physics and Education instructor with a focus in technology integration.
• [5]
• [6]
• [7]
• [8]
• [9]
• [10]
________________________________________
Article printed from eSchoolNews.com: http://www.eschoolnews.com
URL to article: http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/12/20/enhancing-classroom-instruction-with-collaborative-technologies/
URLs in this post:
[1] Image: http://www.eschoolnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/GirlSleepingComputerShutterstock.jpg
[2] digital natives: http://www.eschoolnews.com/?p=42866/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=keywordlink16
[3] Web 2.0: http://www.eschoolnews.com/?p=44795/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=keywordlink15
[4] Blended learning: http://www.eschoolnews.com/?p=48527/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=keywordlink12
[5] Image: http://delicious.com/post?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eschoolnews.com%2F2010%2F12%2F20%2Fenhancing-classroom-instruction-with-collaborative-technologies%2F&title=Enhancing+classroom+instruction+with+collaborative+technologies
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Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Best of the web 2010
Check out this SlideShare Presentation:
Best of the web 2010
View more presentations from Richard Byrne.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
12 Essential Techy Tools
Check out this SlideShare Presentation:
12 Essential Techy Tools
View more presentations from Sandra Pires.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Differentiation and Technology
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Differentiation and Technology
View more presentations from twaterman.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Integrating Technology with Limited Resources | Edutopia
Integrating Technology with Limited Resources | Edutopia
This is an excellent list of strategies to help teachers integrate technology into their instruction regardless of the limited resources that they have in their classroom. Teachers can use the ideas listed here to start integrating technology tomorrow!
This is an excellent list of strategies to help teachers integrate technology into their instruction regardless of the limited resources that they have in their classroom. Teachers can use the ideas listed here to start integrating technology tomorrow!
Evidence for Education
Evidence for Education
NICHCY's online Evidence for Education modules and downloadable PDF's explore the best evidence-based practices education has to offer.
So who are they for, exactly? Well, they're for you, exactly--that is, if you're interested in learning more about what works in teaching children with disabilities. Each of us within the education community has a role to play in implementing practices based on the best available evidence--from state general and special education directors to district and school-level administrators, to classroom teachers, to related services providers, to policy makers, to parents--with students as the ultimate beneficiaries.
What sort of information will you find here? First, you'll find an easy-to-read review of educational research relating to specific academic or behavioral interventions. You'll also find practical examples of the topic at hand. Finally, you'll find connections to more detailed resources to assist you in moving the research into practice.
NICHCY's online Evidence for Education modules and downloadable PDF's explore the best evidence-based practices education has to offer.
So who are they for, exactly? Well, they're for you, exactly--that is, if you're interested in learning more about what works in teaching children with disabilities. Each of us within the education community has a role to play in implementing practices based on the best available evidence--from state general and special education directors to district and school-level administrators, to classroom teachers, to related services providers, to policy makers, to parents--with students as the ultimate beneficiaries.
What sort of information will you find here? First, you'll find an easy-to-read review of educational research relating to specific academic or behavioral interventions. You'll also find practical examples of the topic at hand. Finally, you'll find connections to more detailed resources to assist you in moving the research into practice.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Justin Tarte - Life of an educator...: Why YOU matter much more than you think...
Justin Tarte - Life of an educator...: Why YOU matter much more than you think...: "Educators are constantly using their energy and resources on others. Their students are their number one priority, and consequently educato..."
Monday, August 9, 2010
32 Ways to Start the Year Off Right
32 Ways to Start the Year Off Right
A little planning at the beginning of school can pay big dividends as you go through the coming school year. Getting started on the right foot can make all the difference. Here are some things to consider as you plan for the months ahead.
1. Build relationships
Be nice to the school secretaries, cafeteria workers, aides, paraprofessionals, bus drivers, and custodians. Get involved in school activities and school staff functions.
2. Give your classroom some class
Try decorating your classroom in a manner that will catch the eyes of your students and give them something to think about at the same time.
3. Introduce yourself
Try having the teachers in your building write a biographic sketch of themselves to post outside their classrooms. You never know when a student may find he or she has something in common with a teacher and is able to strike up a relationship that could be a positive learning experience.
