Teacher Musings

Free Technology for Teachers: Playing With Pearltrees - A Great Way to Organize the Web

2012-01-28T10:52:00.000-05:00

Free Technology for Teachers: Playing With Pearltrees - A Great Way to Organize the Web

pearltrees • Free Technology for Teachers

2012-01-28T10:50:00.000-05:00

pearltrees • Free Technology for Teachers This is a great tool for teachers and students. Great tool
for research...or, just to catalog your personal interests!

Big, Bigger, Biggest

2012-01-15T18:29:00.000-05:00

Big, Bigger, Biggest

Do New 'Techy' Things in the New Year! (for you and your students)

2012-01-15T15:44:00.002-05:00

How to Do 11 Techy Things in the New School Year

C-Span Bus Came to Our School

2012-01-14T18:35:00.003-05:00

I was excited to see the C-Span bus parked outside our glass doors. I went inside on my lunch break. The bus had a beautiful wood interior, leather seats, and had 6 or 7 televisions. I wish my fourth-graders could have visited, but the school allowed only sixth-graders and older to go inside the bus. It was nice to see the bus up close--I wish I could have spent more time inside.

Year 2060: Education Predictions

2011-12-31T08:49:00.001-05:00

I admire Sal Khan--I believe his educational videos will help to revolutionize traditional education. I will reflect on this New Year's Eve about how I can reach more of my students.

Books Online, Full-Text and Audio, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

2011-12-20T20:23:00.000-05:00

Books Online, Full-Text and Audio, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Children's Books Online: the Rosetta Project, Inc.

2011-12-20T20:22:00.000-05:00

Children's Books Online: the Rosetta Project, Inc.

Scijinks :: What's a solstice?

2011-12-20T16:50:00.000-05:00

Scijinks :: What's a solstice?

Free Technology for Teachers: Apps 4 Kids - An Android App Discovery Tool

2011-12-10T10:11:00.000-05:00

Free Technology for Teachers: Apps 4 Kids - An Android App Discovery Tool

Reach Every Child

2011-11-29T18:09:00.000-05:00

Reach Every Child - Welcome!

Research paper checklist: What professors look for when grading

2011-11-14T18:40:00.000-05:00

Research paper checklist: What professors look for when grading

The Lesson Cloud: Native Americans for K-2 kids!

2011-11-05T17:52:00.000-04:00

The Lesson Cloud: Native Americans for K-2 kids!: I think that it is important for young children to learn about the great culture of Native Americans. Our Illinois state mandate for soc...

Math Snacks

2011-10-24T20:22:00.000-04:00

Math Snacks This is a great math site with mini-lessons for visual learners.

Autumn Leaves and Fall Colors - Why do autumn leaves change color?

2011-10-16T15:55:00.001-04:00

I recently traveled to Pittsburgh, a 5-hour scenic drive from where I live, and was inspired by the beauty of the trees. I found an easy way to explain to my students why the leaves change colors.
Autumn Leaves and Fall Colors - Why do autumn leaves change color?

Patriot Day Printables | September 11th Worksheets

2011-09-11T14:58:00.001-04:00

It is hard to find student-friendly information about September 11th. Many of my fourth-graders who were not alive at the time, have no idea what happened on September 11, 2001. This site helps a little: Patriot Day Printables | September 11th Worksheets

The Kid Should See This.

2011-09-05T08:28:00.000-04:00

The Kid Should See This. The video clips that the blogger chooses are great, but my problem with this site is that videos are not organized.

Blog Hoppin': Classroom Community

2011-09-04T11:10:00.000-04:00

Blog Hoppin': Classroom Community: Hey Everyone! This is Anna from Crazy for First Grade ! I've loved reading all of the awesome classroom community ideas this week! *Finally*...

Math

2011-09-04T09:55:00.000-04:00

Love this website; This is great for students! Math

How to Add Negative Integers : The Math Dude :: Quick and Dirty Tips ™

2011-08-30T13:45:00.000-04:00

How to Add Negative Integers : The Math Dude :: Quick and Dirty Tips ™ This is a very good website for students to access.

Summer Creative Writing & Blogging Prompts, Summertime Photo Inspiration

2011-08-17T19:56:00.000-04:00

Summer Creative Writing & Blogging Prompts, Summertime Photo Inspiration

PSSA scores climb for 9th straight year | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

2011-07-17T14:16:00.000-04:00

PSSA scores climb for 9th straight year | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

2011-06-28T20:32:00.001-04:00

Differentiated Instruction Lesson Plans

Bill Gates: How state budgets are breaking US schools | Video on TED.com

2011-06-25T17:10:00.000-04:00

Bill Gates: How state budgets are breaking US schools | Video on TED.com

Is it That Hard to Fix Our Education System?

2011-06-12T18:33:00.004-04:00

The Education Nation exhibit, which was at the Constitution Center in Philadelphia, ended today. Why can't we fix our education system?! I learned from the exhibit, that in Finland, there are THREE teachers in every classroom; two for teaching and one for discipline. In many of our urban schools in Philadelphia, many teachers have 36-plus students. That number will rise next year as the district is laying off 1500 teachers. People seem to be so horrified at the inequities of the system...yet no one seems to have the right solution. Throwing money at schools is not necessarily the answer, either. Sometimes, I think we just need to get back to basics!

Mysteries...

2011-06-05T20:41:00.001-04:00

At this late date...I have discovered that my children really love mysteries. I've read them the 'Bella Mysteries'. Now, some are clamoring for me to read the Encyclopedia Brown mysteries. And...they love me to read to them! I am always amazed when I look up from reading to see nineteen pairs of eyes on me. I am glad that I can find some things that interest them -- because with just twelve days of school left, they are getting a little antsy.

My Father's Garden

2011-05-22T19:04:00.002-04:00

Now that we can all take a exhale and be thankful for another day as the demise of Earth did not take place, this is a video that makes one grateful for all the beauty of this planet. I try to instill this appreciation of beauty in my students as often as I think about it.

My Father's Garden from Mirko Faienza on Vimeo.

Challenging Year

2011-05-14T18:46:00.002-04:00

In my eleven years of teaching, I don't think I have been more tired at this time of year. This school year has been my most challenging yet. The students came into my class at a lower academic level than most that I've had, and I have worked very hard to bring them up to grade level. One of my students 'hated' math at the beginning of the school year - that was because he didn't know how to do it. His math test scores made me very unhappy. However, yesterday, he received his first 100%. Woohoo! Though we didn't get along at the beginning of the school year, he recently told me that he wants me to be his teacher in EVERY grade until he graduates! I have seen remarkable gains in some students, and I hope my work has paid off for the other students.

The Make A Difference Movie - The Teddy Stallard Story - by Mary Robinson Reynolds | The MasterMinding Maven® - Full Length Version

2011-04-20T14:18:00.000-04:00

The Make A Difference Movie - The Teddy Stallard Story - by Mary Robinson Reynolds | The MasterMinding Maven® - Full Length Version
This short video reminds me of a situation I had when I first started teaching ten years ago. I was teaching third grade at the time (in public school) and I had a student who seemed lethargic and spent every morning asleep in my class. However, he woke up at lunch time, ravenous! I found out through a parent volunteer that he slept in a mattress on the floor with eight other people and his only meal consisted of the meal he received at school. (His mother was a crack addict, according to the volunteer.) Although you are not required to know the history of students to help them (and in many states it may be illegal)...sometimes, it may be helpful.

The Most Dangerous Thing You'll Do All Day

2011-04-11T21:13:00.000-04:00

The Most Dangerous Thing You'll Do All Day
I recently started standing more...anyway, how effective a teacher can I be while sitting?

Khan Academy Helps Students with Math and Science

2011-04-03T20:44:00.003-04:00

There is an amazing resource that can help students with math and science: Khan Academy features its creator, Sal Khan, with 'homemade' lessons (in what looks to be the Paint Program). I love his conversational tone, and I believe if I had someone like him to teach math to me, I might have enjoyed it more. His videos appear on his own website, Khan Academy, on YouTube, and on 5min.com. Windows entrepreneur, Bill Gates has discovered his videos, and he has awarded Sal Khan the 2009 Microsoft Tech Award in Education.

Online Reading Help

2011-03-27T17:04:00.006-04:00

I have a student with an I.E.P. and was looking at different sites for the student, as the student has a hard time reading. I found a (free) site called Progressive Phonics. The site has a series of ebooks that teachers can use to help students learn to read. I thought this site would be a good site for my student since he loves sitting at the computer. After you register (registration is free), you, or the student, can either read the book online or print the book for the child to read at a later time. Ebooks range from beginner to advanced (recommended up to age 10). The site is attractive and easy to navigate.

