Article Here
A nice little tribute for all the Father's out there. I enjoyed reading this article as I have a 2 month old son now and look forward to sharing my "wisdom" with him as he gets older.
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Sunday, June 17, 2012
Article Here
Just a list of educators using twitter and a top 15 list. I use twitter somewhat, not very often and usually only for comedic relief and what is going on at MSU.
Just a list of educators using twitter and a top 15 list. I use twitter somewhat, not very often and usually only for comedic relief and what is going on at MSU.
Clickers
Article Here
Here is an interesting article on student response systems (clickers) and how they compare to a traditional classroom setting. Kids from traditional classes and clicker classes did not have a difference in test scores, however students felt like they belonged more and participated more with the clickers. It is a good way to get instant feedback. There are also other links to clicker webpages.
Here is an interesting article on student response systems (clickers) and how they compare to a traditional classroom setting. Kids from traditional classes and clicker classes did not have a difference in test scores, however students felt like they belonged more and participated more with the clickers. It is a good way to get instant feedback. There are also other links to clicker webpages.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Kickstarter
Article Here
This article explains what the website kickstarter is all about. I heard about this website a while ago when I was listening to NPR on my way to work one morning. The segment was about this company making coffee beans that you put into your coffee and it will keep it your perfect temperature for long periods of time. The story peeked my interest and I have checked on a few of the projects but have not donated yet, maybe I will one day!
This article explains what the website kickstarter is all about. I heard about this website a while ago when I was listening to NPR on my way to work one morning. The segment was about this company making coffee beans that you put into your coffee and it will keep it your perfect temperature for long periods of time. The story peeked my interest and I have checked on a few of the projects but have not donated yet, maybe I will one day!
Summer Time!
Article Here
This article lists things that educators should do during the summer to stay active. I plan on doing 9 out of the 10 activities, I just do not get art. Living near the MSU campus it is nice to walk around the gardens there as well as learning something new either at the gardens or in the planetarium. My wife and I would like to visit the Holocaust Museum in Farmington Hills, Mi as we have not been there in a long time (over 14 years for me).
This article lists things that educators should do during the summer to stay active. I plan on doing 9 out of the 10 activities, I just do not get art. Living near the MSU campus it is nice to walk around the gardens there as well as learning something new either at the gardens or in the planetarium. My wife and I would like to visit the Holocaust Museum in Farmington Hills, Mi as we have not been there in a long time (over 14 years for me).
PLC's
Article Here
This article talks about how PLC's are becoming one of the best ways for educators to utilize their time in school to improve student performance. PLC's have been in my district for the last year and a half and we get to spend a lot of time with other teachers who teach in the same curriculum area as we do (social studies for me) and we meet once or twice a month to talk about student achievement. The article explains that for PLC's to thrive, teachers to need to collaborate and work as a TEAM, which I feel our PLC does very well. PLC's take time to implement and results take time and effort (not in the first year).
This article talks about how PLC's are becoming one of the best ways for educators to utilize their time in school to improve student performance. PLC's have been in my district for the last year and a half and we get to spend a lot of time with other teachers who teach in the same curriculum area as we do (social studies for me) and we meet once or twice a month to talk about student achievement. The article explains that for PLC's to thrive, teachers to need to collaborate and work as a TEAM, which I feel our PLC does very well. PLC's take time to implement and results take time and effort (not in the first year).
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Virtual Schools
Article Here
A good article that shows how virtual schools are joining in with traditional schools instead of being against them. The author uses good details of his own past experiences. The district I teach in uses virtual schools for the alternative education, credit recovery program after school, and for summer school. It has helped more students who may have slipped through the cracks be successful and graduate from our district.
A good article that shows how virtual schools are joining in with traditional schools instead of being against them. The author uses good details of his own past experiences. The district I teach in uses virtual schools for the alternative education, credit recovery program after school, and for summer school. It has helped more students who may have slipped through the cracks be successful and graduate from our district.
PBL's
Article Here
A good article about why teachers should bot shy away from project based learning and using standardized tests. It gives good examples such as using released test questions in a PBL activity.
A good article about why teachers should bot shy away from project based learning and using standardized tests. It gives good examples such as using released test questions in a PBL activity.
Common Core
Article here
With Common Core coming to the state of Michigan and elsewhere across the United States, I found this article to be helpful for thinking about next year. It provides good tips on how to use the Common Core and links to use in your classroom, I personally love rubistar4teachers.org. My district has been pushing informational reading in the classroom and it is something I am going to try and incorporate more of next year!
With Common Core coming to the state of Michigan and elsewhere across the United States, I found this article to be helpful for thinking about next year. It provides good tips on how to use the Common Core and links to use in your classroom, I personally love rubistar4teachers.org. My district has been pushing informational reading in the classroom and it is something I am going to try and incorporate more of next year!
Monday, May 28, 2012
End of Year
Article Here
Some really good tips for teachers who are about to embark on summer break. I always wanted to learn a second language (have very basic understanding of some Spanish) and maybe after my master's classes are over I will attempt it!
Some really good tips for teachers who are about to embark on summer break. I always wanted to learn a second language (have very basic understanding of some Spanish) and maybe after my master's classes are over I will attempt it!
Supplies
Article Here
My wife and I are both teachers and having enough supplies is always an issue, whether it is colored pencils, tissue, pencils, clorox wipes, and so much more and how much of our budget should go to our classrooms. Now that we became first time parents and thankfully it will be awhile before our son starts school, it is always nice to think about donation to your child's classroom.
