More and more I discover that teachers will not get all the recourses need to do what the administration asks. They great thing about using internet recourses is that they are FREE!
Here is an on going list of helpful teacher aiding sites.
http://www.teach-nology.com/
This site gives links to lessons that other teacher have posted online. They also have free worksheets and rubric builders in every thing, all subjects all grades. It is also a great way to find other useful web sites on a particular subject.
http://www.brainpop.com/
A student centered educational web site that is fun. It goes through all the core subjects with your guides Tim (human) and Moby (robot). Their are flash videos, quizzes, activities and work sheets.
It would be fun to have as an extra or supplement.
http://www.education-world.com/
This site is exactly what it sounds. It is a free printable mecca. It has worksheets by grade and subject, substitute teacher materials, color sheets. It also has advice sent in by other teachers on procedures, classroom management, rules, discipline, every thing.
http://kamccollum.wordpress.com/
This one is a collection of post by teachers. They list experiances and solutions. All on this site are very well educated.
http://www.teach-nology.com
This web site as well as featuring all the latest teaching gadgets has a handy worksheet maker. Its great for neat and easy-to-look at Venn Diagrams.
Welcome
Something about Me
Allow me to introduce myself. I am an elementary education student at the University of South Alabama. My name is Hannah Callais. My blog is about general thoughts and ideas on teaching. I am just now starting to observe in schools so any thoughts or criticism would be helpful. Don't be afraid to comment on any of my blogs to correct or point an angle I didn't see.
Thanks for all your help!!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Podcasts as a teaching tool
Podcasts and internet videos make great teaching tools. They can visually display a complicated concept easily, and show that the information is relevant out side of class. . For example a lesson on the solar system.
I particularly like this video because its presented by a student in elementary school. It not only illustrates a lot of information (I can fast forward as needed) but it shows my class that they can also be smart,and do projects. It also teaches motivation. If Jordan can do it, I can do it too.
I would use this video as an introduction to a unite and as an attention getter to get the student excited.
I particularly like this video because its presented by a student in elementary school. It not only illustrates a lot of information (I can fast forward as needed) but it shows my class that they can also be smart,and do projects. It also teaches motivation. If Jordan can do it, I can do it too.
I would use this video as an introduction to a unite and as an attention getter to get the student excited.
Motivation
There are different types of motivation. But intrinsic motivation is most important to encourage.
This type of motivation is when students are interested in learning with out the aid of a bribe.
"If you do well, we'll have free time" is better than"I know you can do well, try and beat your last score!!" In addition to encouragement call out the students who got 100 and hand them their paper with an applause from the class.
If you give a bribe your class they won't cooperate with out one.
Another Tip to Increase motivation is to post student work on the walls or hang them from the ceiling (it may be the only space left). This is to instill class room pride. They get to see their work displayed and the work of others.
Give the students a choice. They will always work harder on an assignment they choose to do.
Knowledge of factors and situations that promote or diminish intrinsic motivation.
Have a token economy. It allows the students a way to earn treats and promotes a positive work ethic.
Try to use interactive and student centered learning. The time were actual learning takes place is the time were the students are active. One way to do this is to have lessons and reviews structured as games.
Use praise and rewards. The key to good behavior is to promote positive actions not just to punish negative actions.
This type of motivation is when students are interested in learning with out the aid of a bribe.
"If you do well, we'll have free time" is better than"I know you can do well, try and beat your last score!!" In addition to encouragement call out the students who got 100 and hand them their paper with an applause from the class.
If you give a bribe your class they won't cooperate with out one.
Another Tip to Increase motivation is to post student work on the walls or hang them from the ceiling (it may be the only space left). This is to instill class room pride. They get to see their work displayed and the work of others.
Give the students a choice. They will always work harder on an assignment they choose to do.
Knowledge of factors and situations that promote or diminish intrinsic motivation.
Have a token economy. It allows the students a way to earn treats and promotes a positive work ethic.
Try to use interactive and student centered learning. The time were actual learning takes place is the time were the students are active. One way to do this is to have lessons and reviews structured as games.
Use praise and rewards. The key to good behavior is to promote positive actions not just to punish negative actions.
The Classroom
Class room arrangement is important, especially in an elementary class room.
When I was in school I was told to sit in the "T". If the desks were set up in rows the "T" is the first row and the middle column. Supposedly students who sit in the "T" do better than students who don't. And of course study after study reports that student who sit in the back do poorly.