A Site That Helps Me Teach Better

2011-03-13T16:05:00.003-04:00

There are a lot of video websites. However, Brightstorm is better than most because because the videos are top-notch and there are no advertisements AND the site is free. Though it is for older students, I find myself watching them to help me formulate my own ideas for teaching the same subject. The videos are in a lecture format. This website, along with WatchKnow are definitely two of my favorites.

Weary...But Determined...

2011-02-27T19:02:00.006-05:00

I am getting a little weary of all these 'bash the teacher' movements around the country. "The teachers aren't doing this...they aren't doing that...We need to replace them all...Teachers are lazy."

Anyone who blames teachers for the state of today's education crisis is just ignorant of several facts. For instance, the teachers on my fourth-grade team work 10 to 12 hours a day...PLUS, we take home work for the weekend. I arrive at my school at a little after 6:30 in the morning and try to leave by 4:30 in the afternoon. Most of my summer is spent preparing for the next school year. AND, I work at a much lower salary than the $80,000 that my surburban colleagues earn.

I work with some children who are dirty, hungry, tired, and abused. I am teaching with books that are twelve years old. The students don't have their own workbooks to write in--I have to create them. I teach in a school where my students cannot concentrate because the walls are thin and the other teachers' voices are heard. I teach students who may not have parental support at home. Long ago, I stopped counting the money that I was spending on my students to supplement the curriculum.

Yeah, you can blame the teachers for today's crisis in education. But, while you're at it, make sure you blame the curriculum, the parents, the culture of today's society, inadequate technology in the classroom, and aging textbooks.

Better Early Than Late...

2011-02-13T17:20:00.006-05:00

Larry Sanger, who started Wikipedia, taught his young child to read at an early age. On his blog he states that his son, at age 3 years, 10 months, could read the First Amendment of the Constitution. Now, of course, he couldn't understand every word that he read, but, it's still pretty impressive. Wait, before you say to yourself, 'Yeah, right...', take a few moments to read his essay. Dr. Sanger has several videos of his son reading. As an educator, I am all for teaching children to read EARLY! And, who's to say what 'early' is, anyway?!

Incredibly Beautiful Snowflakes

2011-01-30T16:55:00.002-05:00

Everyone on the East Coast is tired of snow--but we must stop to see the beauty in it. This a slideshow of beautiful snow crystals (snowflakes). These still images were taken by a professor at Cal Tech and they are mesmerizing. The music is a ballad by Hayley Westenra. (03:14)

Spelling City is a Great Resource

2011-01-22T16:50:00.004-05:00

It seems as if I am ALWAYS on the Internet looking for new resources. Sometimes the best resources for teachers are found by accident. Spelling City is one such resource. A teacher, student, or parent can use the site for FREE. However, if one wanted an automated gradebook, one could pay the fee of $50.00 for a classroom of 30 or $25.00 for a family of 5 (as of this writing). But for free, a teacher or parent can create their own spelling lists and a teacher or parent can use the interactive games on the site for their own lists. They have a word scramble, a word search, and many more games (at least ten). (I don't make anything for recommending this site or any site--I just like to pass along a good resource.)

A Site Where Teachers Pay Teachers

2011-01-08T17:29:00.002-05:00

There is a great site called Teachers Pay Teachers. I go there from time-to-time...mostly to download some of the free lesson plans. The site is well-organized and user-friendly. One can even see a 'snapshot' of some of the pages before downloading them. However, it appears that many teachers are doing well there, financially. For the first time, one of the members has earned more than her teacher's salary. I am not sure that I would let that information beocome public knowledge, the the owner/website manager assured its email readers that the teacher was okay with this information being disclosed. It will definitely take a little work, but it may be worth looking into for a few extra dollars....

New resource...well...new for me...

2010-12-12T20:33:00.002-05:00

I was looking for more information for story genres for my fourth-grade students. In doing so, I discovered a site called The Teachers' Corner. It is a fairly large site with printable lesson plans and CUSTOMIZABLE worksheets. Worksheets can be customized right on the website.

Spelling Words...Too Hard?

2010-12-05T19:11:00.003-05:00

A couple of years ago, a parent told me that my fourth-grade spelling words were too hard. This year a colleague told me he thought they might be too hard, as well. Too hard for who?! Last week my words included: hypothesis, germinate, metamorphosis, etc. I get the students' spelling words from our literature textbook and our science textbook. One of my team colleagues uses words such as toast, most, grow, and coin. I believe she gets her words from a fourth-grade speller. BUT, my students ace their spelling exams every week. We probably drill the spelling of these words 2 to 3 times a week and by Friday (the day of our spelling quiz), they know them. I went to the Super Teacher Worksheets website and clicked on the Fourth-Grade Spelling List and the words just seemed too easy for my students. For now, I will continue using the spelling words I always use. Perhaps my expectations are a little different...

My View of the World has Changed

2010-11-21T21:04:00.004-05:00

My Dad passed. Two weeks ago. It seems so surreal to type this. When he was born, the idea of an Internet where millions are computers are connected was science-fiction, and yet, I write of him here. I don't even recall my father getting the flu. He was always so healthy. Being a firefighter much of his life--he had no choice but to remain fit. I am trying to remain strong for my Mom, but I am depressed and grieve everyday.

He was well-known throughout the city. His friends told me he was a legend. But no none knew the 'legend' better than his own family. Though everyone tells me that time will ease the pain, I feel the pain is getting worse. I inherited my love of reading and my sense of self from him.

My view of the world is now skewed--I don't even see my students in the same way.

Autism Fact Sheet (Child Development Institute)

2010-10-31T10:56:00.000-04:00

I have a special needs child in my room, and it never ceases to amaze me how other students will rally around another student that does not have the same abilities as they do. They help him, protect him, clean up behind him, and try to help him with lessons.
Autism Fact Sheet (Child Development Institute)

I should know by now that each class is very different...

2010-10-16T15:59:00.003-04:00

I am always amazed at the dynamics of each class year after year. This class is not as academically ready as my last class, but, of course, it is my job to rectify that. I am doing my best without becoming frustrated. Basic skills are missing and I will work very hard to replenish them. I thought, perhaps, it was just me, but my lead teacher agrees.
While looking for something else, I found this website that has interactive games and customizable worksheets. I will be visiting it quite often.
Fourth Grade Science

Q&A!

2010-10-03T09:38:00.000-04:00

Q&A!
I will use the words at this link about sentence structure to help my students with their writing. I love the sentences: “The sentence is the hammer you use to drive your points home. Each blow must hit a nail." Hopefully, my students will appreciate the comparison.

The Times ...They Are a' Changin' (with apologies to Bob Dylan)

2010-09-28T19:47:00.000-04:00

Using Technology in Language Arts

2010-09-16T20:47:00.000-04:00

Using Technology in Language Arts (Elementary)

View more presentations from wsbtech.

Reading Rockets: First day of school activities

2010-09-05T19:20:00.000-04:00

Reading Rockets: First day of school activities
These are good ideas for 'back-to-school' activities.

New Evidence of Racial Bias on SAT - Inside Higher Ed

2010-08-09T19:12:00.001-04:00

New Evidence of Racial Bias on SAT - Inside Higher Ed. This is a very enlightening article. There are so many reasons for this that one could write an entire book about it.

Have Fun Teaching Website

2010-07-29T20:39:00.002-04:00

There are so many websites out there for teachers. This website looks like a 'Plain Jane' website, but if one digs deeper, you will uncover a few gems. I particularly like the science flashcards. The website is called 'Have Fun Teaching' and it can be found here.

WatchKnow - Videos for kids to learn from. Organized.

2010-07-06T09:24:00.000-04:00

WatchKnow - Videos for kids to learn from. Organized.

Pacing My Summer...

2010-07-05T11:32:00.004-04:00

I must admit that I am enjoying my summer vacation. There are many things I need to do this summer, but I would like to catch up on some reading. I find myself reading mostly children's books, as I try to read all books before I put them on my classroom bookshelves. (I read to make sure that there is nothing inappropriate in them.) I like the Harry Potter series but many parents have problems with wizards and magic (the supernatural), so I don't have that series on my classroom shelves. I recently noticed that several children's books these days are leaning towards the macabre with the Twilight series (which I would never place on a fourth-grade bookshelf). Many children's books have topics such as death and vampires. A parent recently complained about the movie (and book) 'Coraline'. She said it was too 'dark'. Currently, I am reading The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan. One of my students could not put the book down--she would even read it while she was in line walking down the hallway. I am curious as to what kept her so enthralled. I try to keep more non-fiction books in my classroom than fiction, but we all enjoy a good fiction story!

Teacher Fired Because of Blogging

2010-06-13T17:09:00.002-04:00

Click on sentence below to read:
Teacher fired because of her blog.

Not One of My Students...

