8 ways teachers can talk less and get kids talking more If you do fewer teacher-directed activities, that means the kids will naturally do more talking, doesn’t it? Not necessarily. I have often found myself talking almost constantly during group work and student-directed projects because I’m trying to push kids’ thinking, provide feedback, and help them stay on task. Even when the learning has been turned over to the students, it’s still tempting to spend too much time giving directions, repeating important information, and telling students how they did instead of asking them to reflect on their work. Here are 8 ways teachers can talk less and get students talking more: 1. It can be uncomfortable to watch kids struggle to figure out an answer, but they need time and silence to work through it. 2. It’s easy to get in an instructional rut when you stand at the same place near the board all day long. 3. 4. A lot of the talking most of us do throughout the day is related to student behavior, and most of the time, we’re wasting our breath. 5. 6.
Easy Differentiation with Colored Folders Guest post by Kelly Witt Differentiation is the buzzword that just keeps on buzzing! Teachers, administrators, and evaluation systems are placing more and more emphasis on differentiation in the classroom. Most teachers have folders everywhere, so the set up is pretty easy. Students simply go to their centers and retrieve the colored folders that represent their learning groups, i.e. the “red group” or the “blue group”. Three Ways to Differentiate Instruction Differentiation can be accomplished in three ways: through product, content or process. For example, all of these students were reading or listening to our latest Weekly Reader. To differentiate the process for each group, you may have one listening to the text, one partner reading, and one group reading independently. Differentiating content is another way to address the varying needs within your classroom. All teachers manage centers in different ways, and what works for you might not work for your neighbor and vice versa.
Nobel Prize Superstickers Modern Learning Environments – the underlying philosophy to success | Karen Boyes Speaker Modern Learning Environments (MLE) are all the talk in educational circles right now. Schools, around the world, are knocking out walls and creating bright stimulating classrooms with multi purpose furniture and giving students access to technology. On the surface it looks fantastic, however I am concerned that without a big pedagogy shift, students will be simply just learning the same way many teachers have been teaching – just in bigger classrooms with new furniture. MLE’s are so much more than the bright new furniture and the technology. When moving from a structured, and often heavily teacher-dominated classroom, to a less formal student led environment it is paramount students understand their role and responsibilities as the learner and indeed the learning process. Here are five considerations that are vital to address for success. Be clear on your underlying philosophy of learning. Do you believe all students can learn? Create a safe environment by redefining mistakes and failure
20 Questions To Guide Inquiry-Based Learning 20 Questions To Guide Inquiry-Based Learning Recently we took at look at the phases of inquiry-based learning through a framework, and even apps that were conducive to inquiry-based learning on the iPad. During our research for the phases framework, we stumbled across the following breakdown of the inquiry process for learning on 21stcenturyhsie.weebly.com (who offer the references that appear below the graphic). Most helpfully, it offers 20 questions that can guide student research at any stage, including: What do I want to know about this topic? These stages have some overlap with self-directed learning. References Cross, M. (1996). Kuhlthau, C., Maniotes, L., & Caspari, A. (2007).
Unique Teaching Resources: Lesson Plans, Book Report Projects, Bulletin Board Displays What's the difference between accuracy and precision? - Matt Anticole Scientists (and engineers) are used to taking measurements and working with numerical data. With numerical data, we can try to identify patterns hidden in nature. With those patterns, we can begin to understand, predict, and perhaps ultimately control the world that surrounds us. Because data is so important to scientists and engineers, sometimes they need to worry about more than just whether they are right or wrong. They have developed what seems like a secret language to help them describe their measurements in more detail. What is the difference between a Number and a Measurement? Taking a measurement requires you to use a measuring tool of some sort: a ruler, a thermometer, a graduated cylinder, etc. What is accuracy? What can change the accuracy of a measurement? While accuracy is easy enough to understand, it does have an underlying weakness. Be careful though, some people assume that if you write a lot of digits after the decimal point, the measurement has to be accurate.
101 Report Card Comments to Use Now Four times a year I’m given the monumental task of creating report cards that leave an accurate record of my students’ performance in the classroom without making anybody cry. As a teacher, it is our duty to be truthful, but we also need to be tactful. This week I’ll share with you some of the tried and true report card comments that I have used over the years. I’ll also give you a peek into over forty of my actual report card comments that may give you a few ideas and save you valuable time when you write your own comments this year. Start on a Positive Note I always begin each comment with a general statement letting the parents know how happy I am to be teaching their child, or how much their child is learning and growing: It has truly been a pleasure getting to know your child this quarter. Provide Specific Information Across Several Different Areas Next, include formative evidence that lets the parents know how you view their child as a person, a classmate, and a student. Behavior Math
The Educator with a Growth Mindset: A Staff Workshop I had the great privilege of facilitating a staff workshop on growth mindsets for the teachers and staff at Carlos Rosario International School and more recently at ISTE 2015. Participants were given access to the slide deck in order interact with the slides and resources during the workshop. What follows are the activities along with some of the resources used during the workshop. It began with the viewing of a few “inspirational” videos. Exploring the Characteristics of Growth v Fixed Mindsets Online resources were provided and small groups (prearranged prior to the workshop based on teaching disciplines) were asked to explore and list the characteristics of both growth and fixed mindsets. They provided with a link to this The Educator and the Growth Mindset Thinglink (which contains lots of linked resources). They were also given: The participants were asked to bring their own devices. They were then asked to flip their tarps. Like this:
The Power of Twitter: Personalized PD At Your Fingertips | The Golden Age of Education Have you ever wanted to be in two places at the same time? Do you often feel as if you’re being pulled in three directions? In my roles as teacher, technology staff developer and father of four I frequently feel this way. Saturday was a good example of this as there were two education conferences in the NY Metropolitan area that I really wanted to attend, but family responsibilities prevented me from going to either of them. However, Twitter made it possible for me to “be” in three places at once! Long Island Connected Educators Summit 2015 (#CELI15) Teachers’ College Reading and Writing Project 88th Reunion (#TCRWP) Learning NEVER Stops on Twitter The awesome power of Twitter allowed me to participate in both conferences simultaneously while at my son’s snowy LAX practice. Six Take-Aways From My Personalized PD Session on Twitter: This is just a little taste of what I learned in one afternoon of riding hashtags. Like this: Like Loading...
The How’s and Why’s of Going ‘Full STEAM Ahead’ In Your Classroom | EdSurge News EdSurge Newsletters Receive weekly emails on edtech products, companies, and events that matter. Giving children the tools to succeed in a rapidly changing technology-based economy is the key to ensuring their future success. Making sure kids are excited by science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts hasn’t been America’s strong suit, but with the “STEAM” movement, we have a shot at engaging kids like never before. What is STEAM? STEAM, an interdisciplinary spin on STEM that includes an “A” for art, is an integral part of influencing kids’ interest in STEM by allowing kids to explore these subjects through hands-on making. The STEAM movement has inspired new school systems, companies and organizations to create new and engaging learning experiences that have captured kids’ interest. Kids yelling about the Pythagorean theorem sounds like the STEAM movement is doing something right. Looking to find STEAM projects for your kids? But...