Other Resources: STEM The organizations listed below offer web-based educational resources within the Health Science Career Cluster. This list is provided as a resource for community college faculty. It is not exhaustive and inclusion does not constitute endorsement by CORD, the League for Innovation, the States Career Cluster Initiative or the U.S. The Collaborative for Gender Equity in Emerging Technologies The Collaborative for Gender Equity in Emerging Technologies provides resources developed by the Center for Occupational Research and Development (CORD) and the Center for Systems Security and Information Assurance (CSSIA) under a National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education Project. Teaching the Process of Science Visionlearning is an innovative educational resource designed for students, teachers, parents or anyone interested in learning. Science Education Resource Center (SERC) SERC works to improve education through projects that support educators.
How To Build Classroom Community; It’s Not What You Think Years ago—I was a fourth grade teacher at the time—the principal mandated every grade level to choose one way to build community in their classrooms. We had to agree on something as a team, and then follow through with the idea for an entire school year. Dubious of the assignment’s value, the other fourth grade teachers and I decided to kill two birds with one stone. Since letter writing was a grade level standard, we chose to do weekly “kind” letters. A kind letter is just what it sounds like. The sole guideline, other than proper letter-writing form, was to write something you liked or admired about that person. The idea being, if we focus on being nice to each other, it will encourage community-like behavior. But it’s a weak community builder. Internal Motivation Building classroom community is teacher-speak for saying that we want our students to have camaraderie and teamwork. There is no internal motivation. Three Conditions Nope. Unfortunately no. The conditions are: 1. 2. 3.
What Has Credibility With Google Natives? 40 Things That Have Credibility with Google Natives by Terry Heick Google launched 16 years ago, in 1998. That means your average high school student has never known a world without Google. Being able to Google “things” really was an interesting leap that we now take for granted. Students today–those who “grew up Google”–are now a kind of mash of social media, YouTube, and search engine (though oddly, no one under the age of 30 likes Google+), which has given them a unique view of reality. This matters for teachers, of course, because we need to know what has credibility in their eyes. The themes are simple enough: being rebellious, social, and fun-loving. 40 Things That Have Credibility with Students That Grew Up Google 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. gif animations (especially using iconic gif animations to reflect your response to social events) 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. ask.fm (this one’s weird–I don’t get it) 33. 34. 35. 36.
6 Powerful Ways To Build Community In my previous article, I covered three conditions that best build classroom community. To review, they are: The presence of an enticing goal.Every class member is needed to achieve the goal.A chance of failure. Much like the close-knit bonds developed on a successful athletic team, these conditions allow teamwork and camaraderie to happen naturally. Your students, then, will work together and care for each other because they want to, not because you tell them to. This is an important distinction. The former develops lasting friendships, adds leverage to classroom management, and has the power to awaken the most jaded students. All three conditions can be incorporated easily into any classroom. 1. Having a classroom to compete against offers ready-made goals and countless opportunities to build community. 2. Take advantage of opportunities to perform at school events, holiday shows, or parent meetings. 3. 4. Create a fixed academic goal for your class to pursue. 5. 6. Your enthusiasm.
The STEMAZing Project How To Handle Talkative Students At Thanksgiving dinner, my grandfather used to blurt out whatever was on his mind, interrupt others while they were talking, and dominate the conversation. I was a grade schooler at the time, but if I could, I would have put him in time-out so the rest of us could join in the conversation. But behavior like this isn’t just rude at Thanksgiving. If there are students in your classroom who talk when they’re supposed to be listening or working, academic progress will suffer. A teacher recently said to me, “My students are talking all the time, but I put up with it because I think it’s good to have open discussion in the classroom.” I was speechless, but thought, “My gosh! She went on to say that she has major behavior problems every year and has received her share of complaints from parents. Very delicately I said, “I think it might.” Allowing students to freely talk without permission is like driving an old jalopy; progress only comes in fits and starts, and you’ll never reach top speed.
How To Become A Classroom Management Natural It is said that classroom management comes easy to a lucky few. That some teachers are naturals. They walk into a classroom and somehow, mysteriously, the students just know to be at their best. But here’s the thing. If you peek beneath the surface of these “naturals,” if you take a close look at how they interact with students, you’ll discover no mystery at all. The same qualities that make classroom management look effortless for them… are available to you. You too can be a natural. Here’s how: Be calm. Teachers who radiate a sense of calm have an almost otherworldly effect on students. Be friendly. Natural teachers have a genuine, friendly attitude toward students. Be determined. Natural teachers have a bit of bulldog in them. Be aware. Naturals in classroom management are sharp, perceptive, and acutely aware of everything that happens in their classroom. Be fun. Be confident. Be forgiving. Teachers with a forgiving nature are afforded greater influence. Be polite. Be unflappable. Be dependable.