2010-05-31T16:51:00.000-04:00

I was dismayed--not one of my 21 students knew what Memorial Day stood for. For them, it is a day off from school.

Exhale...

2010-05-09T08:34:00.002-04:00

I feel as if I can finally exhale as all 6 of the fourth-grade tests have been administered to the students. My class and I will be be working hard, but without the shadow of the PSSA looming over us.

In reference to the last post, the father in question has called the front desk, the school administrators, AND the photographer about his son's pictures. I haved since called him back, and had a more rational conversation with him. He still holds me responsible for the school's choice of a photographer. I just have to realize that there is something else going on with this gentleman...I'm just not sure what it is.

Two Down, One To Go...

2010-04-25T17:23:00.002-04:00

One of my colleagues remarked on Friday that we have just 9 Fridays left. That surprised me. I have been so busy preparing for the standardized tests that I have
barely looked up to see the sunlight or smell the flowers! The fourth grade students just took the math and reading state tests last week (two down) and we will take the science state assessments this coming week (one to go). I probably won't exhale until my students finish the last question on the last test next Friday.

Tomorrow's the Day...

2010-04-11T13:03:00.002-04:00

...Or, should I say next week's the week! PSSA Testing Week has finally arrived. I prepared them EVERY day, the best way I knew how. I am so proud of them -- even before I know the results, because the students and I worked hard, together. They are smart and capable, and I know that they will do well.

Beautiful: Tulips

2010-04-02T17:06:00.001-04:00

I am enjoying my shortened Spring Break and I believe I have a touch of Sring fever! :-)

Beautiful: Tulips-tulipanes-tulpen-des tulipes-tulipani

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Well, It's Official...

2010-03-21T17:51:00.002-04:00

Our school attendance days have been lengthened by 4 days. We are losing two days of our Spring Break, a Professional Development Day, and we are adding a day at the end of the school year. This is due to all of our record snowfall (22 inches-at-a-time snowfall!). I actually welcome the extra attendance days before Spring Break, because when we come
back, our students will be taking the PSSA (the annual Pennsylvania standardized tests). That just gives me more time for review. I want the same great results my fourth-grade team had last year!

Choice Boards - Can't Wait to Use Them!

2010-02-28T19:27:00.006-05:00

I went to a Professional Development seminar this weekend. After all the snow days in my area, I was glad to get out of the house and go! It was actually snowing as I made my way to the seminar, Wow, I am so glad I went. I had never heard of using choice boards for differentiated instruction, and I spent the remainder of my weekend doing research on this. Choice boards allow a student based on his readiness level to choose educational activiites that the teacher selects. The activities are based on the following learning styles: visual,auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile.I love them! I can't wait to use them in the classroom. I hope my students will be as excited about them as I am. This is a great site to start as there are several examples of choice boards here.

4B Raised Almost $400.00

2010-01-31T18:27:00.002-05:00

I am so proud of my 20 students. Since January 19th, my class has raised $383.16 for the Haiti Relief Effort and the American Red Cross. That's in addition to the $416.00 we have raised for the homeless. I tend to think this current generation of children are selfish, but not my bunch!

2010-01-24T10:47:00.006-05:00

I played the audiobook last week (in segments) and the students loved it. Roald Dahl (the author) is the narrator of his own book, Fantastic Mr. Fox. The students were practically spellbound. I am not sure why I hadn't thought of bringing audio CDs into the class before.

We are covering the parts of a story, so this was a different way to engage the students. It gives them a chance to hear modeled reading other than my own, and it gives my voice a rest.

We used the audiobook to discuss character, setting, plot, conflict, conflict resolution, and much more.

The Fantastic Mr. Fox

2010-01-10T18:39:00.010-05:00

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory plus James and the Giant Peach are the better-known books by Roald Dahl, but I recently discovered Fantastic Mr. Fox. I didn't realize that it had been recently re-introduced to the world as an animated film. I came across a CD audiobook of Roald Dahl reading his own Fantastic Mr. Fox! Since I am always looking for new things to engage my students, I purchased it, listened to it, and fell in love with it. I plan to introduce the CD audiobook (in segments) to my students this week.

I found a great site that has lesson plans, comprehension questions, vocabulary words, etc. I really liked the reading comprehension questions because the questions cover types of sentences, synonyms, and context clues. Click here for the site.

Christmas Coupons for Children

2009-12-21T17:42:00.004-05:00

My children and enjoyed doing this activity at holiday time last year. Some of my parents thanked me for it. Below is a link for creating Christmas Coupons. I prefer the black-and-white versions of the coupons as the coloring of them makes them more individual. Many children do not have money to buy a gift for their parents, so this collection of coupons is great to put into a parent's stocking. Click here for Christmas Coupons. Students could even design their own coupons, if templates are not preferred.

Animal Flash Cards

2009-11-29T18:01:00.006-05:00

Last week we were learning about animal adaptations and habitats. I wanted to do something different this year. I had some animal flash cards that I has purchased earlier that had habitat, diet, location, etc. of animals. The flash cards had the same information that is in the textbooks, however, my students loved using the animal flash cards. Such a simple change made a difference in the enthusiasm level in the class. This made me look for other flash card activities. I found several HERE. I wouldn't use all of them--but I will use a couple of them in class. (I also did not buy the flashcards from this site as these cards were too juvenile for fourth-graders.)

Great Way to Recycle Subscription Cards for Fourth Graders

2009-11-15T11:28:00.004-05:00

I hate those subsciption cards that come with magazines. There are sometimes 2 or 3 of them in one issue and I always think, "What a waste of paper!" I was visiting a recycling site when I saw a way to recycle those cards: Let students practice their writing on them. The author was suggesting that this activity is for first-graders to practice writing their names and addresses. My fourth-grade students love practicing their cursive writing and I will certainly be recycling my subscription cards with them!

Searching For Ways to Work Smarter, Not Harder

2009-10-25T19:32:00.005-04:00

I am still waiting for the other shoe to drop. Am I dreaming? I am STILL enjoying my fourth-grade class. I was told to get some sleep before school started because I had 3 or 4 'strong personalities' in my class. Compared to last year, however, this class is a 'dream' so far.

However, for some reason, I am working harder this year--I can't seem to leave before 5 PM. That's 2 hours after school has let out. I also arrive at the school aroound 6:45, almost 2 hours before school starts. It's amazing: the administrative work, the paperwork, the grading, etc. Actually, I don't mind the morning hours....it's nice and quiet, and there are only 5 of us in the school at that time; so I can get a lot of work done. But instead of working harder, I need to find a way to work 'smarter'....

Great New Site Which is Being Launched Soon

2009-09-28T11:11:00.001-04:00

Really Enjoying My New Fourth-Grade Class

2009-09-20T16:54:00.004-04:00

I am really enjoying my new fourth-grade class. I am always amazed at the dynamics of a new class. It never ceases to amaze me how different 20 little students can be. I feel stronger this year...I find that I am more organized and, of course, that helps with classroom instruction.

I saw my last year's standardized test scores for my class. Tears came to my eyes. Tears of joy! I couldn't believe it. They said we could not do it, and here I was looking at Proficient and Advanced scores for almost my entire class! YES! I am SO proud of them! I am still floating on Cloud Nine. This tells me, that for the most part, I am doing the right thing, in spite of the old textbooks.

I found a really nice fourth-grade class web site. The teacher who governs the site is Mrs. Renz. (I am so jealous of her classroom. If I had a classroom like that, I would feel as if I had died and went to Heaven.) On the website there are several Teacher Resources. Just click on the 'Just For Teachers' button at the top of the page.

First Day Challenge - First Day of School Game | Product Detail | Scholastic Printables

2009-09-06T11:52:00.004-04:00

First Day Challenge - First Day of School Game | Product Detail | Scholastic Printables

Teachers: Things To Do With Students On The First Day Back

2009-09-03T22:08:00.003-04:00

Even though there are some advertisments in this video for Teachnology, the tips outlined are good and I was pleased to learn that I had accomplished all of the tips except for the color-coding idea. I could even add a few tips of my own that the video did not cover.

You Are So Lucky...

2009-08-31T21:17:00.002-04:00

You are so lucky...you stop working at 3 PM...you get the whole summer off. I try not to get too annoyed when I hear those remarks from non-teachers. Most of the time, I just nod and shake my head. However, what I really want to tell those who make those comments is that I spend most of my summer reading, researching, and preparing for my next school year. I also took part in some staff development sessions. If I had more time,I would have taken some continuing education classes. But those who make the comments are right about one thing. I am lucky...for I see each September as a rebirth...a renewal..a chance to stimulate the minds of twenty more students. :-)

WatchKnow--The Potential to be a Great Site

2009-07-23T14:33:00.003-04:00

I recently became involved with WatchKnow, an educational video site that will help teachers and parents, and will help tutor children everywhere. I am glad that I became aware of this site and started to help the website's founders, because I learned that there are SO many education videos out there. I plan on using it with my fourth-grade class.

