6 Tips for Using Blogs in the Classroom
June 22, 2009 by admin
Filed under Teaching Tips, Teaching and Learning Styles
written by contributing writer, Caitlin Smith
Whether you teach young kids or those on their way to college, technology has become an ever present force in their lives and yours. Why not bring a little of this into your lessons as well? Many teachers have begun incorporating blogging into classroom projects, giving students a chance to learn how to use the web for practical purposes (rather than just to social network or chat) and share their hard work with people from all over. Here are some tips to help you get started using blogs as part of your assignments.
1. Give students immediate feedback. One of the great benefits of blogging is that you can give students feedback right on the content they create. You can send it any time and they can read it at any time. Take advantage of this, as it may help kids get excited about the process.
2.Avoid singular class blogs unless all students can participate. The point of blogging isn’t just to get kids using the net, it’s to teach them how it works, how to communicate in text and what information is appropriate for the public sphere. Students may be better served by creating their own blogs or by working in small groups where each student takes a turn at the blogging wheel.
3.Assign a specific purpose. Don’t just let your students blog as they please, make sure that blogging in your classroom serves a specific purpose. Whether you want them to record their daily activities or create weekly reports about an in-class science project, make sure the boundaries of a blog are clearly outlined.
4.Use good blogging tools. This is one area where you want to make sure you use the best tools out there for blogging, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the intricacies of technology. The good thing about this is that many of these are free, at least in a basic form and it won’t cost you a thing to set up accounts and learn more about their features.
5.Consider class RSS feeds. This way, students will be saved the work of checking for updates on their classmates or classroom blog. They’ll have an automatic listing of every time something is updated, making it easier to keep up with the project and get involved on a more personal level. If you have a smaller class, you may even want to consider creating a single aggregation blog that can be a central location to direct students.
6.Tailor it to your own needs. Some teachers state never to use blogs as discussion forums while others encourage it heartily. The reality is that things like this are entirely up to you. If you feel it’s more beneficial to your students one way or the other, it’s up to you to decide, regardless of what any other educator thinks. You know your lesson plan and your students better and can make an informed decision.
Most of all, remember that like any new technology, learning how to make the most of it in the classroom may have a bit of a learning curve. The best way to find out what works is to try new things, so be patient with your blogging endeavor.
This post was contributed by Caitlin Smith, who writes about the accredited online universities. She welcomes your feedback at CaitlinSmith1117 at gmail.com
Get Their Attention in 5 Easy Steps: Tips for Teaching Reluctant Readers and ESL Students
June 21, 2009 by admin
Filed under Teaching Tips
This article originally appeared in Teacher and Principal Quarterly, Fall 08.)
There are few things more challenging than motivating a student who doesn't want to learn. But as all good teachers know, no such student really exists.
Many of my reluctant ESL students became passive when faced with a reading text. Simplifying the texts and giving them a choice in assignments did not help with motivating them. So here are 5 easy tips you can do to help with that problem.
Tip 1: Teach topics that are motivating. Interest and topic are key. As Richard Day points out in "Selecting a Passage for the Reading Class," relating to student interests has implications for facilitating second-language acquisition. Part of getting students interested in reading is to expand their knowledge on topics they enjoy.
Tip 2: Choose Your Text Carefully. Always look at the texts from the students' perspective. Not all texts are exploitable. To evaluate texts, consider the following questions:
1.Lexical exploitability: Do the texts offer an opportunity to acquire some new vocabulary?
2.Structure exploitability: Can students explore text meanings by how the text is set-up?
3.Thematic exploitability: Does the text have the potential to lead into some aspect of discussion?
Don't limit your students' reading experience. Let them read non-fiction and fiction. Poetry offers an almost musical quality to the written word.
I love when I read a "chapter book" to the children from the Usborne book collection. The first time I do this they often say "You forgot to show the picture!" It is with this statement that the book is put aside as we create the images that are missing; I tell them this book does not have many pictures and I ask them what it is they would like to see. In response, I get a description of the people and places created by the children. It is with their imagination that the story comes to life.
Tip 3: Create step-by-step lessons. Start small by using bits of text such as word clues, titles and subtitles. Important vocabulary used in a pre-reading activity can serve as a lead-in to the topic.Encourage predictions whenever possible.
Tip 4:Identify phonic and phonemic skills. Word and letter recognition is the foundation for future comprehension. Once students can decode the words, introduce those words to students and then only in short passages. This builds up their confidence and gives them a reason to continue reading.
Tip 5: Emphasize authentic and meaningful language communication. Students remember targeted words and chunks of language when they are taught in a meaningful way.
