Lesson Planning Tips for Working with Different Student Levels
August 31, 2009 by admin
Filed under Teaching and Learning Styles
Teachers use differentiated teaching to cater to diverse learning needs. All students are different in terms of their achievement, ability, learning and cognitive styles as well as attitudes, pace of learning, personality and motivation.
Using Differentiated Instruction with Different Students
The lower performing and average students are motivated to try and increase their knowledge because of the input of the stronger students.
Using differentiated instruction, teachers cater to a wide variety of varied interests, cultural backgrounds and world knowledge which results in more dynamic classroom interaction.
The teacher’s attitude is central in setting the scene for the acceptance of differences.
How Differentiation Instruction Works
Same Activity – Different Tasks
One way to implement differentiated instruction is to plan different tasks for the same activity. This may be teaching a grammar point or a pre-reading activity or any activity for that matter. After the initial input of the teacher, there are two main options for assigning tasks.
* Quantity – the same task can be assigned to the whole class, but students do not have to do the same amount of questions or exercises. The students are given a choice. For example, they can be asked to answer only some of the questions while others try and answer all the questions.
* Level of difficulty – The teacher can adapt the task to two or three different levels which allows the student to choose the level he/she feels most comfortable with in terms of completing. The bottom line is that the teacher adapts already existing activities in the textbook, without having to make up additional activities.
Using Differentiated Instruction to Teach Reading and Science Lessons
Teachers can use the principles of differentiated instruction to teach reading and science. In such cases, teachers are using differentiated instructional strategies in a cross-curricular way.
Same activity – different tasks
* Lower performing reading group: students read a passage and list names of people, places and numbers and then, classify them into groups. Teachers can use reading comprehension skills in other subjects of the curriculum such as reading a passage on bugs and insect for a science activity.
* Middle reading group – students answer questions that relate to general ideas
* Advanced reading group – students read the passage and answer detailed questions. They can also guess unknown words and look up their meanings in a dictionary.
Teachers can use differentiated instruction involve planning lessons that can meet the needs of all the students. Teachers can use a variety of differentiated teaching strategies to cater to a diverse learning needs.
5 New Teacher Tips for Bonding with New Colleagues
August 31, 2009 by admin
Filed under Teaching Tips
It is not practical for any new teacher to work in isolation. New teachers who do not feel nurtured in their school environment, are usually to first to consider the prospect of leaving their teaching positions.
While starting out can be uncomfortable, there are ways to approach teachers that can naturally lead to collaboration which is a necessary and vital ingredient for new teacher survival.
If you are new to your school or have changed grades and don't know your co-teachers very well, consider the following ideas to help you bond with your new colleagues:
1.Quick 5 minute idea share. Approach a teacher with a lesson plan or teaching idea and say: "What do you think of this idea? I'd like to get your feedback on it? Let me know what you think." Why not share a worksheet or an activity that went well? This is great for relationship building. Avoid keeping things to yourself.
2. Volunteer to take an active role in a professional learning/teaching committee. You don't have to spend oodles of volunteer time just enough to stay connected. Are you good at organizing or filing? Perhaps volunteer to organize materials for a staff in-service day. If you aren't sure if any volunteer work is needed, ask around.
3. Start an email chain. This is perhaps the least time consuming activity which can be easily implemented at any time of day. It's the best solution for harried new teachers You can decide on the purpose or theme of the email beforehand. Is it a quick check-in or to disseminate important information? Perhaps you want to just share a few ideas. Again, you can use tactic #1 to help start the conversation along.
4. Connect with teachers online. Create an informative online presence and help teachers network using social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Before you befriend a colleague on facebook, send them a private message letting them know that you wish to connect with them professionally and you understand that there are limited time and resources available during a busy school day. Many teachers these days do supplement their teaching efforts online.
5. Create a professional learning community or committee. I realize teachers are busy people but learning is a necessary part of new teacher survival. If you are interested in a teaching methodology or idea, spread the interest with your co-teachers. If this doesn't generate enough interest in the beginning, then start small by sharing ideas or an activity that worked well. (see tactic #1)
Remember, bonding doesn't necessarily mean you owe allegiance to be that teacher's best friend but to connect professionally by building a learning community. Always have something to bring to others and your bonding efforts will gradually pay off!
A Teacher’s Back-to-School Supply List
August 17, 2009 by admin
Filed under Classroom Management and Organization
By Howard Seeman, Ph.D
Each summer, teachers send home to parents a list of school supplies students will need during the upcoming school year. Until now, however, little thought has been given to the school supplies teachers might find useful. Noted educator Howard Seeman corrects that oversight with this back-to-school list for the well-equipped teacher. Included: Twenty-seven must-have items.
1. A piece of chalk -- in case the classroom you're assigned to has none.
2. An eraser or small rag -- in case the classroom you're assigned to has none.
3. A piece of colored chalk -- in case you want to underscore something.
4. A few rubber bands -- in case you need to band some things together.
5. A pad of sticky-notes -- in case you want to stick a note onto something.
6. A mechanical lead pencil -- because they're always sharp, don't require a pencil sharpener, and are fine, clear, and erasable.
7. Press-on white labels (either address label size or one-line width labels) -- so you can white out or label anything.
8. A black ink ballpoint pen -- for making carbon copies or for writing that's more reproducible by a copier than that produced by a blue ink pen.