Fantastic Math Site for Students!

2009-07-05T18:17:00.004-04:00

I wish I had found this site before school ended. I would have loved my students to use it this summer. This math site has 800-plus videos of math instruction! Visit Khan Academy. This comprehensive site would be a good aid for homeschoolers.

Two Days Left for My Students

2009-06-21T13:28:00.008-04:00

I have written a short, personal 'thank you' note to each parent fot their help and support during the school year, for there are two days left for my students and I to be together--well, actually, a day and a half, as on Tuesday, the school day ends at noon. I am still giving pre-classwork and homework--am I crazy? I intend to keep them occupied until the last minute of the last hour of the last day. One of my favorite last day activities is having my outgoing students write a letter to my incoming students. I also left some items for them to tear down off the wall--for they LOVE doing that! Many of my students will not read this summer, but here is a good fourth-grade summer reading list here.

A Teacher Who is Not a Big Fan of Move-Up Day

2009-06-14T12:18:00.004-04:00

Tomorrow, starting at 5:30 PM the lower school takes part in our annual Move-Up Day. In our school, the children do not go to their new teacher as some schools do; they just have a ceremony of sorts. Of course, as an educator, I am pleased that my students worked hard to be promoted to the fifth grade. However, I just can't get excited about move-up days. I am not a big fan of unnecessary ceremonies. When I went to school there were no 'move-up' days, consequently when I did graduate I felt a strong sense of accomplishment. It seems to me that when you have ceremonies like this, you devalue a real graduation event. That's just my thoughts...perhaps this year's ceremony will change my attitude towards them...but I doubt it.

If I Had the Funds to Start a School...

2009-06-07T11:51:00.009-04:00

I did not realize that my teaching philosophy was grounded in social reconstructivism until I was in grad school. If I could, I would start a 'Green School'. Of course, the school would focus on basic academics, but I would hire the best 'green' engineers/teachers to educate students about sustaining a 'green' planet. I am so disheartened at the continued abuse of this planet. If it continues, we will need an army of people to fix the damage done over the last 50-100 years. I feel as if we are not doing enough to fix our mess...or we are doing it too slowly. After all, what is the point of putting so much effort into teaching students when it is very possible that the planet we live on will become unsuitable for human life? I was happy to find out that The New School offers an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies. This summer I may take some free classes on 'green education' which I found at this link: at Suite 101.

Activities for the Last Day of School

2009-05-30T17:40:00.003-04:00

My last day of school with students is June 23rd. I've purchased books as 'end-of-the-year' gifts for my students. Last September I created a Time Capsule of my student's handwriting, their likes and dislikes, etc. I can't wait to show it to them! Since they love to collect autographs by scrawling on each other's white shirts, I just created an 'Autograph Page' for them so that they can share their burgeoning cursive writing skills. Here are some more ideas for the last day of school. Check this out:
http://www.theapple.com/benefits/articles/4276-10-ideas-for-teaching-on-the-last-day-of-school

Looking Towards Tomorrow

2009-05-25T15:56:00.006-04:00

It's not the end of the year, yet I find myself reflecting on this past year with my fourth-graders. (I really wanted a sixth-grade class, but no openings were available in my school.) However, I enjoyed the challenges that fourth-grade gave me. As an educator, I have heard so much about the fourth-grade 'slump' and I tried to read as much about as I could from books full of educational theories.

Each year for different reasons, the fourth-grade team at our school loses 1-2 members; some staying only a few months. However, I was truly blessed to be working on such a great team with a good team leader. This year, the gender make-up in my class was 15 girls and 5 boys. Until this time, I was clueless about the dynamics of having so many girls in my classroom. So much drama! I have seen my 'future' class, (3B becomes 4B) and the class make-up is just the opposite; 15 boys and 5 girls! To be honest, after this year, I am looking forward to having a class with mostly boys! There are many things that I would like to do differently. I intend to 'hit the ground running' in September.

Reviewing Landforms

2009-05-16T12:44:00.003-04:00

I was reviewing landforms with my students and found these worksheets. Although it says for third grade, I would use it with my fourth-graders.
3rd Grade | Landforms Worksheet 3rd Grade | Landforms Worksheet Totally3rdGrade This worksheet is one of many resources available at www.Totally3rdGrade.com and www.FuriouslyCurious.com that are built upon the music of Teacher and the Rockbots, an educational rock band specially created for 3rd grade.

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Study Guides, Notes, School Work Exams & Quizzes educationearlyeducat

A Longer School Year?

2009-05-14T01:25:00.005-04:00

Every year, in the educational arena, there seems to be a new idea--or a new twist on an old idea, to enhance student learning. To that end, a longer school year has been suggested in the Philadelphia area. One area school has tried this and experienced little academic growth. I am not sure what the school used to measure this 'academic growth', but I believe it was the results of standardized test scores. But must EVERYTHING be measured by standardardized test scores? Yes, I realize that state tests are necessary to ensure accountability and to measure student achievement, but student learning can not and should not always be qualified in terms of standardized test scores.

To me, the real problem with student learning is the mediocrity that we are forced to accept. In many schools, teachers have to give passing grades and endure 'social' promotions. I am not of believer of giving a lot of 'A's, but students and parents expect it--even of shoddy or incomplete work. When I was a student, which was decades ago, getting an A was akin to seeking the Holy Grail...and when I received an A, I knew it was deserved.

Would a longer year help student learning? Would it reduce the acceptance of mediocrity. Here's another author's take on it:
Tweaking the American School Year
The American school year should be longer, with shorter days, and more vacations, because students could then acquire the sufficient amount of rest necessary for success.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1745740/tweaking_the_american_school_year.html

Seven Things to Look for in an Online University

2009-05-10T13:59:00.004-04:00

What to Look for in an Online College or University
Education is changing for elementary school-age students as well as for adults. Adults are looking for schools with more convenience and flexibility and online learning institutions are proliferating. There is so much more to consider when looking into an online college or university than touring a traditional college campus.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/1648119/what_to_look_for_in_an_online_college.html

Students Love Google Earth

2009-04-26T17:59:00.003-04:00

Google Earth is one of the most fascinating tools you can introduce to your students. Once you show them how to use it, they will discover many things on their own. This is not my video, but someone's tutorial on You Tube. There is also a Teacher Tube which has many educational videos for children.

Clean, Virtual World for Children

2009-04-07T11:21:00.005-04:00

Poptropica is a clean, virtual world for children. Children can travel in this world and complete quests; to do so, they must don their 'thinking caps'. It's an advergaming site for Post Cereal. Click on the word 'Poptropica' in the first sentence and watch the video.

What is Your Teenage Daughter Reading?

2009-03-29T14:49:00.009-04:00

What are teenage girls reading now? Find out at this site: Harper Teen. One can also browse the inside of books at this site BEFORE purchasing them.

Math Game Similar to Zuma

2009-03-15T15:38:00.003-04:00

Find more free online flash games at Fupa.com

2009-02-28T15:24:00.004-05:00

5 Myths About Home Schoolers Debunked
This article debunks 5 of the most common assumptions about the life of a home schooling family, from the perspective of a home schooling family.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/1518083/5_myths_about_home_schoolers_debunked.html
The Automated Children’s Book Generator

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More Informational Text for Children

2009-02-16T14:18:00.002-05:00

“If we are going to prepare children for this world, we need to be serious about teaching them to read and write informational text. It may not be difficult to convince children of the need for this, as we draw their attention to the informational text that surrounds them in their world.”

(Duke, K., Bennett-Armistead, V. (2003), Reading and Writing Informational Text in the Primary Grades. New York, NY: Scholastic Incorporated)

When I began my career as a (naïve) educator, I started as a substitute, and I had the opportunity to watch many primary-grade teachers do read-alouds with their students. I recall that at least ninety-percent of the teachers I observed just read the book straight through, rarely pausing for discussion or reflection. I also recall that not one of the teachers at the school where I started my career, read informational text to their students, even though several did have a few informational texts in the classroom. “Nonfiction still tends to be scarce in classrooms” (2003, Routman, p. 70).

The journal article in the packet that Professor Irons gave us entitled “Why Include More Informational Text in Primary Classrooms” gives six reasons why we should.

1. Informational text is the key to success in later schooling.
“Expository texts are the primary reason by which students in grades K-3 acquire academic knowledge. Students' failure to comprehend these texts amasses an increasingly cumulative knowledge deficit as children progress through the grades” (Block, Rodgers & Johnson, 2004). Standardized state tests and SAT tests use informational text—students need to become familiar with this kind of text long before they take these tests. Much of the material we read in high school, college, and adult life is informational. I find myself reading appliance manuals, how-to books, and graduate-level textbooks. Going to school in the evenings and working two jobs, I find I have to 'force' myself to to make time to read a fictional book. All of the expository text I read, however, increases my understanding of the world around me, and this is precisely why we, as educators need to have our children read more expository text.

