What should Teachers know about FERPA Regulations?
Teachers should be aware of issues related to privacy of educational records. It is important for the teachers to keep personal information related to the child and parents confidential. At the same time, the school authorities may need to access some of this information to make decisions for the school. The state may […]
What is the Importance of Digital Footprints?
Digital footprints are traces left by one’s activity in a digital environment. Most adults and many children have them. The easiest way to get a feel of it is to “Google” yourself.
Will Richardson, in a 2008 article for Educational Leadership, titled Footprints in the Digital Age wrote: “As the geeky father of a […]
Grammar in Today’s Classroom
I recently came across an article where the author was talking about how so many people today use two spaces after a period. It reminded me of my typing days as the typewriter was the impetus for this habit developing. It also highlighted for me how careless we are becoming about correct spelling, […]
How do I Decide on Backgrounds for Classroom Bulletin Boards?
Once you have planned your overall design for your classroom bulletin boards, you can work out the specifics like the background that you want. The background is an important part of a bulletin board and will need to be in coordination with your design.
The first step is to decide on the color theme […]
What is the Effectivity of Sensory Training for ADHD?
Sensory processing and integration issues often present themselves in children with ADHD. The children may appear to have difficulties in interpreting and processing sensory information from their environment.
Following are related symptoms:
Short attention span
Sensitivity to sounds
Unusual sensitivity to smells
Fascination with lights
Walking on the toes
Coordination problems
Indifference to pain or temperature
Refusal to wear certain types of […]
Why is it Important to Create Acceptable Use Policies for Staff in Schools?
As leaders in the education sector, it is important to create acceptable use policies (AUP). These key staff related issues include the following:
Employment
As employees and staff, one is accountable to potential disciplinary action mandated by law, local school and district policy as well as union agreements.
Secure Data Access
The high access given to staff […]
Cellphones and Cheating
25% of students didn’t think that using their cellphone to get answers during a test was “cheating.” I was surprised when I read this in an infographic recently.
Are we not communicating responsible use of technology to students? With innovations in technology, we need to think about how these devices can be used in […]
How can I use Infographics in the Classroom?
There is nothing more powerful than information. It is what makes the world go around. However, ever so often, information in itself gets a little stale and needs a creative shake to look attractive again. Infographics does just that. This is especially true in a classroom with students whose attention span seems to […]
What are the Causes for Challenging Behaviors in Children?
A student’s behavior is not random but is determined by one or more root causes or behavioral drivers, the most common of which include:
Social attention (adult or peer)
A student may call out sarcastic comments in class because she gets peer attention for doing so.
Escape or avoidance of tasks, settings, or situations
A student who […]
How do I Teach Children with Autism about Empathy?
An important difference between typical students and those with autism is the development of mirror neurons. Mirror neurons enable a person to “mirror” actions, thoughts and feelings. People with autism lack the early development of their mirror neurons.
Mirror neurons allow us to watch others while physically and emotionally “feeling” what we are seeing.
Close […]
