Common Core: 5 Technology Tools To Measure Text Complexity by Kellie Ady, District Instructional Technology Coordinator, Cherry Creek Schools I posted some time ago about finding accessible online text, but a recent blog post from Eye on Education (“How to Select Complex Text to Increase Rigor”) made me think about revisiting the topic. My original post was more about finding reading passages for differentiation purposes, but the Common Core’s approach to measuring text complexity has now elevated that need to a whole new level. This post specifically addresses one aspect of text complexity — what the Common Core terms “quantitative evaluation.” Currently, there are many web-based tools that help with the quantitative evaluation of books (for example, you can use Barnes and Noble to search by Lexile measure); however, as our students will likely be reading a combination of print and digital materials (especially in states giving the PARCC test), tools that help identify scales for online or digital text are also necessary. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
249 Bloom's Taxonomy Verbs For Critical Thinking Bloom’s Taxonomy’s verbs–also know as power verbs or thinking verbs–are extraordinarily powerful instructional planning tools. In fact, next to the concept of backwards-design and power standards, they are likely the most useful tool a teacher-as-learning-designer has access to. Why? They can be used for curriculum mapping, assessment design, lesson planning, personalizing and differentiating learning, and almost any other “thing” a teacher–or student–has to do. For example, if a standard asks students to infer and demonstrate an author’s position using evidence from the text, there’s a lot built into that kind of task. Though the chart below reads left to right, it’s ideal to imagine it as a kind of incline, with Knowledge at the bottom, and Create at the top. 249 Bloom’s Taxonomy Verbs For Critical Thinking
This sentence has five words. | kunjulam This sentence has five words. Here are five more words. Five-word sentences are fine. Like this: Like Loading... Developing 21st Century Critical Thinkers | Teaching Strategies | Mentoring Minds As we venture into the 21st century, we as a society, are faced with more innovation and challenge than ever before. We now live in an interconnected world, where the Internet and global communications are simultaneously uniting and isolating us as a society. How do we raise critical thinkers to best face the challenges that face our modern society? Click here to download an 11X17 version of the "Developing 21st-Century Critical Thinkers" infographic. Embed This Image On Your Site (copy code below):
5 Powerful Questions Teachers Can Ask Students My first year teaching a literacy coach came to observe my classroom. After the students left, she commented on how I asked the whole class a question, would wait just a few seconds, and then answer it myself. "It's cute," she added. So that day, I learned about wait/think time. Many would agree that for inquiry to be alive and well in a classroom that, amongst other things, the teacher needs to be expert at asking strategic questions, and not only asking well-designed ones, but ones that will also lead students to questions of their own. Keeping It Simple I also learned over the years that asking straightforward, simply-worded questions can be just as effective as those intricate ones. #1. This question interrupts us from telling too much. #2. After students share what they think, this follow-up question pushes them to provide reasoning for their thinking. #3. #4. This question can inspire students to extend their thinking and share further evidence for their ideas. #5.
Critical Thinking - Making the most of your coursebook - ELT Connect I joined in yesterday in the Macmillan Education online conference and Ed Newbon’s webinar in particular on Critical Thinking Skills really got me, well…thinking. He argued that our role as teachers is changing, that nowadays it is not enough for students to only speak English, they need to have transferable skills for work, studies etc. Critical thinking is one of the skills that we can incorporate into the ELT classroom which can help students perform in the outside world. So what is critical thinking? Newbon gave several examples but in a nutshell, it is seen as higher level thinking: problem solving, making judgements, evaluation and reflection. Do you already incorporate critical thinking into your classes? Is there time in amongst all the learning outcomes, aims and syllabus requirements to even squeeze this into a lesson? Practical Ideas to use in class Lindsay Clandfield suggested taking quotes and deleting the last line. Do students want this style of teaching in class? Over to you
untitled 21st Century Icebreakers: 11 Ways To Get To Know Your Students with Technology In honor of the start of a new school year, I am sharing one of my popular posts again with you with a couple of new additions! On Monday I will begin my new job. As I’ve mentioned before, I will be working as a Technology Resource Specialist as well as teaching a couple of classes. As always, I am nervous and excited for the first day of school, and eager to meet a new group of students. As an educator, I often find myself repeating the same icebreakers each year, trying to quickly get to know my students through “Two Truths and a Lie” or a “Getting To Know You” fact sheet. In an effort to bring my own classroom to the present, I’ve put together a list of 13 icebreakers that use technology and fit with 21st century students: Have students create a Pinterest board with 10 pins that summarizes them.Ask students to create a 30 second podcast that introduces themselves. Have any other 21st century icebreakers? Like this: Like Loading...
10 Team-Building Games That Promote Collaborative Critical Thinking One of education’s primary goals is to groom the next generation of little humans to succeed in the “real world.” Yes, there are mounds of curricula they must master in a wide breadth of subjects, but education does not begin and end with a textbook or test. Other skills must be honed, too, not the least of which is how to get along with their peers and work well with others. Students must be engaged and cooperation must be practiced, and often. 10 Team-Building Games That Promote Collaborative Critical Thinking 1. This team-building game is flexible. You can recycle this activity throughout the year by adapting the challenge or materials to specific content areas. Skills: Communication; problem-solving 2. This activity can get messy and may be suitable for older children who can follow safety guidelines when working with raw eggs. Skills: Problem-solving, creative collaboration 3. Zoom is a classic classroom cooperative game that never seems to go out of style. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 10.
Google Classroom Training Skip to content Skip to navigation Skip to login Beginning of dialog content User Settings End of dialog content Log In opens form dialog Help FAQ Google Classroom Training Description Google™ Classroom is designed to help teachers create and collect assignments paperlessly. Try out the unlocked free sample tutorials below, or learn more about subscription options. A. B. C. D. Tutorial series by Deb Reymundo-Atchison Google is a trademark of Google. Tools Create Easy Links Share Your Expertise Have a passion for ed tech? Tell Me More Request Information Request a Quote for Site Licensing Funding Information Research Grants and More Intellectual Property Rights Terms of Use Accessibility Privacy Policy Contact Us Share Your Idea Careers Site Map ©2015 Atomic Learning, Inc. :opens in a new window opens form dialog Atomic Learning Think Tank ideas.atomiclearning.com