2. Informational text is ubiquitous in society.
The authors of the article remind us that ninety-six percent of the text on websites on the Internet is expository. Students of all ages spend a great deal of time on the Internet and we need to encourage them to read more informational text, so that they may become more familiar with the expository language that they find on websites. I like Tricia's idea of keeping 'closed-captioning' on her television so that her son sees the words as they are spoken. The 'crawls' at the bottom of the cable news screens also give more information to the viewer than the news anchors give. Tricia said that sometimes she turns the sound down, so that her son will have to read the words. This idea is excellent, especially on the channels that children frequently watch, such as the Disney Channel, Cartoon Network, etc.

3. Informational text is preferred reading material for some children.
Our 83-year-old remedial reading instructor at my current school (who, obviously, has many years of teaching behind her!) asks her students to take a 'reading survey' to see what interests them. Then, she buys the books (with her own money) to make sure that she has something that her children will be interested in—and it's mostly expository text. She strives to improve their literacy with books that will pique their interest and curiosity, and I take many of my cues from her. “In truth, students often prefer non-fiction” (2003, Routman).

4. Informational text often addresses children's interests and questions.
As a child, I liked to read and I liked to write—I still like to do both, but I find the time I have for them is increasingly diminishing. Because I enjoyed writing as a child, I found myself, at the ripe age of nine, being 'published' in the school newspaper. What did I write about? Since my Dad is a retired firefighter, I had a keen interest in fire safety, and I entitled my entry “Fire Prevention”. Did I know that I was writing expository text? No, I just wanted to write about this topic for my classmates. To this day, I still prefer to write expository text, and, as I look at my home library, I see that I have many more informational texts than narrative ones. Some of my technology students are interested in cars, tennis, wrestling, and sometimes I find them 'sneaking' to websites that have this information, so, I know that children have a thirst for non-fiction writing, as I did as a child.

5. Informational text builds knowledge of the natural and social world.
“Not only do students learn a vast amount about the world as they are learning to read, their test scores are exemplary” (2003, Routman, p. 70). Professor Irons said her friend believes she coined the term: The more you know, the more you grow. The book I am currently reading is called “Ghost Map” which is a non-fiction book about the deadly spread of influenza in Victorian London and and I have learned more about bacteria, germs, lifestyles, and obsolete medical practices than I thought were possible—and I doubt that I could have learned about them any other way, for the book is not just interesting, but entertaining. Both the natural and the social world made it possible for the flu to spread from person to person. And, although it's not fiction, entertaining informational text like this would help our children enjoy learning about the world around them. The reason why the “...For Dummies” books are so popular, is because people have a need for informational text and their readers want to know more about the world around them, and these books do it in an entertaining and 'non-threatening' way.

6. Informational text may help build vocabulary and other kinds of literacy knowledge.
I had to really think about this last reason for including more informational text in our classrooms. I had to ask myself why would informational text help build vocabulary more than a narrative work. Is it because the context clues are more intuitive in a narrative work? Or, is it because there are more unknown terms in expository text forcing the reader to look up definitions? (Again, this is another reason why the “...For Dummies” books are so popular--because they are written in easy-to-understand English, with difficult, unfamiliar terms singled out on the page with easy definitions.) Whatever the reason, I feel that after reading this article, perhaps, there should be more expository books in our classrooms than fictional ones. I understand that there is a place for both, but this article makes a strong case for the former. I always wince when I see some teachers 'punish' children by making them open a dictionary and write down definitions. As a child, I would have dreaded doing this. Why make learning vocabulary words a punishment, when a definition should be something that should enlighten a child?

This article opened my 'literacy eyes' to use expository text to improve student knowledge. As a technology teacher, I will use this knowledge in my lab; I have found many interactive online fiction books for my students, but I now realize it is my duty to search for online interactive informational text as well. If I am not improving literacy, I am denying them many opportunities to further their learning, and that means I am not doing my job and wasting their time and mine.

REFERENCES:

Block, C., Johnson, R., & Rodgers, L. (2004). Comprehension Process Instruction, Creating Reading Success in Grades 1-3. New York, NY: The Guilford Press
(the book I won in class!)

Duke, N. & Bennett-Armistead., S (2003). Reading and Writing Informational Text in the Primary Grades, New York, NY: Scholastic Incorporated

Routman, R. (2003). Reading Essentials, The Specifics You Need to Teach Reading Well, Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann Publishers

How to Teach Author's Purpose

2009-01-24T09:54:00.002-05:00

Author's Purpose In Language Arts Lesson Plans
This looks at some creative plans I used to teach Author's Purpose this year.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/1200361/authors_purpose_in_language_arts_lesson.html

Realism and Education

2009-01-18T18:05:00.003-05:00

2009-01-04T13:59:00.003-05:00

"Plato designed his dialogues to arm students for real world challenges and temptations. They demand from their readers what Socrates demanded from his students: active learning, self-examination, and an appreciation for the complexity and importance of wisdom," (Reid, 1998).

Two thousand five hundred years ago, Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates were teachers and philosophers. The common tool, the pencil, had not yet been invented (1564 A.D.). The person credited with inventing paper, circa 104 A.D., to use with the pencil, would be born 600 years later in Asia. It would be thirteen hundred years before the Gutenberg press (1440) would allow for the mass distribution of books. Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates did not have textbooks, pencils, or paper but so inspired Greek students that the legacy of these educators lives on today.

Twenty-five hundred years later, not only do we have paper, pencil, and billions of textbooks, but we also have overhead projectors, smart boards, computers, Palm Pilots, educational software and interactive web sites. Yet, even with this plethora of tools at our disposal, we, as educators, still have trouble reaching and motivating our students. We, as educators, still have trouble raising test scores. We, as educators, still have trouble trying to stop students from dropping out.

Home-schooling parents have considerably less tools at their disposal than the poorest school district has and yet their children score higher on standardized tests.

"Another obstacle that seems to be overcome in home schooling is the need to spend a great deal of money in order to have a good education. In Strengths of Their Own, Dr. Ray found the average cost per home school student is $546 while the average cost per public school student is $5,325. Yet the home school children in this study averaged in 85th percentile while the public school students averaged in the 50th percentile on nationally standardized achievement tests.

Similarly, the 1998 study by Dr. Rudner of 20,760 students, found that eighth grade students whose parents spend $199 or less on their home education score, on the average, in the 80th percentile. Eighth-grade students whose parents spend $400 to $599 on their home education also score on the average, in the 80th percentile! Once the parents spend over $600, the students do slightly better, scoring in the 83rd percentile" (Farris & Smith 2004).

So, if all we need are pencil, paper, and a couple of hundred dollars, where have we gone wrong in the education of our students? Dr. Robinson showed us a chart in class which showed that while the money being spent on students rose very year, student test scores remained basically the same. Money does not seem to be the panacea that we think it is. Also, I believe that following state standards and being accountable are only part of the problem that influences student achievement. I believe the answer lies in the media and the culture of our society. Our schools are plagued by student violence, sporadic attendance, unqualified teachers, etc. Student achievement can also be hindered by class size, inadequate materials, improper nourishment, poor or no parental involvement, child abuse, and peer influence...the list goes on and on.

"The development of standards alone cannot ensure the success of school reform. A concert of many voices must commit to an ideology which promotes success for learners by supporting teachers. It will be a difficult process as the system--by virtue of history, tradition, over-learned attitudes--is allergic to change" (Holbein, 1998).

Another issue that troubles me concerning standards and student achievement is that the standards and testing assume a 'one size fits all' approach to instruction. One visit into any of today's urban classrooms of inclusion and diversity and the visitor will realize that a one-size-fits-all education cannot possibly work.

"Issues of instruction and developmentally-appropriate practice pose a pedagogical dilemma. Differences among individual children do not lend themselves to the lock-step progression dictated by standards. Curriculum frameworks which assign discreet learning tasks to a particular level do not take into account the learning pace of the individuals or the integrated learning which crosses the boundaries of subject matter. Generating the standards and assessing performance by benchmarks and frameworks takes no account of individuality" (Holbein, 1998).