Remember, fluency will not occur on its own. Reluctant readers/ESL students need a variety of exposure to and practice with texts that are motivating if they are to become fluent readers. Meaningful vocabulary and comprehension activities help complement the text so that students become motivated and engaged.
Why Non-Fiction Is Important To Reading and Learning
June 14, 2009 by admin
Filed under Teaching Tips, Teaching and Learning Styles
Children learn by taking in pieces of information and categorizing them. They do this all through their schooling years. When they reach puberty they take this information, sort it, and think critically with it. They keep what they know, problem solve or create new ideas.
As a child grows, he or she adds to that warehouse of information. Sadly, many high school and college students do not have that strong solid informational knowledge base to do the work required of them in high school and college. Most college professors assume students know the information they need to summarize an article or understand unknown vocabulary words in context. From as early as possible, children need an ongoing diet of non-fiction reading material and all throughout their schooling years.
Usborne Books are designed to provide information to the child in the way he or she learns it. Usborne books have large beautiful illustrations with small chunks of information around them. The illustrations and the factual text give the child the information in a straight forward, easy to understand way.
Studies show that children are not reading sufficiently, not comprehending what they read, and are not reading enough non-fiction. The only way to succeed with developing good reading habits and ensure comprehension is to read a lot.
What This Means For Teachers
Teachers need to expose students to a variety of motivating non-fiction texts that are challenging. There should be plenty of oral and reading activities to help close some of the reading gaps and especially for English language learners. In fact, teachers should aim for a balanced oral-reading approach. "The research suggests that the reason for the disparity between word-and text-level skills among language-minority students is oral proficiency. Well-developed oral proficiency in English is associated with English reading and writing skills for these students" (August and Shanahan 4).
Practice, Practice, Practice.
With lots of practice, children will learn to sound out words and retain what they read with lots of practice. Usborne non-fiction books are fun, engaging and informational. The large illustrations give clues to the text. Even a lower performing reader can understand what's happening from an Usborne book. The pictures, located directly under or over the easy-to-understand text, help create an emotional response to the information. This response, whether it is happy, sad, or something else helps a child retain the information.
A parent or caregiver should not for one moment, think that a child's reading will take care of itself once s/he enters school. Children have many different ways of learning and what they understood from their early years already affects his/her learning. While teachers will change every year, a parent is the only constant in a child's school career. Parents/teachers can take already ensure that all reading components are in place by taking the following actions:
1.Start the reading process early.
2.Reduce the Summer Brain Drain. Kids can lose up to 60% of what they have learned during the summer months. Experts say reading during the summer is the best way to offset brain drain.Make sure you have a good stock for your kid's summer reading list.
3.Read well and read often.
4.Build an diverse library for your child with plenty of Usborne Books.
5.Include in their library non-fiction, fiction and practical "How To's."
6.Have the books available; be ready at the first initiative to read a book - don't wait until they express interest.
And remember...
* Readers often write well because they have read good literature.
* Readers have a better vocabulary because they are exposed to more words.
* Reading stimulates the mind.
* Reading entertains without dulling the mind like television and video games.
Read good books that will broaden their informational base and shape their futures.
Read books where you will get the most fun and learning for your money.
And just read!
Works Cited
August, Diane, and Timothy Shanahan (Eds.) Executive Summary. Developing Literacy in Second-Language Learners: Report of the National Literacy Panel on Language-Minority Children and Youth. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2006.
Back-To-School Planning Guide
June 8, 2009 by admin
Filed under Classroom Management and Organization
Here is a handy month-by-month checklist to keep you on track for preparing you for back to school.
(adapted from Scholastic's Instructor)
June
* Distribute a summer reading list for students to keep them learning all summer long.
* Read books that will inspire you to be a better teacher.
* Have fun!!!!!
July - August
* Save sales slips for school-related purchases because you can use them for deductions at tax time.
* Decorate and organize your room eye-catching displays that will spark students' imaginations.
* Arrange your room. Place desks so that you can clearly see each student. Store sharp supplies out of reach. Check that there are no exit doors and windows are clear. Check that there are no pwoer cords or loose rugs that students could trip over.
* Mail each of your parents a copy of the school supply checklist to prepare them for the first day of school.
* Take time to meet any new or seasoned teachers. Make sure you also know the librarian, nurse, cafeteria manager, custodians and any other building staff.
* Post class rules in a place where all students can see them.
September
* Get to school early on the first day. You'll need the time to navigate back-to-school traffic, review your plans, realx for a few minutes before the kids arrive.
* Keep in mind that children are often nervous about meeting new teachers, reuniting with friends they haven't seen all summer, and trying to make new friends.
* Establish a dialogue with parents by sending a note home during the first week. Let parents know when you're available and the best way to get in touch with you.
