What are the Challenges in Implementing Standards Based Instruction?
In recent years, many states have dispatched new versions of curriculum documents and a lot of work has been done to clean up and more clearly articulate standards.
Despite these efforts, some challenges still remain:
Quality can vary between regions.
Unclear or vague standards.
A disciplinary aspect of standards can encourage segregation and/or hierarchy between subject areas.
Too […]
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 […]
What kind of Vocabulary should I Use while Teaching English Language Learners?
It is essential that you pay close attention to the way you speak while teaching English Language Learners (ELLs).
Here are some helpful tips:
Keep sentences short and to the point. Teachers like to talk and many of the words used may not be essential. Sentences like “If everyone could please just open their books […]
How do I help Students make Learning Choices?
Teachers who allow students a degree of choice in structuring their learning activities typically have fewer behavior problems in their classrooms than teachers who do not. Allowing students to exercise some degree of choice in their instructional activities can boost attention span and increase academic engagement.
Providing learning choices gives students a sense of […]
What are the Benefits of Peer Assessment?
As educators, we have access to various resources that help in designing lessons, assessments and remediation. The same is true with a peer assessment. There are no “cookie cutter” approaches to these assessments.
The assessments are not limited to multiple-choice answers, short answers or essay assessments. Instead peer assessments include the usage of a […]
How can I use Document Cameras in the Classroom?
A document camera is a camera that is hooked on to an LCD projector, allowing the user to place things under the camera so that it appears on the big screen for everyone to see. This tool has a lot of potential to aid teaching in the classroom. This technology can be used […]
How do I Teach Reading Comprehension to ELLs?
One of the ways to teach reading comprehension to English Language Learners ELLs) is through the INSERT method. INSERT or Interactive Notation System for Effective Reading and Thinking) is a method that encourages students to read actively and make notations right in the text, or on post-it notes.
Notations are written using the following […]
What are some Classroom Management Techniques that I can use to clarify expectations?
There are several classroom management techniques that can help you promote learning in the classroom and decrease distractions. Putting expectations in writing is one effective way of communicating with your students. The clarity provided by written expectation, more effectively, spells out the task for all learners and may even be essential to students […]
Using Ebooks in Schools
Ebooks in schools are being increasingly effective as a tool that doesn’t just sit in the library but in part of the practical learning process in the classroom. But first let us define an ebook. Simply put, an ebook is a book that can be read digitally on a computer screen or on an […]
Using Technology for Teaching
The biggest benefit of using technology for teaching and learning is that digital media improves that which we are able to know and do. So, do we make up multiple presentations of the same content—using text for some, speech for others, and images for still others?
This just isn’t very feasible. Collecting and maintaining […]