4. Establish the rules
If you want discipline to work during the year, start off by establishing class rules right at the beginning. (They should probably number no more than five.) Let the students have a role in establishing them. If the kids feel a part of them, they will have more of a tendency to follow the rules. Rules should be written and posted in the classroom.
5. Check school policy
If you intend to teach subject matter that borders on controversy, be sure you are within board policy. Keep your personal views on religion and politics to yourself.
6. Get organized
Start off the year by getting your personal papers organized. You never know when you may have to produce a document related to your job.
7. Keep records
You may have expenditures that could be deductibles on your income tax. Now is the time to set aside a place for keeping tax records and to start keeping track of them.
8. Improve yourself
Set your sights on improving your professional ability in at least one area during the coming year. Then decide how best to go about it.
9. Set a class goal
You can develop some spirit among class members if you have a project you are working toward. Perhaps a holiday project to help a needy family, a class trip, or a class party at the end of the year. Start your planning early in the fall to build enthusiasm.
10. Build class spirit
If you teach elementary youngsters, you might try giving your class a name such as the “Bumblebees from Room Three.”
11. Play the name game
One way to get everyone, including yourself, to know everyone else in the room quickly is to play the name game. The first person in row one says, “I’m John.” The second person says, “That’s John and I’m Mary.” The third person: “That’s John and Mary and I’m Susan.” Continue around the room until everyone has called off everyone else’s name.
12. Develop resources
Develop your own sources of information and your resource list. Know where to get help when you need it. How can you deal with the lack of instructional materials offered by the district? Keep your eyes open for free and inexpensive materials.
13. Do your best
Determine from previous experience what factors keep you from doing your job during the school year. Then figure out a way to work around them. For example: How will you work with too many students in your class? How will you deal with the wide range of student abilities? How will you deal with disruptive students?
14. Look for some hope
Give yourself a lift toward getting into a positive frame of mind by watching for something hopeful. It may be the student who comes up to you and gives you an indication he or she learned something within the first week of school. Maybe it’s the child who speaks to you in the parking lot and uses your correct name!
15. Be realistic
Don’t let your sincere concern for each child turn into a depressing experience through a fear of failure. You will not win the battle with every student.
16. Be prepared for special students
You may have students with special learning problems or physical handicaps. Don’t expect those problems to work themselves out. Plan from the beginning how you will deal with them in the best interests of the student, yourself, and the rest of the class.
17. Think about health
Make an early determination about how you will handle students with special health problems. Do you know what to do if you have a student subject to epileptic seizures? What about administering medicine to students?
18. Don't overlook the gifted
Once you determine you have a student in your class who could be considered gifted, don’t delay in making arrangements to meet his/her specific abilities.
19. Find a shoulder
Every teacher needs a colleague to turn to for special advice or simply to unburden themselves about a special classroom challenge. If you don’t have a buddy, get one.
20. Get parents involved
Determine how you will involve parents in your students’ education during the coming year. Is there any special way to approach parent/teacher conferences? Are there any special messages you want to send home to parents? How will you deal with parents who want to help their students learn?
21. Communicate with parents
If you teach primary grades, send a note home early informing parents that you need time to get to know pupils before you can comment on them. However, let them know that you are available and list the process and times for getting in touch with you. For other parents, you might want to introduce yourself and include your policy on homework.
22. Know your rights
Read or reread your contract so that you will know your rights.
23. Plan lessons
Develop your lessons on the basis of what you think your students need to know and then determine the best way of teaching those things.
24. Support your association
Join your local education association for the moral support of people who understand the difficulty of your job.
25. Make a good impression
Whatever else you do, give the class the impression from the beginning that you are well organized. Your students must get the feeling right off that you are prepared and know what you are doing.
26. Build an attitude
You have the opportunity from the first day forward to help your students determine whether school is drudgery or a serious undertaking that can have its fun moments as well. If you for one moment give the impression that being in class is a chore for you, that attitude will be reflected by your students.
27. Foster curiosity
Keep in mind that if you want your students to be curious; you have to set an atmosphere that encourages curiosity and doesn’t stifle it.