7 Tips On How to Successfully Manage a Classroom
June 8, 2009 by admin
Filed under Classroom Management and Organization
To successfully manage a classroom, teachers need to know how to work with their feelings, assertiveness, and reactions in times of challenging classroom situations. While we cannot change ourselves, we can find ways to adjust and monitor our behavior. Once you know your own personality and management style, you can then use that information to prevent discipline problems.
You can start gaining more insight with this mini self-assessment, one of many on the web designed to help you get a better idea of your personality.
A mentor, coach or classroom management expert can identify those specific areas that often get in the way of making good classroom management decisions. He or she can also give you advice on those specific areas you especially need to pay attention to help focus on your students. Here are some tips and tricks you can already use to monitor your behavior:
1. Wait before you respond to classroom incidents. New teachers tend to respond quickly as a way to reinforce their authority. Before reacting, take a few more seconds to think through your actions allowing you to think more thoughtfully and clearly.
2. Spend time observing your students and how they react to their peers, to different tasks and interact with you. If you can, try to observe a challenging/difficult student in another teacher's class. By acting as a shadow, you will gain valuable insight about that particular student.
3. Start your day as relaxed as possible. Your mood has a great impact in the classroom. The more relaxed you are, the easier it will be for you to deal with stress. And the more positive you'll feel about your teaching abilities too.
4. Use reflective writing techniques to document growth. A learning log or teaching journal enhances the process of teacher growth and helps with self-doubt and uncertainity that is part of the stress of managing a classroom. Teachers can rethink what happened in class, what worked and didn't work to meet their instructional goals, and how their teaching behaviors can change or improve.
5. Collaborate with other teachers. Teachers can begin with an inquiry-based format. Teachers ask themselves questions and then seek answers through collaboration with other teachers.
6. Get as much information you can about your classes and students. Start the school year on the right foot by doing pre-assessments, questionnaires and listening to your students. Developing a good solid relationship with your students is key for preventing discipline problems. Take advantage of the summer with an online classroom management course to also point you in the right direction.
7. Monitor your thoughts and words. What you say and think about yourself is very powerful. Believe in yourself and learn to say positive things about yourself.
The more information you know about yourself and your students, the more confident and prepared you will be. So don't be afraid to work it and you'll soon see the fruits of your hard work!
Summer Reading: Best Books on Classroom Management
June 6, 2009 by admin
Filed under Classroom Management and Organization
If you're a brand new teacher looking for some great teaching ideas and advice, a first or second year teacher, or seasoned teacher, you can already take control of next year's classroom by reading informative and helpful classroom management books.
I know what you're probably thinking - you're looking for suggestions other teachers have tried to improve classroom situations instead of frustrating yourself. So what better way to start using your summer productively? If you only have time to read one good book and want to improve your classroom management skills, here a short list of engaging books that can help you exactly with that problem.
1.The First Days of School by Harry and Rosemary Wong is an outstanding resource for classroom management and learning how to be an effective teacher. A light and entertaining read too!
2.Classroom Management that Works by Robert J. Marzano, which is a research based strategy book.
3. Tools for Teaching by Fred Jones.
4. The Daily 5. It is a book that gives ideas on what to do when you are working with small groups or students individually. Click here to check it out on the website.
5. Teaching with Love and Logic by Jim Fay.
6. Building Classroom Discipline by C.M. Charles
Click here to examine all these and more affordable books on classroom management for parents, teachers and administrators.
Teaching Tips and Ideas for the End of the School Year
June 6, 2009 by admin
Filed under Teaching Tips
The end of the school year is a tough time for teachers and students which seems to drag on and on. While it's normal for students and teachers to think about finishing the school year, it's important to keep yourself motivated and continue to put the focus on your students - not yourself!
As for lesson planning, the key is to do something different each time and to think a bit outside the box without creating too much chaos while keeping learning fun. Here are a few ideas to help get you started:
1. Have students do music videos, some personal web pages, a multi-media PR kit on a particular topic. For example, if you teach history, you could have the students create a historical event of their choosing and then open it up for the elementary students to come and see them.
2. You could have your students work on starting the scrapbook that they'll be required to keep during their senior year.
3. You could show movies/videos based on the literature they had been reading and then distribute study guides/trivia questions. You could make it into a competition or say, "how many questions can you answer in X minutes."
4. Use the Internet to participate in an interactive learning site.
5. Allow your students to use art supplies to create end of the year projects.
If you find yourself thinking ahead too much wishing the school year would come to an end already, choose to just take one day at a time, or one class period at a time and try to not think about only x number of days left beyond what you need to do for planning purposes.
