Kids Speak Out on Student Engagement
"Teens find it most interesting and exciting when there is a little bit of talking involved. Discussions help clear the tense atmosphere in a classroom and allow students to participate in their own learning." 2. "I believe that when students participate in "learning by doing" it helps them focus more. "We have entered a digital age of video, Facebook, Twitter, etc., and they [have] become more of a daily thing for teens and students. 3. "I believe that it all boils down to relationships. "If you relate the topic to the students' lives, then it makes the concept easier to grasp." "Students are most interested when the curriculum applies to more than just the textbook. "What I think engages a student most is interactions with real-life dilemmas and an opportunity to learn how to solve them. "I like to explore beyond the range of what normal textbooks allow us to do through hands-on techniques such as project-based learning. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. "Also, you can't go wrong with some comedy.
12 Must Watch TED Talks for Teachers
January 11, 2015 TED is another wonderful source of educational and inspirational videos to use in your class and for your professional development. A few days ago TED released its annual list of the most popular talks of the year featuring a number of interesting presentations covering different topics (e.g ). However, the list we have curated for you below goes beyond’s TED official collection to embed some wonderful talks directly relevant for us in education. 2- How to Escape Education's Death Valley by Sir Ken Robinson 3- The Key to Success ?
44 Prompts Merging Reflective Thinking With Bloom's Taxonomy
44 Prompts Merging Reflective Thinking With Bloom’s Taxonomy by Peter Pappas It’s been four years since I first published my “Taxonomy of Reflection.” My interest in reflective thinking is rooted in a simple but powerful statement by Donald Finkel who wrote that teaching should be thought of as “providing experience, provoking reflection.” Most school mission statements include a reference to “fostering life-long learners.” Unfortunately, self-reflection is rarely taught in school. I developed my Taxonomy of Reflection in an effort to provide a schema of prompts that could be used by students, teachers and administrators to hone their reflective skills. Seen through Bloom, that’s the equivalent of “Remembering: Retrieving, recognizing, and recalling relevant knowledge from short- or long-term memory.” Below are 44 sample of higher order reflective prompts. 1. Student 2. 3. Teacher 4. 5. 6. Principal 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29.
New Teachers: Classroom Management Essentials
Before I share my thoughts, I must make a disclaimer. If you’re looking for a magic solution to classroom challenges, the following will be helpful, but don’t expect major changes overnight. And please remember that a strong instructional philosophy (i.e., how one believes students best learn) and a well-thought-out lesson plan form the foundation for effective student learning. With all that said, the following are four must-haves for a successful classroom. 1. “We are going to have a test on this” is not something that usually inspires a great deal of urgency in most students. Nothing provides urgency for a student better than having to show others what they know. Finally, give frequent checks for understanding. 2. One of the challenges of working with young people is that they often want everything immediately. It’s also key that students realize the wonderful growth they have had by giving them opportunities to reflect. 3. 4. Actively monitor student progress and behavior.
30 Great Books for Teachers and Educators
January 2 , 2015 Since its inception last year, our Pinterest board ‘Great Books for Teachers’ have grown so much in popularity with more than 16k followers and over 170 pins. During 2015, we reviewed a number of interesting books covering different topics from project based learning to teachers professional development. Some of these titles have particularly generated so much buzz in our PLNs in social media websites. Below is a selection of some of the most popular books we have reviewed in 2015. Check them out if you haven’t already had the chance to see them. Enjoy Self-development Books for Teachers 1- The Art of Learning: A Journey in the Pursuit of Excellence , by Josh Witzkin2- Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning Hardcover , by Peter C. Books on Delivering Successful Presentations Books on Problem-based Learning 1- Problem-Based Learning: An Inquiry Approach by John F. Books on 21st Century Literacies 1- New Literacies: Everyday Practices and Social Learning .
My 2015 in Review: Distractions, Health, and Focusing on Scale
Hey everyone! We’ve now reached the end of the year — how has your year been? Are you looking forward to 2016? Initially I was thinking of not writing a 2015 year-end review (and possibly stop my public year-end reviews), as I wasn’t sure if anyone even followed my reviews. But a PE reader, Jessica Gonzalez, recently mentioned on my FB page about looking forward to reading my 2015 review, which surprised me as I hadn’t mentioned anything about writing a year-end review on PE this year. The only way someone would know would be if he/she is a long-time reader who followed my past reviews, so thanks, Jessica! If writing this would matter to even one person, then yes, I’ll continue to write my annual reviews on PE, at least for this year. Overall, I’d say this year has been a year of distractions and health concerns. 2015: Positive Highlights My first major milestone this year is actually a financial one. My third highlight is my PA (personal assistant). In comes my assistant, Lina.
12 Mistakes All Teachers Make (And How to Get Past Them) - WeAreTeachers
We’ve all made mistakes in the classroom. A spelling error left for students to catch or losing our patience during a moment of weakness. We’ve all been there, but the key is to be aware enough to use those moments to grow as a teacher and as a person. I love this quote, and I remind myself of it regularly—especially when I still find myself making some of the mistakes listed below. 1. When we start out, we are fueled up and can’t wait to get started. 2. Before stepping foot into our own classroom, we dream of having that beautifully decorated room filled with Pinterest ideas gone right and color-coordinated walls. 3. One of the biggest challenges facing teachers is classroom management. 4. I try to think of ways that relationships with families can help the classroom environment and strengthen student outcomes. 5. Teacher burnout is a real thing and unfortunately leads to many hard-working educators leaving the profession too early. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.We take it personally.
30 Things To Tell Students You'll Never See Again
What To Tell Students You’ll Never See Again by Terry Heick At the end of every school year, you lose dozens of relationships that changed you. That’s no small thing. Teaching is a personal act that binds teacher and student together even if that binding isn’t made in mutual affection. Every year when students walk out of class for the last time, there can be a lot of emotions. Yes, through email, social media, and return visits to the school you can still “talk” to students, but once they’re gone it’s not the same. So below are 30 ideas to get you started, based off a similar post we did last year. 30 Things To Tell Students You’ll Never See Again 1. 2. 2. 3. 4. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. It may work out differently for you–and that’s the point. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. This post is republished from a 2014 post; Image attribution flickr user woodleywonderworks; 30 Things To Tell Students You’ll Never See Again