Personally I think rows are a bad idea, due to the seat-education correlation. Wouldn't it be a better to arrange desks into groups or a circle? As long as all student can see the board and no one is facing a window.
When I was in school I was told to sit in the "T". If the desks were set up in rows the "T" is the first row and the middle column. Supposedly students who sit in the "T" do better than students who don't. And of course study after study reports that student who sit in the back do poorly.
Personally I think rows are a bad idea, due to the seat-education correlation. Wouldn't it be a better to arrange desks into groups or a circle? As long as all student can see the board and no one is facing a window.
Parent Involvement
Send letter/e-mail to encourage parent class room volunteers
ask them to volunteer for a certain subject (give class schedule)
send letter every so often to remind them the offer still stands
Be careful of parents volunteering so they can tutor their own kid
try to give parents the "fun" activities or tasks suited to their comfort level
remember to thank and give appreciation
Field trip volunteers
make sure to start give out letters a month in advance
send letters every week until slots are filled to remind them
make sure parents are aware of their responsibilities
remember to thank and give appreciation
Event volunteers
always give a month or a few weeks advanced notice
For bake sales or "food" events sent home a volunteer slip with options to bring, have parent fill out and student bring back
Give parents a list of the years events at beginning of the year, and have them sign up then (E mail or send letter home to remind them a few weeks before event.
Always send letter home or email to ask for volunteers a few weeks before an event.
Other
send biweekly progress report home with e-mail to keep open communication
try experimenting with a parent/teacher web site
Let parents know that you can schedule meetings after 5:00pm to accommodate work.
Give assignments that require parent involvement or signature
ask them to volunteer for a certain subject (give class schedule)
send letter every so often to remind them the offer still stands
Be careful of parents volunteering so they can tutor their own kid
try to give parents the "fun" activities or tasks suited to their comfort level
remember to thank and give appreciation
Field trip volunteers
make sure to start give out letters a month in advance
send letters every week until slots are filled to remind them
make sure parents are aware of their responsibilities
remember to thank and give appreciation
Event volunteers
always give a month or a few weeks advanced notice
For bake sales or "food" events sent home a volunteer slip with options to bring, have parent fill out and student bring back
Give parents a list of the years events at beginning of the year, and have them sign up then (E mail or send letter home to remind them a few weeks before event.
Always send letter home or email to ask for volunteers a few weeks before an event.
Other
send biweekly progress report home with e-mail to keep open communication
try experimenting with a parent/teacher web site
Let parents know that you can schedule meetings after 5:00pm to accommodate work.
Give assignments that require parent involvement or signature
Teacher Time
Teacher Time is an idea I had to help deal with all the other noneducational issues that are found in schools. Issues like tattling, cheating bullying, and so forth.
What my idea entails is that thirty minutes are set aside at the end of the day once a week to teach about these issues and to address what's going on in class.
I think that if the non-educational issues are discussed then it will make the rest of the week go smoothly. It also gives the chance for a student to give their opinion and to understand what's going on in the classroom, which I am lead to believe rarely happens. Students at the elementary level are a handful but they seem to require so little to make them feel good about going to school. Just letting them know that you understand what's going on in the class makes a difference to them.
It also helps them understand appropriate and inappropriate behavior. For example "what is the difference between telling and tattling?" Young students have trouble telling the difference.
What my idea entails is that thirty minutes are set aside at the end of the day once a week to teach about these issues and to address what's going on in class.
I think that if the non-educational issues are discussed then it will make the rest of the week go smoothly. It also gives the chance for a student to give their opinion and to understand what's going on in the classroom, which I am lead to believe rarely happens. Students at the elementary level are a handful but they seem to require so little to make them feel good about going to school. Just letting them know that you understand what's going on in the class makes a difference to them.
It also helps them understand appropriate and inappropriate behavior. For example "what is the difference between telling and tattling?" Young students have trouble telling the difference.
Teacher Time Topics
Time at the end of the day were I can discuss other issues that go on
Citizenship
Bullying
Diversity
Tattling
How To Handle Anger
Toleration
Respect
Attitude
Internet Safety
Fighting/Violence
How to behave for a substitute
Cheating
Stealing
Problem solving
Cooperation/team work
Bullying
Diversity
Tattling
How To Handle Anger
Toleration
Respect
Attitude
Internet Safety
Fighting/Violence
How to behave for a substitute
Cheating
Stealing
Problem solving
Cooperation/team work
Review Classroom Procedures
Medication At School
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