28. Start off slowly
Go over your material slowly the first grading period so that most students can find some success while the material is not too difficult.
29. Set a positive tone
Send a positive note home with every student at some time during the year. Catch the kids being good! Let students and their parents know you care about achievement.
30. Keep the principal informed
If you plan to do anything new or unusual this year, make certain you mention it to your building principal in advance.
31. Brief your students
At the high school level particularly, let your students know early exactly what you expect of them in your course. Most students will rise to the teacher’s expectations.
32. And finally
Keep these three qualities of good teaching in mind: be flexible, be patient and have a sense of humor.
This list of suggested ways to start the year off right was originally published by the Virginia Education Association.
A little planning at the beginning of school can pay big dividends as you go through the coming school year. Getting started on the right foot can make all the difference. Here are some things to consider as you plan for the months ahead.
1. Build relationships
Be nice to the school secretaries, cafeteria workers, aides, paraprofessionals, bus drivers, and custodians. Get involved in school activities and school staff functions.
2. Give your classroom some class
Try decorating your classroom in a manner that will catch the eyes of your students and give them something to think about at the same time.
3. Introduce yourself
Try having the teachers in your building write a biographic sketch of themselves to post outside their classrooms. You never know when a student may find he or she has something in common with a teacher and is able to strike up a relationship that could be a positive learning experience.
4. Establish the rules
If you want discipline to work during the year, start off by establishing class rules right at the beginning. (They should probably number no more than five.) Let the students have a role in establishing them. If the kids feel a part of them, they will have more of a tendency to follow the rules. Rules should be written and posted in the classroom.
5. Check school policy
If you intend to teach subject matter that borders on controversy, be sure you are within board policy. Keep your personal views on religion and politics to yourself.
6. Get organized
Start off the year by getting your personal papers organized. You never know when you may have to produce a document related to your job.
7. Keep records
You may have expenditures that could be deductibles on your income tax. Now is the time to set aside a place for keeping tax records and to start keeping track of them.
8. Improve yourself
Set your sights on improving your professional ability in at least one area during the coming year. Then decide how best to go about it.
9. Set a class goal
You can develop some spirit among class members if you have a project you are working toward. Perhaps a holiday project to help a needy family, a class trip, or a class party at the end of the year. Start your planning early in the fall to build enthusiasm.
10. Build class spirit
If you teach elementary youngsters, you might try giving your class a name such as the “Bumblebees from Room Three.”
11. Play the name game
One way to get everyone, including yourself, to know everyone else in the room quickly is to play the name game. The first person in row one says, “I’m John.” The second person says, “That’s John and I’m Mary.” The third person: “That’s John and Mary and I’m Susan.” Continue around the room until everyone has called off everyone else’s name.
12. Develop resources
Develop your own sources of information and your resource list. Know where to get help when you need it. How can you deal with the lack of instructional materials offered by the district? Keep your eyes open for free and inexpensive materials.
13. Do your best
Determine from previous experience what factors keep you from doing your job during the school year. Then figure out a way to work around them. For example: How will you work with too many students in your class? How will you deal with the wide range of student abilities? How will you deal with disruptive students?
14. Look for some hope
Give yourself a lift toward getting into a positive frame of mind by watching for something hopeful. It may be the student who comes up to you and gives you an indication he or she learned something within the first week of school. Maybe it’s the child who speaks to you in the parking lot and uses your correct name!
15. Be realistic
Don’t let your sincere concern for each child turn into a depressing experience through a fear of failure. You will not win the battle with every student.
16. Be prepared for special students
You may have students with special learning problems or physical handicaps. Don’t expect those problems to work themselves out. Plan from the beginning how you will deal with them in the best interests of the student, yourself, and the rest of the class.
17. Think about health
Make an early determination about how you will handle students with special health problems. Do you know what to do if you have a student subject to epileptic seizures? What about administering medicine to students?
18. Don't overlook the gifted
Once you determine you have a student in your class who could be considered gifted, don’t delay in making arrangements to meet his/her specific abilities.
19. Find a shoulder
Every teacher needs a colleague to turn to for special advice or simply to unburden themselves about a special classroom challenge. If you don’t have a buddy, get one.
