The 6 Ways Teachers Want To Change Schools The results of the recently released MetLife Survey of the American Teacher weren’t surprising to many teachers, as it chronicled a steep decline in teacher job satisfaction. In fact, teachers’ job satisfaction is at its lowest level since 1987. Of the 1,000 teachers polled, only 39 percent claimed they were “very satisfied” with their profession. It is clear from the survey that American teachers are concerned with the state of their profession but more troubling to us, they are not being given a voice in school reform or educational initiatives–decisions usually made by people far removed from local school districts. So, what do teachers want? Smaller Class Sizes A desire for smaller class sizes dominated the responses we received. Unfortunately, we know that in many school districts class sizes continue to get larger. Classrooms Without Walls The teachers we polled called for classroom walls to be torn down–both literally and figuratively. More Books More Choice, Fewer Grades
The Dos and Don'ts of Classroom Management: Your 25 Best Tips Posted 08/20/2014 1:55PM | Last Commented 03/29/2016 9:48AM Classroom management is a delicate balancing act often learned through experience and trial-and-error experimentation. Whether you're a new or experienced teacher, having strategies for effective classroom management is essential for creating positive, successful learning spaces (and staying sane!). In this presentation you’ll find 25 tips for managing your classroom. They were contributed by educators from Edutopia’s community in response to a discussion by blogger Larry Ferlazzo asking users to share their most valuable classroom management advice. Without further ado, here are the Dos and Don'ts of Classroom Management: Your 25 Best Tips: Each classroom is different, so please come back and share what you've learned and what works for you! NOTE: If you're having trouble viewing the presentation, click here to view it directly.
Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning by Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III, and Mark A. [The links in this post are Amazon Affiliate links. Remember college, when you’d crack open your textbook, pop the top off your brand-new highlighter, then start smearing that sucker across line after line of text, making the important stuff stand out so you could reread it and reread it some more? This phenomenon is explained in our summer 2015 book pick, Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning. Although the reading can sometimes be challenging, the concepts are illustrated beautifully in a series of anecdotes from sports, the military, music, and even corporate training to demonstrate how learning in any field is still learning; the principles hold up no matter where they are applied. Anyone who teaches anything would benefit from reading this book: coaches, tutors, classroom teachers, parents, even corporate trainers. 1. 2. 3. 4. Listen now: Listen on iTunes Get Transcript
New Pedagogies For the Digital Age 15 Habits For Learning In The 21st Century 10.89K Views 0 Likes Defining 21st century skills is an editorial matter, but part of a larger, important conversation. How To Improve Learner Engagement With eLearning Software 5.05K Views 0 Likes Interaction and learner engagement have long been recognized for their critical role in the learning process. How A Tornado Inspired Innovation In Joplin, MO Schools 5.84K Views 0 Likes On May 22, 2011, at about dinnertime, an EF5 tornado ripped through Joplin, MO. Back to School: Rules and Routines in the Classroom I admit it. I allowed students to chew gum in class. Why? The point is that if you have a rule, you have to follow it yourself or the kids will question you, and worse, lose respect. Follow Through Rules have consequences, and routines have reminders. Once you make a rule, you have to stick to it. All the other students are watching and expecting the follow through. Choosing Routines to Emphasize There will be procedures and routines that will take several seconds to go over and then others that are more in-depth. You will want to address all scenarios for getting out of one's seat: sharpening a pencil, getting supplies or a tissue, turning in work, etc. There isn't really a limit to how many routines and procedures you have, but you will need to make sure that each one is clear to every learner in your room that first week of school. Transparency Be it a rule or routine, kids have to know what it looks like and examples Day One. The Ultimate Goal
Teaching Secrets: Get to Know Students Through Seating Challenges Published Online: June 27, 2012 By Sandy Merz Where do I sit? It's the universal first question, at the top of students' minds as they cross the threshold of my room on the first day of class. Many teachers start the semester with students seated alphabetically: It's easy and aids in learning names. Others may wait to make a seating chart until they get to know their students. I've tried both of these approaches with my 8th graders. However, these practices don't demand anything from students. I've found that by engaging students in seating challenges, I set a positive collaborative tone from the first day. On the first five days of class, my students determine where they sit based on team problem-solving activities. In return, students learn to expect me to be prepared, organized, and supportive—as opposed to being authoritative and having all the answers. Here's how the approach works in my middle school classroom, which seats 32 students around five large tables. Day 3 is different.
10 valuable features of LinkedIn March 17, 2013 by NovaNews Not so long ago, a friend asked me about the difference between LinkedIn and Facebook. With numerous ‘friends’ already in her network, this friend really felt that joining LinkedIn was an overkill and just not worth the effort. On the surface, she felt that they each offered the same value. Perhaps others too have faced this dilemma. What’s the value of one Social Networking site over another? I admit to having taken a while to sort out some answers for myself. For the moment, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are the Social Networking sites I’m using. But my friend’s basic question remains. As previously written in a post about LinkedIn – The power of social media – I don’t hesitatie endorsing it’s value to others. LinkedIn is not just for those out there looking for a new job! Detailed profiles become a digital portfolio. Profile headlines create an instant digital identity. Profile details should be correct, accurate and legitimate! LinkedIn email is a bonus!
Classroom Management in the Tech-Equipped Classroom Over the past two days, I have had the opportunity to visit nearly 300 classrooms at Grafton Public Schools. As I walk through classrooms to ensure that all technology pieces are working effectively and efficiently, I notice the way classroom management is happening. The one consistent element across grades K-12 is that active learning is taking place -- I notice all students involved or engaged in an activity. Occasionally, there is technology involved as well. But the key element in classroom management, whether using technology or not, is to ensure that students are actively participating in the learning process, not simply receiving it. What's Plan B? When you're integrating technology and designing a classroom management strategy, it's always best to think about the kind of scene that I just described and first focus on active learning. How will the technology or application I'm integrating help students grow in their learning? Keep It Smart and Simple Well, you don't have to.