Cheryl reminded me in the last class session that the NCLB Act also forced many uncertified teachers to jumpstart their education and enter certification programs. But how prepared are we to enter the work force as educators? During my first day as an elementary school teacher in an urban public school, I was kicked, spat on, and punched. I went home exhausted, drained, and depressed. Later on that year, I was body-slammed into a wall because I gave a child detention. I was not prepared for the realities of an urban classroom. In my current school, four teachers have quit during the first 30 days of this school year--their dreams of educating tomorrow’s adults dashed by the harsh realities of today’s classrooms. Society and the NCLB are asking if we, as teachers, are doing enough in the classrooms, and I am asking those that authored the NCLB Act to consider the possibility that some universities are not adequately preparing educators to enter into those classrooms.

The NCLB Act is a start, but, in my humble opinion, the NCLB Band-aid is not wide enough to cover the troubles of student achievement.

References:

Farris, M., et Smith, M (2004), Academic Statistics on Home Schooling, Retrieved September 16, 2006 from: http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/000010/200410250.asp

Holbein, M.F. (1998). Will Standards Improve Student Achievement? Education, 118(4), 559+. Retrieved September 19, 2006, from the Questia database, http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001358537

Mellis, M., Johannes Gutenberg and the Printing Press, Retrieved September 16, 2006 from: http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blJohannesGutenberg.htm

Reid, H. (2001) The Educational Value of Plato's Early Socratic Dialogues, Retrieved September 16, 2006 from: http://www.bu.edu/wcp/Papers/Teac/TeacReid.htm

Technology and Literacy

2008-12-21T15:44:00.002-05:00

As I began to read the Pennsylvania Literacy Framework, I became both agitated and excited. Agitated, because I feel that on so many levels, we, as teachers, are missing the mark and excited because it appears that the teaching of literacy is changing and technology appears to be driving much of that change. As a technology educator, I was a little surprised to see that the authors of the Framework agree with my premise that the 'new demands' of: information on the Internet, AudioBooks, and self-publishing were changing the face of literacy in the 21st century. Many times I feel very alone, with no support, so I also agree with the Framework that teamwork, coherence and continuity are keys to improving literacy in this tough, urban environment that I work in.

One must give students a purpose for reading. That purpose can be enhanced with technology--our tech-savvy students can read interactive books on line--books with animated illustrations and sounds. I know many students who can text but can't read well. I wish I had a bank of computers in my classroom that would allow me to tap into the 'magic' of the Internet to enhance the literacy of students.

Introduce Blogs in Your Classroom

2008-12-07T16:15:00.004-05:00

I am grateful that many teachers have the foresight to be interested in technology and be aware of its use as another literacy tool. Blogs can encourage creative expression and contribute to literacy improvement. There are now many student blogs (guided by teachers) on the Internet. One of the better-known ones is Gaggle.net. David Huffaker (2004) on the First Monday website (a peer-reviewed online journal) (http://www.firstmonday.org/issues/issue9_6/huffaker /index.html ) has an excellent article of the use of blogs in the classroom. The Internet is changing so fast, it's hard to keep up with it, but as educators, we have to be aware of technology's role in the lives of our students.

“What is an educated person?” If you ask that question of ten different educators, you will invariably receive ten different answers. The Michigan State University website (n.d.) lists at least nine traits of an educated person, one of the traits being: “to develop skills that respond to changing professional requirements and new challenges in society and the world at large. While no one has the definitive answer at to education’s purpose, few would argue that one of an educator’s objectives is to nurture, mentor and prepare students to live in a dynamically changing world—a world that will be radically different from the one we live in today. We know that our students are ‘digital natives’, a term coined by educational software designer Marc Prensky; as teachers, we need to become more acclimated to their digitally-enhanced environment. If we don’t, Ellis (1997) had a serious admonition for educators: “Technology will never replace teachers -- but, those who use technology will replace those who do not.”

REFERENCES:

Ellis, K. (1997) Educational cyber playground. Retrieved April 30, 2007 from: http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/Technology/Home_TECHNOLOGY.html

Huffaker, D. (2004). The Educated Blogger; Using Weblogs to Promote Literacy in the Classroom, Retrieved October 28, 2007 from: http://www.firstmonday.org/issues/issue9_6/huffaker/index.html

Michigan State University, (n.d.). An educated person, Michigan State University, Office of the Provost, first paragraph, Retrieved April 18, 2007, from: http://www.msu.edu/unit/provost/Educated_Person.htm

Homeschool Grading

2008-11-30T14:28:00.004-05:00

Grading in homeschooling is done by the teacher-in-charge. In most of the cases, this is the mother! Grading can get a bit tricky because it can be a little difficult to grade your own child objectively. There is no benchmark against which you can evaluate your child's performance. In most cases, you also have no awareness of how well other children are doing. So, obviously the traditional method of grading is perhaps not the best method to follow.

When grading a child undergoing homeschooling, it is more important to assess whether the child has understood the subject that is being taught. Inherent in this is the fact that if the child has not understood something, you will go over it again.

This will work in your child's favor in two ways. First, the child knows that if he or she fails to catch on, the topic will be repeated until it is mastered. Secondly, the child knows that once the topic has been mastered, he or she will get full credit for his hard work. Getting full reward for hard work put in is a great motivational factor, especially for kids.

When assessing your child's abilities, do not allow emotions to overcrowd your rationale. Do not yield to the cries and tears of your child if he or she resists certain topics or subjects. If mastering these skills is necessary, then you as the teacher AND the parent have to go over the topic until it is fully understood.

When the child is still young and unable to understand the importance of his lessons, it is your responsibility to see to it that the child develops the skill set necessary for future growth.

If you live in a state that requires yearly standardized tests, this will help you to judge your child's ability vis-à-vis his peers.

Even if it is not mandatory, you may want to test your child every year. These tests will reveal the variations in the child's learning pattern. It may show up unexpected areas of strength and hitherto unknown areas of weakness. This enables you to structure your teaching to cover the areas that are weak, and build upon the areas that are strong.

In case your state requires a homeschool report card, keep a record of the yearly development and scores of your child. Also, include pertinent areas like punctuality and discipline in the report. You may also need to keep a record of the number of working days and attendance.

While grading your child, make sure that you use as many external tests as possible. There are several websites that deal with the various age groups, and allow free downloading of question papers.

This is an excellent and cost-effective method to assess your child. Homeschooling, if done in the proper manner, will boost the child's confidence because he will be studying to satisfy his natural curiosity. The scores therefore will reflect his true intelligence.

Maintaining a Home School Discipline

2008-11-16T17:25:00.003-05:00

When the child stays at home all day, and the mother or father is the teacher, there are certain issues of discipline at stake. It is easy for he child to misconstrue the freedom he has at home and feel that homeschooling is just a long summer holiday. This is a potential landmine and children need to be disciplined right at the start.

Homeschooling gives you and your child a truly immense amount of flexibility. You and your child decide where to learn, how much to learn and when to learn. But, these should be decisions made at the beginning stages. If your child is too little to take an active part in the decision, chart out a few hours of the day for the various activities, and stick to it. When there is no outside agency to supervise and no exams to answer, it is easy to get sidetracked. If your child is old enough, consult him and find out when he wants to learn. Apply your parental discretion and come up with a timetable.

Homework is also a part of homeschooling. What this means is that once lessons have been taught, the child should be asked to do some part of the course work by himself without your guidance. You will need to make sure that your child sits willingly and finishes his work.

Courtesy, manners and punctuality are some of the various facets of discipline that a child has to learn in the early years of his life. The school where he interacts with his peers, his seniors and juniors and his teachers fine tune these values automatically. At homeschool, the child should be taught the importance of speaking and behaving in a proper manner and appropriate corrections need to be meted out if behavior is unsatisfactory.

It is advisable to keep aside a particular room or a part of the room for your homeschool. The child should be expected to reach his desk at the appointed time, in proper attire with all the necessary material. It is easy to allow the school to become an extension of play if these ground rules are not laid out and followed. As the teacher, supervisor, principal and janitor rolled into one, you should also approach the study area with a cool professionalism.

Homeschooling is doomed to fail without patience. In spitre of all the precautions and steps one takes, it is easy for a child to get side-tacked at homeschool. At such times, it may be difficult to discipline the child and get him to listen to you attentively.

When this happens, switch to something new. Allow the child to take a breather and enjoy a break yourself.

Homeschooling is not easy. It requires a lot of hard work and patience. The very informality of the whole procedure sometimes works against it by making it too easy. If you take steps to establish rules at the very beginning and adhere to these rules, your homeschooling experience will be a huge success.

Home School Structure

2008-11-02T15:52:00.003-05:00

Now that you have begun your homeschooling schedule, there are various questions that trouble you. Should you study continuously, take a number of short breaks or a long vacation? What about public holidays? When should you take a break?

The answer to these questions and many more like these are actually quite simple: Do whatever suits you best. This is one of the appealing benefits of homeschooling. You do not have a set pattern to follow. You do not HAVE to take that autumn break, or close shop for a prolonged summer vacation. Flexibility is the key here. For some practiced unschoolers, even a definite curriculum is not necessary because lessons are a part of their day- to-day life. But this may not be the case with beginners. Beginners may need to chart out their activities to fall into a pattern.