My wife and I are both teachers and having enough supplies is always an issue, whether it is colored pencils, tissue, pencils, clorox wipes, and so much more and how much of our budget should go to our classrooms. Now that we became first time parents and thankfully it will be awhile before our son starts school, it is always nice to think about donation to your child's classroom.
Grading
Link Here
When reading this article about grading it hit home on a lot of things that I do in my classroom. For example, points for attempt and completion, I always make sure to give my students some points if they attempt an assignment. I also try to keep my classroom up to date, talking about what is going on in the world and to let my students ask questions that they may not feel comfortable asking elsewhere.
When reading this article about grading it hit home on a lot of things that I do in my classroom. For example, points for attempt and completion, I always make sure to give my students some points if they attempt an assignment. I also try to keep my classroom up to date, talking about what is going on in the world and to let my students ask questions that they may not feel comfortable asking elsewhere.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Public blogging
Article Here
A decent read about if we should publish our blogs for the public to see. I would have no problems of my students or their parents reading my blog. Hopefully they would see some of the articles I posted and I could get a "thank you."
A decent read about if we should publish our blogs for the public to see. I would have no problems of my students or their parents reading my blog. Hopefully they would see some of the articles I posted and I could get a "thank you."
Why Teachers Teach
Article Here
Just a good reminder why we do what we do. Check out the extra link of 99 reasons article-it made me smile!
Just a good reminder why we do what we do. Check out the extra link of 99 reasons article-it made me smile!
Online Teaching
Article Here
I thought that this website was relevant due to the fact that our wiki just had us argue about online education. There are some good facts in this article like using wikis and discussion boards. That really rings a bell with what we are doing in here. The article also points out that a lot of online teachers are using it as a second job because of how flexible online teaching is. There is a lot of good links to help out online teachers as well.
I thought that this website was relevant due to the fact that our wiki just had us argue about online education. There are some good facts in this article like using wikis and discussion boards. That really rings a bell with what we are doing in here. The article also points out that a lot of online teachers are using it as a second job because of how flexible online teaching is. There is a lot of good links to help out online teachers as well.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Teachers
Article here
Honestly I do not have a lot to say about this article other than it speaks the TRUTH!
Honestly I do not have a lot to say about this article other than it speaks the TRUTH!
Engaging PD?
Article here
I think that all school administrators need to read this article on how to make PD worthwhile. When I was first hired some of the PD we did was not worthwhile and to put it simply, boring. We have started to work in Professional Learning Communities both building and district wide. Our PD days have been much more productive in the last couple of years since we implemented PLC's.
I think that all school administrators need to read this article on how to make PD worthwhile. When I was first hired some of the PD we did was not worthwhile and to put it simply, boring. We have started to work in Professional Learning Communities both building and district wide. Our PD days have been much more productive in the last couple of years since we implemented PLC's.
High School App Classes
Article here
Students developing apps in high school is quickly becoming a reality. What a great idea for high schools that have the resources to develop this program. Students can work on development of the app, how to market the app, pricing and so much more. This would help students in a real world situation, learning skills that they can take to the job market!
Students developing apps in high school is quickly becoming a reality. What a great idea for high schools that have the resources to develop this program. Students can work on development of the app, how to market the app, pricing and so much more. This would help students in a real world situation, learning skills that they can take to the job market!
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Students Speak!
Link Here
After I read this article I thought about one of the end of the year activities in my classroom where I have students write down what we did in class that they enjoyed and what could I work on in the future to engage more students. Students all love to get out of their seats and work in pairs, these two answers are always close to the top of my list. The one thing students feel that would work better in the future is to have less reading strategies in my class and more buddy reading, or one student read to the class. This is the one thing that I am very strict about, I love using reading strategies and find that when one student reads the rest of the class is not fully engaged.
After I read this article I thought about one of the end of the year activities in my classroom where I have students write down what we did in class that they enjoyed and what could I work on in the future to engage more students. Students all love to get out of their seats and work in pairs, these two answers are always close to the top of my list. The one thing students feel that would work better in the future is to have less reading strategies in my class and more buddy reading, or one student read to the class. This is the one thing that I am very strict about, I love using reading strategies and find that when one student reads the rest of the class is not fully engaged.
Social Media in Schools
Link Here
This story provides a way to open your school to social media with excellent guidelines to follow, plenty of links to check out for supporting your goal, as well as reflection questions to make sure you stay on track. The one item that I would add is to the organizing a team, I would also include parents in on this project as well. Where I work we send out weekly grade level newsletter via email as well as have a facebook page to tell students and parents about upcoming events. The parents find it very useful and we get back positive feedback!
This story provides a way to open your school to social media with excellent guidelines to follow, plenty of links to check out for supporting your goal, as well as reflection questions to make sure you stay on track. The one item that I would add is to the organizing a team, I would also include parents in on this project as well. Where I work we send out weekly grade level newsletter via email as well as have a facebook page to tell students and parents about upcoming events. The parents find it very useful and we get back positive feedback!
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Wikipedia is good
So as I have been reading about Wikipedia lately I have come to the conclusion that the website is reliable and students should use it as a source of information. In my class I had always told my students not to use the website-anyone can edit and make mistakes on it. However, research has shown that Wikipedia is just as reliable as Encyclopedia Britannica. In the future my students will be able to use Wikipedia as a source as long as they think about the information being presented to them and to "use their head" (the information makes sense).
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