The curious novice looking for a “101” into is how this web site describes their ground floor appeal. This site is very user friendly for anyone looking for candid advice for middle and high school students. www.suite101.com is where they state” twelve years online, over 150,000 articles and more than 2,000 professional, paid contract writers delivering great advice”. I must say I am hooked and interested in taking a longer tour of what I can find for my thirteen year old son and future teacher. This site provides lesson plan and great straight to the point advice for the home, latest news, other academic subjects, and a celebrity corner. They also mention job opportunities for freelance writers and journalists who may want to write on the side or need a spring board in the print world. I think this site is kid friendly and would be great for young writers and reader to get the latest information with what is happening in the literature world. I will be back and I just might invite my son.
December Media Infusion December 16, 2008
I also found another useful article at the same web site and I will return to later at http://www.pbs.org/teachers/pbs-in-education/index.html#kluge . This article invite teachers to visit the program called “Media Infusion” in December to several high quality video, visualizations, and data for teachers. Mr. Steve Kluge developed this site and he encourages questions, comments, or suggestions of your own. A teacher for all grades and subject areas would get a kick out of what this site has to offer, I only wonder if he offers this or other ideas throughout the year. We are in the 21st Century and we must educate ourselves and incorporate more ideas like these in our classrooms. Lesson Plan examples are provided for teacher to understand how to align teaching and learning for technological students. These kinds of web sites are fun for teachers as well as students and that is how we are going to keep their attention in our fast paced world. As you open this page there are many different link that will take you to many different ideas for all subjects areas, they do not all relate to science.
Behavioral Conerns within Inclusive Classrooms December 16, 2008
Parents as well as teachers want to solve one of the biggest classroom issues; behavior problems. This article “Behavioral Concerns within Inclusive Classrooms” can be found at http://www.pbs.org/teachers/earlychildhood/articles/archive.html. With the NCLB Law and The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a federal law initiated in 1975, states that “Each state must establish procedures that, to the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities…are educated with children who are not disabled…” IDEA further states that “in the case of a child whose behavior impedes his or her learning or that of others, consider, when appropriate, strategies including positive behavioral intervention strategies and supports to address that behavior.”.
I found this article very encouraging, appropriate, and supportive for new/veteran teacher in all grade levels. As educators we have to remember that all children are not the same and being different does not mean deficit either. This article gave some very good ideas or reminders on how to respond to problem behaviors, parental concerns, and negative stares. I agree with this article that states “Teaching children to be friendly to others start very early in life and continues into adulthood”
Economy Slices Into Internship Programs October 28, 2008
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Programs cut, buildings are closed, student futures are fading, why the lack of funds? Several companies that regularly participate in the nonprofit Urban Alliance’s internship program, for District public high school students said they were unable in a collapsing economy to hire enough students this fall. Many large businesses have cut back on internship opportunities that will benefit least-fortunate youths. This opportunity would’ve given them a shot at landing an internship at some of Washington’s best corporations. Thirty Washington D.C. high school seniors who wrote essays, garnered teacher recommendations, and attended job training sessions everyday for a month are on a waiting list. These internships give students an advantage when applying to college. The writing skills that were developed in school that were applied to this program would increase their chances of a college entrance exam. We want our students to take risk, chances, and use the skills they have learned but without these internship programs students will have a stiffer time finding a job or college choice
Barack on Education October 28, 2008
This is an interesting article on how Barack Obama views education. He talks about a needed change in his campaign for our country. Also, he mentions how we need a fresh and real commitment for new resources and new reforms in education. Obama speaks of being honest and understands the challenge we face, he states in the article at http://www.education.com/ “He doesn’t just tell everyone what they want to hear, but what they need to hear.” This article describes his commitment to education on issues- standardized testing, school choice, No Child Left Behind, college funding and affordability, universal preschool improvements to science, math, and technology education and merit pay. These issues and ideas are important for all teachers to better serve their students. I especially agree but wonder if thing will change when he states that “the goals of No Child Left Behind are right, the way they’ve been implemented is wrong.” I have not heard one teacher agree with this program so these areas of concern deserve much needed attention.
Creative ways to write October 28, 2008
I found this website to be fun creative and exciting for all school children. This website is http://www.piclits.com/compose_dragdrop.aspx its founder and creator is Terry Friedlander. It is a great online teaching tool for educators to help gets students interested in writing. This site provides an image and word list to help with their writing ideas. This is a wonderful site to engage students who are visual learners. This site allows students to choose a picture with real life images that are bright and colorful for students to compose a great story. Then students select a picture and they drag and drop words on top of the image to create a story, poem, or statement. What a fun and wonderful way to engage students of all ages in what can be thought of as a difficult task. I am going to use it with my son as well as my students to capture a meaning of a picture with words.
Culturally Responsive Instruction October 8, 2008
I think this article from this web site does a wonderful job with explaining and demonstrating how secondary teachers implement culturally responsive literacy (www.learningpt.org). The culturally responsive instruction makes the connection with students; backgrounds, interest, and experiences. This article mention seven characteristics for successful implementation; high expectations, positive relationships with families and community, cultural sensitivity, active teaching methods, teachers as facilitator, student control of portions of the lesson or healthy hum, and instruction around groups and pairs, low anxiety. As mentioned when these lessons are incorporated in all subject areas, students stay focused become invested in what is happening, and actually step onto the road of academic success and social achievement. These are the kinds of ideas that secondary teachers need to embrace all the different cultures in our classrooms. We as teachers have to let our students communicate with each other so that we can learn from one another that different is not deficient. We have to dispel what is being communicated through the media about the different ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. For so long students only read about cultural differences but now students have classmates, neighbors, and relatives who comprise this rainbow. So, if we as teachers want our students to respect one another it must start at home right in our classrooms. These types of ideas might require more workshops and professional development opportunities to better trained teachers and parents but why not. If nothing else it will create a positive parent involvement which is what every school district is trying to do. I think this article does a great job of reminding teachers how important it is that we (teachers) reach out and connect with our students, their families and community to narrow the academic gap.
A site to help all teachers! October 8, 2008
Here is another great post that is called Reading Quest: Making Sense in Social Studies. It is web site designed for Social Studies teachers who wish to more effectively engage their students with the content in their classes. This is a great idea that so many teachers have discussed and ponder how to integrate writing and reading strategies in all subject areas. This web site provides a philosophical base for sound comprehension strategy instruction, direction for comprehension and content reading strategies printable handouts and masters for transparencies. It provides easy navigation for not so skilled computer user new or veteran teachers and just a wealth of information useful to all grade levels. These are the kinds of web sites that new teachers especially need to jump start thematic unit planning. Students benefit so much more in their classes when we as teachers can tie one subject with another. I can not remember one time being in school where teachers taught using the thematic unit strategy, what a shame! Teachers and students can gain so much from this strategy. So check out this web site! www.readingquest.org
Recalculating The 8th Grade Algebra Rush September 23, 2008
I agree that you were right on track with what 8th grader need to know by the time they leave 8th grade. I myself have an eight grader this year and with the many test he is expected to pass this year he is behind with what he is expected to know and understand about algebra. I have had to enrolled him in a tutoring program to hopefully give him the background knowledge and the know how to complete his assignments with confidence. This article was from the www.washingtonpost.com and it was very informative. Thanks for staying ahead of the game.
jacqueline833