Before you plan the structure of your classes, consider some of the most important issues. What method of homeschooling will you be following, what is your teaching style and your child's learning style, what are the work and play schedules, what are your vacation plans. Some families plan small 1-week vacations at different times of the year. Other families prefer to go away for a month or more. Consult with the members of your family, and chart out a holiday schedule that most suits you.

There are some positive benefits in following the traditional summer vacation schedule. Firstly, your children can benefit from the various summer activities, camps and classes. Your child's schedule will coincide with that of his school-going friends. A summer job may be possible. A longish summer break also means that both parents as well as children get a break from their daily lessons. This could also be a major drawback, as it is sometimes difficult to get back on track once the classes resume.

On the other hand, there are some advantages to taking numerous small breaks in the course of a year. Firstly, children do not get bored since they get time to explore other interests. You can cover more topics in the extra time that you save. You can also take family trips and vacations during the less popular periods of travel. This means lesser crowd and better prices. But beware if your child becomes restless when other children are enjoying their long summer vacations.

As far as homeschooling is concerned, you and your family are the people in charge. Taking care of the individual needs of the child is the primary focus of this system. So, tailor the school year to suit your child's needs. Periodic evaluation is a must. Set some realistic goals and see if you are able to achieve these goals. Most importantly, avoid burnout - both in yourself and your children.

Books for Children

2008-10-19T17:43:00.005-04:00

One of the best gifts you can give your children is the love of reading. Children who begin to read at an early age tend to carry a love of reading straight through to adulthood. Children who love to read often do better in school. Textbooks may not be as much fun to read, but it will be easier for a child who loves to read to get through their assignments. The best way to get your child started is to buy books for children at an early age.

You can begin buying books for children earlier than you might think. There are picture books that children can handle as young as six months old. They may not even understand what it is, but it will give them a positive association with books. Many of these books for children are soft, have bright, stimulating colors, and can be chewed on safely.

As your children age, the books for children you buy will begin to involve words as well as pictures. One of my daughter’s first books was a picture book of other babies. Children are often fascinated with other children their own age. The book had very few words, but it helped her to understand that words tell a story, and the pictures in the books go with the story. When children reach age three or four, you can purchase more complicated books for children. They can have longer storylines, and they should encourage your child to ask questions. Rhyming stories are great, because they engage your child’s mind in learning and understanding patterns and sounds.

You can find books for children just about anywhere you buy books. Many bookstores have special sections just for books for children, and they often have extras like a play area and have Story Time. Obviously, you can also find them at the library, and the library will have Story Time as well. These programs are geared towards getting your children to develop a love of books that will last a lifetime. It is one of the best gifts you can give them. You can also start a book-sharing program with some of your friends and family. If you are really ambitious, you can start one of these for your community. This will encourage people to share or donate books for children to the community, and will help lower income families give their children the gift of reading.

HomeSchool Finances

2008-10-13T20:11:00.003-04:00

When people talk about teaching their children from home in the absence of any definite or structured curriculum, it is perhaps natural to think that homeschooling is cheap. But. this is far from the truth.

When you need to make sure that your children receives state-of-the-art education so that they can compete with regular school goers, expenses will naturally mount. The actual cost of educating a child at home is surprisingly high. Up-to-date textbooks, course materials, a library, computing equipment, lighting, specially-designed furniture all cost money. In this case, the cost may be slightly lesser when it comes to homeschooling the second child. Add to this any additional tuition cost for tutors who come to teach subjects that cannot be handled by parents, like higher-level math or science. The total cost can be a bit mind-boggling.

If you take another important factor into consideration, homeschooling costs may triple. The need for having one of the parents tied to the house and fully dedicated to providing education deprives the family of a second income. The average homeschooling teacher is usually someone with a college degree. This means that she/he can easily bring home a pay of $35,000 or more. It is also interesting to note that most families that have more than 2 children do not opt for homeschooling at all.

But, there are those who have been successful in carrying out homeschooling at low rates. This is dependent on the size of the family, the support group, the type of materials used and the availability of the material. When successive children can reuse the materials, costs goes down. Much of the course material can be purchased from vendors of homeschooling materials. A membership in a public library, theatre, concerts, ballets and other cultural events also help in cutting costs. Sometimes, it is even possible to barter expertise. For instance, the mother of an 8-year old gives dancing classes, and her daughter receives drawing classes for free. Support groups allow you to divide the cost of field trips, science projects and fairs.

Whatever the cost, advocates of homeschooling say that the benefits far outweigh these considerations. When you are able to decide what knowledge your child receives and when he or she should be taught and to what extent, it gives you a lot of freedom and a lot of power. Both the children as well as the parents benefit from this mutually enriching experience.

Strategies To Help You And Your Child Survive Homework

2008-10-05T21:03:00.003-04:00

Linda Bress Silbert, Ph.D. And Alvin J. Silbert, Ed.D.

Is homework wreaking havoc in your home? If the answer is YES, then finding the real causes behind the homework problems, and taking steps to resolve them, will improve both school success and family harmony.

How do we know? Homework is the single biggest issue affecting home life, according to many of the parents who bring their children to us at STRONG Learning Centers®.

Here are the ten most common causes of homework problems, along with suggestions to help you resolve them.

1. THE HOMEWORK IS TOO DIFFICULT.

If the homework is continuously too difficult, with everything that entails, then a child will try to avoid it. Look into the cause. Begin by having a conversation with the teacher. If the problem is class-wide, hopefully the teacher will evaluate and adjust the nature of his or her homework assignments. If the problem is limited to your child, she may require additional help from the teacher after school, from you, from a sibling, from a teenager you hire, or from a tutor. If this fails to resolve the issue, then a reevaluation of the type of class, or course level, or teaching vs. learning style, or school may be in order.

On the other hand, the cause of the problem may be a disability: physical, learning and/or attentional. Your child may have difficulty in such areas as: hearing, seeing, reading, processing language, or writing, or she may have ADD or ADHD. If the problem is one of these, sometimes it is easy to resolve. For example, corrective glasses can easily resolve some seeing issues and behavioral therapy and/or possibly medication might help AD/HD, the newer term for the disorder. In many cases, consulting teachers, counselors, or specialists in the appropriate field, might be in order.

Note: If you suspect AD/HD, a valuable resource is CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder organization). For information on the learning disability (LD) issue in general, contact the Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA).

2. THE HOMEWORK IS TOO CONFUSING.

When children chronically complain that assignments or directions are confusing, they are likely to become frustrated and/or anxious, eventually avoiding such assignments. Parents usually respond to these children by asking, "Weren't you listening?" Or "Just read the directions!" The children were listening or reading, but they may not have been able to process the information.

In this case, the cause may be reading comprehension and/or language processing problems. You may need to seek the help of teachers or a learning specialist to help your child learn strategies she can use to overcome or compensate for her disability. For example, she may need to put the words into pictures or graphic organizers. Children who become confused due to problems with language processing, do better when they can see things visually.

And, regardless of who is working with them, be sure they remain actively involved. Children (and adults too) are notorious for shaking their heads "yes" when asked "Do you understand?" even when they don't understand. Sometimes they are just yessing you and sometimes they think they understand. However, when you ask them to explain or discuss what you were just talking about, they realize that they really don’t understand.

If neither of these areas are the cause of the problem, then you may need to investigate why your child continues to complain. If it turns out it is simply a ploy to get you to do the work with him, then you need to address the reason for that behavior. But wait – before you get annoyed, remember what it was like for you when you were a child. Homework isn't always fun, and sometimes it's nice to have a little company. Your child may simply want your company during homework time. Wow! How's that for the ultimate compliment?

3. THE HOMEWORK IS TOO LOW-QUALITY OR TOO BORING.

Sometimes homework assignments are low-quality boring busywork and children will avoid them simply because they don't want to do them. Unfortunately, one of life's little lessons that children need to learn is that sometimes we simply have to do boring things. If, however, every assignment appears to be dull, too easy, or too low-quality, you may need to talk to your child's teacher to determine the purpose of the assignments. Many teachers do not realize how some of the assignments are coming across to the children; chances are they will appreciate the feedback and adjust the work as appropriate.

4. THE CHILD IS DISORGANIZED.

He brings home the book and forgets the assignment. He brings home the assignment and forgets the book. Or he forgets the assignment and the book. Does this sound familiar? If so, it sounds like you've got yourself a disorganized child. The same is true for children who can’t judge time or can't manage their time. They may have the best intentions to get the homework done, but somehow it gets lost in their time-maze.