20. Get parents involved
Determine how you will involve parents in your students’ education during the coming year. Is there any special way to approach parent/teacher conferences? Are there any special messages you want to send home to parents? How will you deal with parents who want to help their students learn?
21. Communicate with parents
If you teach primary grades, send a note home early informing parents that you need time to get to know pupils before you can comment on them. However, let them know that you are available and list the process and times for getting in touch with you. For other parents, you might want to introduce yourself and include your policy on homework.
22. Know your rights
Read or reread your contract so that you will know your rights.
23. Plan lessons
Develop your lessons on the basis of what you think your students need to know and then determine the best way of teaching those things.
24. Support your association
Join your local education association for the moral support of people who understand the difficulty of your job.
25. Make a good impression
Whatever else you do, give the class the impression from the beginning that you are well organized. Your students must get the feeling right off that you are prepared and know what you are doing.
26. Build an attitude
You have the opportunity from the first day forward to help your students determine whether school is drudgery or a serious undertaking that can have its fun moments as well. If you for one moment give the impression that being in class is a chore for you, that attitude will be reflected by your students.
27. Foster curiosity
Keep in mind that if you want your students to be curious; you have to set an atmosphere that encourages curiosity and doesn’t stifle it.
28. Start off slowly
Go over your material slowly the first grading period so that most students can find some success while the material is not too difficult.
29. Set a positive tone
Send a positive note home with every student at some time during the year. Catch the kids being good! Let students and their parents know you care about achievement.
30. Keep the principal informed
If you plan to do anything new or unusual this year, make certain you mention it to your building principal in advance.
31. Brief your students
At the high school level particularly, let your students know early exactly what you expect of them in your course. Most students will rise to the teacher’s expectations.
32. And finally
Keep these three qualities of good teaching in mind: be flexible, be patient and have a sense of humor.
This list of suggested ways to start the year off right was originally published by the Virginia Education Association.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Whole Brain Teaching- High School Math
Here is a video of veteran "whole-brain" teacher Kristin Dewit teaching a lesson on slope.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
ADHD Co-Morbidities Organize Interventions
In this article, Dr. Charles Shinaver poses the question as to whether or not the treatment for the symptoms of ADHD may be worse than ADHD itself. He asks the reader to consider reexamining the context in which students are treated and how this relates to their chronological age and development.
http://adhddoctordad.com/http:/adhddoctordad.com/parentingyoungchildren/adhd-comorbidities-structure-organize-interventions/
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Smart Classroom Management
In his blog, Michael Linsin describes simple and effective strategies to create a well-run classroom where students stay on task and learn!
http://www.smartclassroommanagement.com/2010/06/26/classroom-management-plan/
http://www.smartclassroommanagement.com/2010/06/26/classroom-management-plan/
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
The Differentiator!
This useful tool from www.byrdseed.com allows teachers to create meaningful learning objectives based on Bloom's Taxonomy.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Cool Cat Teacher Blog: 7 Steps to Flatten Your Classroom: Presentation fr...
Cool Cat Teacher Blog: 7 Steps to Flatten Your Classroom: Presentation fr...: "This is the presentation Julie Lindsay and I gave on global collaboration at ISTE 2010. FYI, a few technical glitches happened at the begin..."
Sport Science - The Physics of Home Runs
Last night Major League Baseball held its annual home run derby exhibition. The derby was won by "Big Papi" David Ortiz. During last night's broadcast of the event ESPN aired a short segment called Sport Science: The Home Run Derby. The segment explains the roles of the hitter's swing angle, the hitter's bat speed, and the speed of the pitched ball in determining how far a batted ball will travel in the air. The video of the segment is embedded below.
Applications for Education
Sport Science: The Home Run Derby could be a good way to get students who are interested in sports interested in a mathematics and physics lesson.
Sport Science - The Physics of Home Runs
Thanks to Richard Byrne of www.freetechforteachers.com for this posting!
Applications for Education
Sport Science: The Home Run Derby could be a good way to get students who are interested in sports interested in a mathematics and physics lesson.