Do Your Students Know You’re In Charge? In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.~Thomas Jefferson Have you ever taught a lesson in another teacher’s classroom? In other words, have you ever taught students whose classroom behaviors, attitudes, and habits have been shaped by someone other than yourself? It’s an odd and enlightening experience. Sometimes, if the teacher is good, it can be very pleasant. The difference between a classroom taught by an effective teacher and one taught by someone struggling with classroom management is striking. You know within five minutes how much–or how little–learning is taking place. There is a lot that stands out in your mind while teaching students from both ends of the classroom management spectrum. When a teacher leaves a leadership vacuum of any kind, and to any degree, the students will fill it with a vengeance. So how do you know if this is happening to you? There are three telltale signs: 1. They’ll give frequent suggestions and reminders. 2.
How To Avoid Teacher Burnout Teacher burnout, which happens when stress and mental fatigue become more than occasional companions, strikes many thousands of teachers every year. Reports suggest roughly half of all teachers quit within five years. And it’s no wonder. It’s also avoidable. No matter where you teach or who your students are, you not only can protect yourself from burnout, but you can wake up every morning refreshed, excited, and ready to teach. Here’s how: Lean on your classroom management plan. The number one cause of stress among teachers is trying to convince students to behave. Instead, when a student misbehaves, simply and dispassionately enforce a consequence, and then move on to more important things. Be an early bird. A common cause of teacher burnout is being crunched for time—time to prepare, time to organize, time to sit and gather your thoughts. Don’t ease into your day. Free your mind. Being organized is the ultimate de-stressor. Leave school at school. Exercise. Go for a brisk walk. Eat for energy.
How Your Classroom Environment Can Improve Behavior At its best, classroom management is elegantly simple. Take, for instance, your room environment. A disorganized, unkempt, or clutter-filled classroom sends the message to your students that poor behavior and middling work habits is acceptable—regardless of how often or how forcefully you say otherwise. Because if your classroom environment doesn’t match your call for excellence, hard work, and respect, then you might as well be talking to the art projects fading and curling on your walls. Stacked boxes, messy work areas, disorganized and overflowing cabinets, cramped aisles and walkways, papers piled on your desk, various materials and resources jumbled here and there… Clearing it all out and replacing it with a clean, organized classroom will do wonders for behavior in your classroom. Here’s why: It commands reverence. Adults and students alike walk into bright, neatly arranged classrooms like they’re walking into a museum. It’s inviting. It’s a statement of respect. It makes a statement.
Why You Should Take Your Time Responding To Misbehavior It’s common practice for teachers to interrupt misbehavior as it’s occurring. The idea being that if you react quickly enough, you’ll be able to cut off the wrongdoing before it escalates. This is a typical response from anyone wanting to stay on top of classroom management. And like a beat cop who aggressively tamps down neighborhood trouble before it gets a toehold, it makes sense. But you’re not a police officer, nor should you be so gung-ho to get in on the action. It’s best to observe from a short distance, responding only after the misbehavior has played itself out. Here’s why: It allows you to be the witness. If you get involved too soon, it will be a challenge sorting through what happened and who is deserving of a consequence. It deescalates the behavior. It saves learning time. It allows for introspection. A delayed response gives your students a chance to think twice about their misbehavior. It keeps you cool. Watchful Eyes If you haven’t done so already, please join us.
The One Thing Standing In Your Way Of Having Your Dream Class The one thing standing in your way of creating the class you’ve always wanted is believing that you can. With no shortage of teachers willing to tell you why you can’t—and how naive you are to think otherwise—this is no easy task. There are also dozens of justifications and excuses right at your fingertips, just waiting for you to pull out whenever you’re feeling discouraged. The parents don’t care. My classroom is overcrowded. There is no support from administration. I have a challenging class this year. My students are noisy and won’t listen to me. I have too many difficult students. And on and on… The truth is, no matter where you teach or what your circumstances are, you can have what you want. But if you don’t believe deep down in your heart that you can, if you don’t think it’s possible for you, then you never will. What follows is a practical way to put all the doubts to rest and start believing in YOU. Create a vision. Think of your ideal class. Eliminate excuses and negative thoughts.
The Best Of Smart Classroom Management 2011 Hooray! It’s the best of Smart Classroom Management 2011! Happy New Year! And thanks for being a regular reader of Smart Classroom Management! 2011 has been an exciting year. I know from the hundreds of emails we receive that many of you for the first time are experiencing the freedom and deep satisfaction of exceptional classroom management. I love hearing your success stories and the remarkable transformations you’re making to your classrooms. This week I’ve been looking ahead at the article topics planned for 2012, and I can’t wait to get started. But before we jump into the new year, I’d like to share with you the very best articles of 2011. Drum roll, please… 10 Reasons Why You Should Never, Ever Yell At StudentsWhy Laughter Makes Classroom Management More EffectiveLosing Control Of Your Class? There you have it, the best of Smart Classroom Management 2011. Here’s to creating your dream class in 2012! Happy New Year! Michael If you haven’t done so already, please join us.