It is so difficult for disorganized children to get their homework done that some of them would rather lie, insisting that there is no homework, than be criticized and punished. If poor organizational skills seems to be the issue, there are many books and articles that offer great strategies to help the disorganized child. See, for example, pp 123-127 in Why Bad Grades Happen to Good Kids.

5. THE HOMEWORK IS TOO INTRUSIVE.

It's a fact; homework cuts into playtime. So what's the problem? The problem is that in some cases homework time creeps up to the point of consuming the home lives of the children and sometimes that of the family as well. Besides the obvious down side, this may be harmful to children's intellectual development. Their brains are developing and they need to use all parts, and good quality play provides opportunities to use the "far corners" of the brain that might otherwise remain fallow. So, it turns out that children need to play. Surprisingly, brain research indicates that occasional boredom is good, too, as it forces children to think of things to do — that is, to use their brains to create.

So if homework time seems to have taken over your home, work out a schedule with your child so that he doesn't have to lie in order to play.

6. TOO MUCH PARENT INVOLVEMENT.

Some parents are overly involved in their child's homework. Here are the three most common types, all of whom tend to drive their children toward lying and deception. If any of these describe you, then work to change your behavior.

A. The "perfectionist parents." Perfectionists demand picture-perfect-homework. Their children hate to let them see their homework papers out of fear that they will judge the work unworthy, tear it up, and make them do it again. Besides being tedious and time demanding, in these extreme cases it is downright disrespectful of the child.

B. The "helicopter parents." These parents hover over their children, making sure that every "t" is crossed and every "i" is dotted. They think they're being helpful, but here's the problem: By not giving their children any breathing room, they are delivering the tacit message that their children are not capable of doing the work themselves. Not only does this harm their self-esteem, but it also denies them the opportunity of taking responsibility for their own work.

C. The "Pandora parents." The children of Pandora parents tend to deny the existence of any homework they don't understand because asking Mom or Dad even the simplest question is tantamount to opening Pandora's box. Their well-meaning parents can't contain their enthusiasm and turn what would ordinary require a short answer into a long-winded treatise on some esoteric detail.

7. THE CHILD IS UNMOTIVATED.

Most children don't want to do homework. But while they may put up quite a fuss, somehow they manage to get the work done. If they don't, motivation may not be the problem; they may appear unmotivated, but this may be a convincing protective screen they've set up to mask a larger issue.

For example, many children appear unmotivated when in fact they avoid homework to protect their egos. How's that? Because these children erroneously equate failure with stupidity. Their logic is as follows: If they try and fail, it is a reflection of their intelligence. If they don't try and fail, it is not a reflection of their intelligence; it is due to lack of motivation or irresponsibility. These labels they can live with; the label "stupid," they can't!

8. TOO MUCH HOMEWORK.

Many kids simply cannot keep up with the projects, tests, quizzes, reading and other assignments they are given.

Here is a general guide for the typical amount of time children should be expected to spend on homework each school day. Grades K-2, about 10-20 minutes. Grades 3-6, about 30-60 minutes. Grades 7-12 will vary considerably, depending on subjects, projects due, tests, etc., but a reasonable average is about two hours, with more on weekends, as needed, for major projects and exams.

If your child spends considerably more than this on homework, look into the cause. Begin by having a conversation with the teacher. If the problem is class-wide, hopefully the teacher will make adjustments. If the problem is limited to your child because your child works slowly, or has other issues discussed in this section, talk to his teacher and see what can be done to modify his assignments.

9. IT'S TOO NOISY.

Many kids complain that they can't concentrate at home. Their siblings are running around, TVs and music systems are blaring, someone's on the phone, people are fighting, the dog is barking, the baby is crying. I don't know about you, but I need quiet to do work that requires thinking. Closed bedroom doors don't help much, as the muffled sounds of chaos always manage to get through.

Here is an idealistic solution. Even if it can't be carried out fully, at least it is something to aim for. As a family, consider designating a block of time as quiet time. Normal living continues, but more quietly than usual. Kids can use the time to do homework; parents can read, balance the checkbook, and write e-mails; those who have time to watch television can do so with headphones or the sound turned low. Sometimes quiet sounds pretty good, doesn't it?

10. THE CHILD IS TOO ALONE.

Some children are lonely when required to do homework in their rooms, and don't work efficiently in that setting. Some need continuous support and direction. That is, they need someone to help them stay on task or to provide a little assistance when they get stuck. If required to work alone in their rooms, these are the kids who emerge three hours later with little or nothing accomplished. Both groups of children tend to prefer doing homework on the kitchen table. This way they have people around them, either for support or company.

So, if homework causes chaos in your home, look into the reasons. Once you find them, and do what you need to resolve the problems, you'll be back on the road to school success and family harmony.

(Originally published at the Strong Learning website and reprinted with permission of the authors, Linda Bress Silbert, Ph.D. and Alvin J. Silbert, Ed.D.)

Some Homeschooling Methods

2008-09-23T17:41:00.003-04:00

For many people, homeschooling may call to mind the picture of two or three children sitting at a table and writing feverishly in their workbooks, while mom or dad stands nearby. This is the not entirely true. There are different methods of homeschooling, and the method you choose will decide the curriculum and your style of teaching. Given below are some of the most influential and popular homeschooling methods.

The Charlotte Mason method:

Charlotte Mason is known as the founder of the homeschooling movement. A homeschooler herself, she was passionate in her zeal to lay out the foundations for an effective a complete homeschooling program that is fun and educational at the same time. This method focuses on all the core subjects with emphasis placed on classical literature, poetry, fine arts, classical music and craft. Mason used a variety of books from classical literature, which she called 'Living Books'. Since this method encourages a passionate awareness of literature, the child is read to daily from the 'Living Books'. After this, the child is asked to narrate what she has heard. This process begins at the age of six, and by ten the child is expected to write her narrations in her book. Mason also advocated the use of 'Nature Diaries'. After each short and interesting lesson, the child is asked to go to Nature and draw observations from Nature. Thus the child also gains a sense of respect for her environment. Mason believed that development of good character and behavior was essential to the complete development of the child's personality.

The Eclectic Homeschooling:

This is a mixture of various homeschooling techniques. Here, the innovative parents trust their own judgment and pick out the topics that make the best curriculum for their child. Such parents continuously look out for the best products that will meet the needs of their homeschoolers. Most Eclectic homeschooling curriculums are improvised. This means that the basic curriculum is ready-made. The parents then make changes in the curriculum to accommodate the individual needs and interests of their children.

The child's gifts, temperament, learning style and interests dictate the curriculum. Eclectic programs include visits to the museum, libraries and factories.

Unschooling:

A Boston public educator name John Holt laid the beginnings of the unschooling method. He believed that children learned best when they are free to learn at their own pace and when they are guided by their own interests. His message was to 'unschool' the child.

This method is a hands-on approach to learning, where the parent takes definite cues from the children. There is no definite curriculum, schedules or materials. This method is the most unstructured of the various homeschooling techniques.

The Montessori Method:

This method began in Italy, when it was observed that children have acute sensitive periods, during which they undergo periods of intense concentration. During such phases, a child will repeat an activity till he gains a measure of self-satisfaction. The Montessori Method depends on a prepared environment to facilitate learning. All the materials used in this method are designed to satisfy the inner desire for spiritual development of the child.

The materials used progress from simple to complex, and are rather expensive.

These are just a few of the methods of homeschooling. Whatever the method, the underlying factor is flexibility and a keen interest in the desires of the child. The secret is to use the child's desire for knowledge to further his education.

A Teacher's Guide to Internet Safety

2008-09-01T17:32:00.004-04:00

When it comes to using the internet in an educational facility or environment, there are often guidelines that were previously created and set in place for you to follow. In the case of a home schoolteacher it can be left up to you personally to create rules and guidelines for your students to follow for Internet safety.

There are some basic tips to give out to your students prior to allowing them to go online. At our school, we created a policy that students sign. Keep this policy in a file or posted on the side of the designated computer. Ensure that students only access the Internet with you or another adult's permission.

Most schools have filters in place, but, if a site with inappropriate content is accessed, please tell an administrator and close the site. Allow your students to access sites that have only appropriate content that is age-appropriate. To be on the safe side, I took the time to create a website that has appropriate links for children on it.

These sites can be saved in the favorites section for easy access to appropriate sites. If a student wants to visit a site you can have a rule that you have to preview it prior to allowing access to it. By setting up rules and guidelines to follow then students can have an enjoyable and successful time while surfing the net.

There are games and videos on Internet safety available to help you teach your students about online predators and cyber bullies. This is also helpful for times when the internet is used at home for assignments. Online safety is key to making the best experience during an online experience for both children and parents. Internet safety is a must in today's daily life and you can create a safe environment when you, the teacher, set rules in place from the beginning.