Sport Science - The Physics of Home Runs
Thanks to Richard Byrne of www.freetechforteachers.com for this posting!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Education Week: Learning Teams and the Future of Teaching
Learning is no longer preparation for the job, it is the job. In a world in which information expands exponentially, today’s students are active participants in an ever-expanding network of learning environments. They must learn to be knowledge navigators, seeking and finding information from multiple sources, evaluating it, making sense of it, and understanding how to collaborate with their peers to turn information into knowledge, and knowledge into action.
Education Week: Learning Teams and the Future of Teaching
Education Week: Learning Teams and the Future of Teaching
Monday, June 28, 2010
Moving Beyond "One-Size-Fits-All" Digital Citizenship
In today's diverse world of education, digital citizenship is taking in an important if varied role. The needs of schools, just like the populations that they serve, are very different and need to be as individualized as possible.
Read More>>>
Read More>>>
Sunday, June 20, 2010
#Edchat: Join the Conversation
Written on August 18, 2009 – 6:14 am | by Shelly Terrell
Over 1000 educators have participated in #edchat discussions. Will you collaborate with us to create educational change?
Although relatively new, #edchat has become an incredible collaborative tool for educators to debate and evaluate solutions to various problems through Twitter. Over 1000 educators and administrators have contributed to the #edchat discussions from various countries around the world. In what other forum would this be possible?
Watch the video and see what #edchat is about:
#Edchat: Join the Conversation
Over 1000 educators have participated in #edchat discussions. Will you collaborate with us to create educational change?
Although relatively new, #edchat has become an incredible collaborative tool for educators to debate and evaluate solutions to various problems through Twitter. Over 1000 educators and administrators have contributed to the #edchat discussions from various countries around the world. In what other forum would this be possible?
Watch the video and see what #edchat is about:
#Edchat: Join the Conversation
Critical Thinking: What is it Anyway?
by Elizabeth King on June 13, 2010
As much as we hear about bringing creativity to classroom and business, we hear even more about teaching and using critical thinking skills. Since we’re prone to throwing terminology, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page about critical thinking and what it entails.
http://stayoutofschool.com/2010/06/critical-thinking-what-is-it-anyway/
As much as we hear about bringing creativity to classroom and business, we hear even more about teaching and using critical thinking skills. Since we’re prone to throwing terminology, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page about critical thinking and what it entails.
http://stayoutofschool.com/2010/06/critical-thinking-what-is-it-anyway/
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Collaborative and Co-operative Learning: The How and the Why
Check out this SlideShare Presentation:
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
'Why isn't Johnny interested?': Local firms seek course to education in 21st century | SeacoastOnline.com
This is one of the best articles I have read recently on the changing educational landscape. It does not offer all of the answers, but it asks the right questions.
'Why isn't Johnny interested?': Local firms seek course to education in 21st century | SeacoastOnline.com
'Why isn't Johnny interested?': Local firms seek course to education in 21st century | SeacoastOnline.com
Youth clubs strengthen kids' self image to keep them out of trouble
When children belong to a youth club, they gain a stronger sense of who they are as a person, an Ohio State University study has revealed.The study suggests that even small improvements in self concept go a long way toward keeping children out of trouble."The more kids participate in these clubs, the better self concept they have," said Dawn Anderson-Butcher, an associate professor of social work at Ohio State. "And then that self concept makes children less vulnerable to engaging in problem behaviors."
Youth clubs strengthen kids' self image to keep them out of trouble
Youth clubs strengthen kids' self image to keep them out of trouble
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Sharks Use Math to Hunt
The great white shark in Jaws knew exactly where it was going — to the closest pair of plump legs around. But where might it head if it didn’t have a tasty human snack in its sights? A new study suggests that some sharks and other marine predators can follow strict mathematical strategies when foraging for dinner. The work, reported online June 9 in Nature, is the latest aiming to show whether animals sometimes move in a pattern called a Lévy walk.
http://ht.ly/1WyYW
http://ht.ly/1WyYW
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Overcoming Obstacles to Adopting and Impementing Evidence-Based Practices
After you determine which evidence-based practices are a good fit for your school, how do you convince educators in your district to adopt them? Even more challenging, how do you ensure successful implementation? Adopting an educational program or practice almost seems easy in comparison to the hard work of sustained implementation. This brief describes types of barriers educators face in adopting and implementing evidence-based practices and tips for overcoming them.