9. A package of 3 x 5 cards -- for class participation exercises, sort-able notes, hall passes…
10. A yellow highlighter pen -- to highlight points in your lesson plan that you inadvertently omitted, need to review….
11. A colored pen -- to write evaluative notes on students' tests, homework…
12. Loose-leaf reinforcements -- to keep pages from falling out of your binder.
13. Wet-wash pad or wipes -- for quick cleanups.
14. A single-edged razor blade (instead of bulky scissors) -- for cutting out magazine articles, pictures... They usually come with a protective cardboard over the blade.
15. A small tin of aspirin -- in case of a headache.
16. Some large and small paper clips -- to clip together homework or test papers from particular class periods.
17. A piece of carbon paper -- in case you want to keep a copy of notes you write to parents or students.
18. A see-through plastic pencil case -- to carry all the above items.
19. An appointment book -- to keep track of weekly appointments, things to do…
20. A cell phone.
21. A grade book -- for taking attendance, checking homework, giving credit for class participation…
22. A pad of newsprint (rolled up?) -- to make notes on; especially useful when you'll teach the same lesson more than once-- in different rooms.
23. A magic marker or two -- to make notes with.
24. A small stapler -- for securely posting items on a bulletin board or attaching papers.
25. Cardboard -- to place over a door or window to cut down on hallway distractions.
26. A small can of machine oil -- in case a squeaky seat or door distracts students.
27. This list -- to check over a couple of days before school starts.
This is just one of helpful things you will learn at: Pro-Ed Media: Classroom Management Online PREVENTING discipline problems.
The next session starts on Oct. 5 and goes till Nov. 16.
Recommended Reading: Classroom Discipline 101
August 13, 2009 by admin
Filed under Classroom Management and Organization
Craig Seganti presents classroom strategies that really work!
1.How to teach your students to follow instructions -- without complaining.
2.Learn how to get the most from noisy students, defiant students, disruptive students, argumentative students, students who don't pay attention, and disrespectful students!
3.Deal with major crises and confrontations quickly, calmly, and professionally
4.Lower your stress level and prevent burnout and enjoy your job more!
Find out how to prevent behavior problems before they arise!
Click here for more information
15 Ways For Teachers to Get Organized for the Beginning of the School Year
August 10, 2009 by admin
Filed under Classroom Management and Organization
All teachers need a user-friendly system to help stay on top of the endless marking, checking and workpages. Plan as thoroughly as you can and if you don’t already have one, develop a system of organization. It’s truly amazing how much paperwork and marking goes into the first year. It’s easy for a new teacher to feel overwhelmed and confused. Try to avoid these initial feelings by planning your lessons ahead as much as you can. Rely on a system that is easy and user friendly. Consider these tips when organizing or opening your classroom for the fall semester.
Remember, being well organized and having well prepared lessons are also important to having a well-managed class.
1) Have a computer backup plan. Purchase a flash drive, a hard drive, or consider creating a google documents account.
2) If you use a paper-based program, prepare everything you need for a smooth entry into the school year. Prepare important calendar dates; wait until your class is
established to copy in the students. If you've working with an electronic system, decide on the grade weights or averaging system and establish the formula in the software.
Make sure you have a storage plan.
3) Have a plan for storing handouts like a stacking/filing system and a specific location for finding those stacks. Keep only 1 master copy of each file and recyle last year's bulk copies. Make sure you have a copy on your computer!
4) Prepare a make-up work plan and location that is ready for action by the first day of school. You never know when you'll need it!
5) Choose a location for this year's paperwork. If you keep an individual student file for each student, have an organizational system for each class. If you keep a separate file for each course or section, organize by that system too. Try really, really, really hard to have an empty file cabinet drawer for this year. You can at least lay the papers down in the file cabinet and close the drawer, even if there's no time or perhaps need to file in folders.
6) Old pictures and newspaper clippings tend to yellow and turn brittle. Laminate colorful pictures and recycle the rest. Libraries are a great place to donate unwanted textbooks and old readers that students no longer need.
7) For teachers in a staff teaching the same grade(s), a communal file or folder can be helpful for quick and easy access of workpages. Again, these should be divided into skill-sets and subjects.
Organize your own supplementary resource material. This can be a teacher's checklist that you consult and use frequently, some uplifting words for bad days, or a a list of reminders.
9) Have a folder with the school policies and regulations. You should especially know where you stand in terms of how your school deals with discipline problems. Having this file within easy access will definitely help you when you are confronted with difficult and unanticipated classroom situations, which undoubtedly will happen.
10) If you are a reading teacher, you might want to have a folder for informal reading comments as you listen to your students read the first week. Pre-assessments (click on pre-assessments) during the first weeks of school are especially important for getting to know your students.
11) Have folders with letters ready to send home on first or second day to parents. You may consider a separate drawer with different letter folders.
12) Keep a folder with the necessary handouts for any new student that may arrive a week or a month later. There's nothing worse than running around the room looking for important handouts for a new student!
13) If applicable, hang a bus list. Keep an extra copy in your folder.
14) Make sure you have a schedule for lunch and PE posted. This is VERY important to the students. Again, keep a master copy in your folder.
15) Have a folder with blank journal templates for the first day of school. Younger students can write a letter to their parents telling them all the things they learned that day. Older ones can write a list of goals setting their intentions for a good school year. Keep additional folders of blank seating charts, blank papers and other templates.
Okay, that's it for now. I hope I'm not forgetting something! If so, leave a comment. I'll respond to it.
Have a good summer and a smooth back-to-school landing!
