Articles In The Classroom Management Category
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Successful Schools: Great teachers (Part 2 of 2)
image from iStock
It is very clear that great teachers make a difference, as discussed in Part 1. What is unclear, however, is how to truly measure a teacher’s greatness.
One interesting model comes from Teach for America, a nonprofit that recruits college graduates to spend two years teaching in low-income schools. Through the 2-year duration, student test-score data is linked to each teacher. Starting in 2002, Teach for America began using student test-score progress data to put teachers into one of three categories: those who move their students one and … -
How to Measure Your Effectiveness as a Teacher
Effective teachers matter, and they matter quite a bit. In a study done by three Harvard and Columbia researchers, it was found that “students with highly effective elementary- and middle-school teachers were more likely to go to college, had lower teenage pregnancy rates and earned more as adults.” (Source)
But how do we measure educator effectiveness? Finding the answer to this question has been known to cause intense, passionate discussions; however, the move toward more structured educator effectiveness systems is actually a good thing. It shows that we care about empowering … -
Brain-based learning: Teaching to the Brain
image from iStock
Brain Awareness Week is a worldwide campaign that brings schools, families, and communities together to celebrate the brain—and it begins next week (March 11-17). So in honor of this celebration, I plan to focus this post around a teaching technique known as brain-based learning.
You may ask, isn’t all learning brain-based? Not exactly. With brain-based learning, specific methods are brought in that allow the brain’s natural learning processes to function. Its core principles state that (from HERE):Each brain is unique
The brain can perform several activities at once
Learning involves … -
Tactics for Teaching English-Language Learners
Teaching English-Language Learners (ELLs) is one of my favorite topics. I’ve taught ELLs in three countries overseas and have volunteered in ELL settings in the U.S. It is wonderful how common it is for classrooms in the U.S. to be filled with many different language speakers–but it is also extremely challenging for both teachers and students.
Because this is so common, it is important for every educator to understand that they will need to step into the shoes of a language teacher at some point. So, when that time comes—or if … -
Project-Based Learning: How to do it
So far, in my series of blog posts on Project-Based Learning (PBL), I have shared what PBL is and why it should be used. While it is easy to tell someone about PBL and the benefits involved, the same is not true for explaining how to do it. Because each class is unique, deciding how to use PBL is really up to the teacher and the students. So, I must preface this last post in the series by saying–these are general guidelines that can (and should!) be customized to your …
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Sharing Love for Learning with Students
Valentine’s Day often includes chocolates, letters, and hearts, but at the end of the day it all comes down to one thing—love! Not only is it a great day to share something sweet, but I also believe it is an ideal time to share the love for learning with students.
image from iStock
Love of Learning entails having a passionate interest in gaining knowledge about the world and one’s place in it; working hard in school to learn and improve skills; being curious and pursuing subjects of interest; applying learning strengths; finding … -
Six Steps to Increase School Security
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Although one of the worst mass school shootings in U.S. history, the event that unfolded at Sandy Hook Elementary was certainly not the first. Nationwide, parents, educators, and communities are readdressing the important question of school safety.
These important discussions revolve around increased feelings of helplessness in what seems to be a new or increased threat to our children. So what now? How do we create an antidote to the sense of anxiety and helplessness we are feeling?
While we may never have perfect systems that can prevent every conceivable act of violence … -
Dealing with Classroom Distractions during the Holidays
We have all experienced excitement around the holiday season– When will there be snow? What will Aunt Jane give me this year? What will I pack for the holiday-break getaway? Our minds find it difficult to think of anything else!
In the classroom, this can be a huge problem. The enthusiasm from the season has the ability to steal students’ minds from learning and fixate them on life outside of education. Here are some ways you can deal with their distracted minds:image via iStock
Strategize where you will place students when they …
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Grading- How and why?
We are excited to welcome back Ken O’Connor as our guest blogger. This is Ken’s second post for Pearson!
Ken is an independent educational consultant who specializes in issues relating to the communication of student achievement, especially grading and reporting. You can read more about Ken O’Connor on his website.
In my last blog post, I set out to show how I think grades should be determined; in this post, I will explain why I think grades should be determined in those ways.
There are four P’s that combine to produce implementation of … -
Making Homework More Meaningful
As I sit here thinking about this post’s topic, I cannot help but ponder back to when my parents woke me up every Saturday to do chores. I would whine about having to do them, and I can vividly remember my parents telling me that it would be good for me; that it would teach me good work ethic. And you know what? They were right! I am grateful that they pushed me to work hard—even when I could not see why.
The same applies to homework. Students often think of …