http://www.bestevidence.org/resources/general/obstacles.htm
http://www.bestevidence.org/resources/general/obstacles.htm
Sunday, June 6, 2010
“iGeneration” Student Survey Reveals a Shift in the Way Teens Learn
Since their earliest memories, today’s “iGeneration” has been wired, Wi-Fied, mobile, virtually augmented and i-computed like no other generation before them. A recent “Beyond the Classroom” online survey of 13- to 17-year-old students commissioned by Aventa Learning™ revealed, not surprisingly, that these teens are turning to outside resources and technology to stay challenged and engaged.
“iGeneration” Student Survey Reveals a Shift in the Way Teens Learn
“iGeneration” Student Survey Reveals a Shift in the Way Teens Learn
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Teaching in a socially networked classroom
Let’s face it: Social networking is here to stay. Whether it is Facebook or Twitter, or the next web application waiting to become a phenomenon, social networking is a part of our students’ lives. The only place where it isn’t usually present is in our classrooms. And yet, how many of us haven’t sensed our students itching to reconnect as soon as class is over? The moment they leave the classroom, the cell phones come out and the air is abuzz with various versions of, “Where are you?” or “What are you doing?” Imagine if we could harness this drive to connect for the purpose of learning. Is it possible to use social networking to further learning?
Teaching in a socially networked classroom
Teaching in a socially networked classroom
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Math in Daily Life – A Website Showing the Many Everyday Uses of Mathematics
The byline for this nice website is “How do numbers affect everyday decisions?” The site explains how math can help us make important decisions and perform everyday tasks. The language of numbers will also show up in common situations that we may all face when you’re trying to get things done. The treatments of all topics are done very well and can be used for Teacher Resources or Student Projects. There is also a rich source of Related Materials. The website materials from Math in Daily Life are inspired by programs from the text For All Practical Purposes: Mathematical Literacy in Today’s World.
Math in Daily Life – A Website Showing the Many Everyday Uses of Mathematics
Math in Daily Life – A Website Showing the Many Everyday Uses of Mathematics
Friday, May 28, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Temple Grandin: The world needs all kinds of minds | Video on TED.com
In this riveting talk, Dr. Temple Grandin, one of the leading voices on autism spectrum disorders, describes the advantages of looking at the world from a different perspective. Dr. Grandin describes her own upbringing, her groundbreaking work with animals, and the effect that this has had on her understanding of the need for "all kinds of minds".
Temple Grandin: The world needs all kinds of minds | Video on TED.com
Temple Grandin: The world needs all kinds of minds | Video on TED.com
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Integrating Technology and Marzano's Instructional Strategies
Gloucester County Public Schools Instructional Technology Resource Teacher Sherri Miller has created a wonderful resource that links 21st century technologies with Robert Marzano's instructional strategies from his groundbreaking book Classroom Instruction that works. Explore this resource at the link provided below and consider adding these strategies to your repertoire!
Read More>>
Read More>>
A Teacher's Guide to Generation X Parents
Today's students(and some parents)were raised in a different world with a wide range of influences and expectations. It is important that we, as educators, are aware of these differences and put this knowledge to use in our interactions. The following article by Susan Gregory Thomas at Edutopia lays out a compelling case for changing the way we work with parents in order to maximize our success.
Read more here:
Read more here:
Social Media Parenting: Raising the Digital Generation
As educators aspiring to incorporate 21stCentury Technologies into the classroom, it is important to ensure that our students are able to navigate the Internet safely and effectively. This post by Matt Silverman examines the issues that we need to consider when teaching our children and students to be responsible users of online technologies.
Welcome to my blog!
This blog is dedicated to exploring and sharing innovative practices in the field of education. As our world and the world of our students changes at an ever increasing pace, it is vitally important to incorporate engaging and relevant practices in our classrooms. The majority of the posts on this blog will be information and ideas that I have gathered from my fellow educators. I welcome your thoughts and input.
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