Using Technology in the Classroom - Edutopia

Edutopia bloggers and writers made short videos to talk about how to use new media in the classroom. They discuss using different tools such as a GPS device, YouTube, wikis, Twitter, and the Wii gaming system. How do you think you could apply any of them to your own classroom?

Celebrate What is Great About Schools

I read this article with much interest this morning. I am touched by the author's elevation and celebration of educators across America. We should celebrate what goes on in classrooms all across our nation!

Lately, all I've been hearing and reading has been quite negative toward public schools and the educators and support people who work in them. It is high time faculty and staff members are congratulated for everything they do to educate our children!

Teacher Appreciation Week is this week here in the United States. Write or email one or two of your former teachers sharing something that you remember that they did to make you feel special!

I kept in touch with my second grade teacher until she died a few years ago. Arlene Shuck loved me and I adored her. She never stifled my creativity and encouraged my love of reading. After leaving Highland Park Elementary, she let me come back and "help" her whenever I asked to do so. In high school, we didn't have to report for semester exams if we had perfect attendance, so I would always return to Mrs. Shuck's room just to bask in her love. After graduation, she and I exchanged Christmas cards every year until her passing. I knew I wanted to be just like her when I grew up. She never played favorites! When my classmates gathered for our tenth high school reunion, everyone who had Mrs. Shuck for second grade thought THEY were her teacher's pet! It just goes to show you, teachers are remembered more for how they treated students, rather than for what they taught them!

Appreciate a teacher today and be proud of your own accomplishments!

Copyright Issues

In my master’s degree program we did a large amount of research. One of the topics I chose to examine was copyright and fair use laws. All teachers need to be aware of these laws.  In my experience, most teachers are either not aware of these laws, or just ignore them.  In fact, I was unaware of the information of which I collected in my research of the topic. I believe teachers should be aware of repercussions of not following copyright laws and fair use policies.

Perhaps your school gives professional development about copyright and fair use policies. Most schools have fair use policies in their faculty and/or school policy handbooks. If not, I am linking my Delicious files and an “Overview and General Information on Copyright and Fair Use Law Websites” list I created in order to assist teachers when they had questions about copyright and fair use.

There may not be a “copyright cop” in your building, but you should know your responsibilities regarding fair use and copyright policies.

Have you ever thought about copyright issues when you made copies from a textbook or workbook? Share your questions and opinions here!


Photo courtesy of: http://www.copyrightauthority.com/copyright-symbol/

English Language Learners

From http://bit.ly/hmr6TA

I recently read this article about the implementation of ELL professional development in two of Austin, Texas' high schools. The school received extensive training and coaching from Quality Teaching for English Learners. Some of the teachers have become such experts at coaching that Austin has decided to staff the training programs with their own teachers! After two years of using the QTEL skills, the district found that it was moderately effective.

When I was working in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, I was privileged to be selected for Sheltered Instruction training through the State Department of Education. In some ways, this training transformed my teaching practice. I found the training to be timely because a child had been placed in my classroom just before Christmas and he did not speak any English. Using the Sheltered Instruction strategies I learned, I was better able to manage my new student's learning. I used the SI strategies with my whole class, and as a result, all my students' learning improved.

I highly recommend attendance at any ELL professional development you can locate. Seek it out! Tulsa Public Schools has a notable list of resources regarding ELL instruction. Take a look at the lesson plan ideas and weblinks sections.

By the way, that student who entered my room in December, speaking NO English, was reading his first Harry Potter book by April! (He was already a fluent reader in his own language, which is an advantage.) I was so proud of him!

Do you have ELL students in your classroom? What teaching strategies have you used to increase their learning capacity? Do you have any great ideas to share? Please comment!

'Gen Y' Teachers

I wanted to share this article from Education Week with you. Something that I took away from the article was that younger teachers are used to the "social-ness" of life because of websites like Facebook and Twitter. I also understand that they want to share more and would like their teaching practice be more "transparent." Do you think that's true, Gen Y teachers? Do you think you share more of your teaching experiences because of your social awareness and ability to post on FB, Twitter, or a blog?

The author cited a study conducted on charter school teachers who were "coached" rather than evaluated. In some teaching experiences (mine, for example), first-year teachers are helped along by teachers in their building or on their grade level. What about first-year teachers who are placed in rural schools where they are the only teacher on a certain grade level? What if the person who is assigned by the school to assist you is contrary, uncooperative, or simply burned out?

What are your thoughts? How can we "experienced" teachers help you?


Picture from: http://lopezdelagomez.com/2/Work.html

TEN Wordle

Here's a wordle of the TEN's content. You can tell what topics are most important from this! I just LOVE Wordle! If you want to see it much larger and detailed, just click on it!

Rewarding Students

I just finished reading this article about rewarding students. The author does a good job explaining what it is to reward students either intrinsically or extrinsically. Over 20 years of teaching, I have used both to varying degrees of success. Sometimes you have to take the "easy" way out and give them little stickers, toys, treats, etc. just to get through the day. However, I do know that intrinsic rewards are longer-lasting and positive ways to reward students.

When I first started teaching, I gave the students sticker sheets and they got a sticker every day that they didn't get their name on the board or their card turned or their ticket taken away, or whatever. (Those are behavior management tools I have used at different times.) After an established number of stickers, the student got to choose their reward. I had a metal ring that held together laminated circles with writing on them. The choices were a mixture of rewards such as "being first in line," "free drink pass," "piece of candy," etc. You might be surprised that the most requested reward was this: "positive note home to parents." Believe me, sometimes it was hard to come up with something positive to say if it took the kid 3 weeks to get 5 stickers, but I did it. The thing was, that after those notes went home with a particularly difficult child, their behavior changed positively! Now that's a reward (for me)!

My first year of teaching I was blessed with a great bunch of kids and didn't have many discipline problems. My second year was in my top 5 worst challenging years, though. I learned a lot from those kids. My third year was my dream class... I still keep in touch with many of the kids from all my past years of teaching. I was even able to teach with one of my students from my first year of teaching! What a great experience! Who knew back in fourth grade that the girl who played with "Kleenex dolls" would end up a teacher!? LOVE it! I'm always surprised when one of "my kids" wants to be friends on Facebook, but I always "friend" them. I'll love my kids forever.

Anyway, I'm rambling and reminiscing. Reward yourself today by taking the time to read this little article and do the short exercises at the end. It's an eye-opener! You might also read this one too, as it contains valuable advice as well.

I bet you earned a sticker today!