Vocabulary Lesson Classroom Ideas. Tips for Creating Wow-Worthy Learning Spaces. "Look at your learning space with 21st-century eyes: Does it work for what we know about learning today, or just for what we knew about learning in the past?”
-The Third Teacher Does your classroom mirror the rectilinear seating arrangement popular in Sumerian classrooms, circa 2000 BCE? 9 Ways to Plan Transformational Lessons: Planning the Best Curriculum Unit Ever. When instructors engage learners, develop ability and understanding, and amplify students' identities, we call them "transformational teachers" -- professionals who provide learners with disciplinary View-Masters so that kids can see the world in stereoscope.
But how do they prepare? Do they just show up for class and spontaneously uncork the awesome? Obviously not. Behind the scenes, transformational teachers labor over curriculum plans that look simple and even elegant to classroom observers. This post explains how they do that, specifically looking at nine transformational practices in planning. Rubric for Speech of Self-Introduction. 9 Ways to Plan Transformational Lessons: Planning the Best Curriculum Unit Ever. Nurturing Intrinsic Motivation and Growth Mindset in Writing. It's the first writing conference, four weeks into the year, with this blond senior.
He stiffly leans back from me as far as the metal desk will allow, exuding cynicism, too cool for meeting with teachers about his writing. I can see he doesn't trust me yet or know why we conference, and he's afraid. He says, "So, what is this meeting about then? " And we begin. The Power of Teacher Enthusiasm. 3 Ways of Getting Student Feedback to Improve Your Teaching. During the summer, you'll want to improve your teaching and lessons, but how do you decide where to start?
Your students! I use these three ways to get feedback from my students on my lessons, activities, and what I can do to improve next year. Edutopia. In my work in New Jersey schools, I discovered many of the most empowered and vibrant schools had been touched by Patrick Fennell's work.
So I thought an interview with him might allow me to learn about and more widely share his magic. Edutopia: What do you mean by empowerment? Patrick Fennell: My definition of empowerment is "to lead others to lead themselves. " True empowerment is the belief that people, and more specifically our youth, have the ability to implement positive change in their own lives and the lives of others, and contribute to something larger than themselves.
Avoiding "Learned Helplessness" We all have students that just want to "get it right.
" We all have students that constantly seek the attention of the teacher. "Did I get this right? " New Teachers: Working With Parents. New Teachers: Lesson and Curriculum Planning. 5308. Resources for Assessment in Project-Based Learning. Propel Project-Based Learning with These 12 Apps and Websites. Project-based learning, or PBL, is a student-driven teaching method that calls for students to design and engage in projects focused on real-world problems and challenges.
But while PBL is a trusted strategy for increasing student engagement, it's not always easy to orchestrate. The apps and websites we're highlighting this week help both teachers and students keep track of, complete, and assess projects in PBL classrooms. For teachers new to this strategy and extra short on time, Educurious offers many quality lessons, as well as a community of experts for guidance and support. Math teachers interested in PBL will love Mathalicious, which showcases lessons on real-world math, from sports statistics to the odds of finding life on other planets. Educurious. Our Solutions / Project-Based Courses. 7 Apps for Student Creators. 6 iPad Apps for Creative Writing. Creative writing can be a daunting task for students who struggle to think of story ideas or who don't love the writing process.
For kids who have trouble putting pen to paper, there are a handful of fantastic iPad apps that just might inspire them to tell a story. Your students will be able to gather ideas, brainstorm and publish writing straight from their tablet. For students at all levels, creative writing is an important part of English language arts curriculum. Not only do the Common Core State Standards specifically outline the expectation that students should be able to express themselves through the written word, but this is also an essential real-world skill. Students should have the ability to write narratives that tell a story from their own life or a story that they've imagined.
5 Ways to "Remove the Walls" From Your Classroom. After the first day of school this year, I couldn't believe my luck!
My seventh grade math and science students participated eagerly, worked well in groups, and followed our agreed-upon classroom procedures. With the deck stacked in my favor, I was sure that this was going to be my best year of teaching thus far. However, after three to four weeks, the on-task behaviors waned across the grade as students seemed to focus more on personal squabbles than their classwork. Simply put, the students were getting tired of one another.
Even when I changed up the seating chart, planned purposeful groups, and taught interactive differentiated lessons, the students' bickering continued to get in the way of their learning. Resources for Assessment in Project-Based Learning. Common Core in Action Series. The Creative Routine. The other day I surprised my students.
They had just completed an Op Ed assignment. Choosing an issue they felt passionate about, students used evidence to build an argument and propose change. We had spent more than a week on research, outlining, drafting, peer editing, and finally producing polished drafts to send to local publications. That day I began the class period with some very ordinary announcements and reminders before shifting gears. "Today we are street speaking," I announced. 50+ Tools for Differentiating Instruction Through Social Media. Imagine a world where resources were limited to what was found in the classroom or the school closet known as the "Curriculum Materials Room.
" Picture a world where students wrote letters with pen and paper to communicate with other students and adults outside of the building. Due to postage costs, the teacher either sent the letters in bulk or paid for stamps out of his or her own pocket. Can you recall a time when student interests like skateboarding or video were never used as part of learning curriculum because the tools needed were either too expensive or not yet conceptualized? Do you remember a time when non-traditional learners struggled, and absenteeism meant a high likelihood of students doing poorly in school, and possibly having to retake the course?
If you experienced none of these scenarios, then you live in a world of possibility because you grew up with the many social media tools available to support all learners. Selecting the Right Tool Readiness Interests. PBL Pilot: Formative Assessment and PBL. Editor's note: Matt Weyers and co-author Jen Dole, teachers at Byron Middle School in Byron, Minnesota, present the ninth installment in a year-long series documenting their experience of launching a PBL pilot program. Formative assessment is a crucial element of project-based learning and the education profession as a whole. Understanding how to swiftly and adeptly modify the scope of your lesson based on the needs of your students will play an enormous role in their learning. STEM to STEAM: Resource Roundup. 4’33” (Four Minutes and Thirty-Three Seconds): What Our Brains Need.
Glenn Whitman , Director, The Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning Posted 03/23/2015 12:49PM | Last Commented 11/16/2015 11:26AM As my students know, their brains fascinate me and my colleagues. If they think about it, it is the only learning tool that they can never forget for our classes. Design Thinking, Making, and Learning From the Heart. High school social studies teacher Emily Block had used design thinking in her classroom before, but wanted to take it one step farther and have her students learn by making.
Through a course at Scarsdale Schools' Teacher Institute (PDF), Emily incorporated a maker experience into her practice and used design thinking to help her manage the process. Design by Empathy. Kids Speak Out on Student Engagement. A while back, I was asked, "What engages students? " Creativity in the Classroom. One of the things that I hear teachers worrying about is the disappearance of creativity in the curriculum.