What should I consider while planning successful STEM assessments?
There are several components that contribute to meaningful STEM assessments. One thing to keep in mind is that assessment should be viewed as “a process.” For example, there is not one “test” that reveals a complete summary of academic performance. Instead a series of assessment strategies should be implemented to assess student learning.
Students […]
What Role might a Teacher play in Suicide Prevention?
Students with mental health disorders can be prone to suicidal tendencies. Some of the red flags that should put a teacher on alert include:
Threatening suicide.
Looking for access to means.
Talking or writing about death, dying, suicide.
Made a previous attempt that was serious enough to require hospitalization.
If you have a student in your classroom who fits […]
What Behavior Intervention Strategies can I use with Uncooperative Students?
Uncooperative students can be motivated using specific behavior intervention strategies. When a student’s confrontational behavior seems driven by a need for control, the teacher can state directives as two-part choice statements.
This strategy involves structuring verbal requests to both acknowledge the student’s freedom to choose whether to comply and present the logical consequences for […]
How do I Decide on Themes for Bulletin Boards?
The themes for bulletin boards need to be based on each bulletin board’s purpose and the topic that you want to focus on. If you are new to creating bulletin boards, you may want to choose more than one topic and decide on which to implement at a later stage.
Here are some things […]
Visual Learning Skills
As I have been working on the finishing touches for the new bulletin board course, a thought crossed my mind… Do bulletin boards have a place in the “tech smart” classroom?
As I thought about this further, I realized that bulletin boards might not only be relevant but could also play an important role […]
Dealing with Bullying in School: Should You Intervene?
Most incidents between kids occur out of sight of adults, and while it may anger or upset them, rarely is anyone actually physically injured. Thus, adults are put in the awkward position of dealing with bullying in school where they have to handle incidents they didn’t observe and in which probably no physical […]
What are the Characteristics of Language in Autism?
People on the spectrum often have trouble processing abstract language. Most students with autism best understand very specific, concrete use of language. For teachers who are used to alluding to general and abstract ideas, shifting to concrete language often takes some practice.
Furthermore, abstractions such as metaphors, similes, emotional expressions, idioms, jokes, slang, and […]
What is the Importance of Learning Objectives?
Skipping the stages crafting learning objectives along with an assessment can cause educators and students to spend countless hours on projects that have little to do with the concept that is being taught. This is when we realize the importance of learning objectives.
Let us taken the example of making a volcano out of […]
Internet Crimes Against Children: Cyberbullying
One very disguised form of internet crimes against children is cyberbullying. Some of its most common forms include:
Personal Intimidation or Attacks
Posting personally abusive and threatening comments via blogs, social networks, profiles or websites
Exclusion
Denying access or membership to an online peer group, community or activities; Deleting someone from friendship lists, and/or using ‘ignore functions’; […]
Understanding Tiered Instruction
If, in a classroom, identical instruction are being given for all learners, even if all of them are identified as gifted, there is a solid chance that some of them are bored, and others are overwhelmed.
Tiered instruction is simply the use of various levels of activities which build on prior knowledge and ensure […]
