Tips to be a better teacher, engage and work with learning disabilities.
You do not need a Ph.D. in Philosophy (yes, I do have that, that is why I am a teacher-lol). I taught a few seminars for High School and Junior High Students over the years. Now planning a course for this summer. Here is what I have that you can use too. My main resource... Continue Reading →
Learning targets are a teacher’s best means of communication for learning objectives. Learning targets will greatly help students focus on what you want them to learn. They must be well written in student-friendly language and specific with clear and simple steps and given each school day. Think through how they fit into the bigger learning goals, so... Continue Reading →
A Common Core learning standard is given and placed unpacked and the following chart as an example. CC Standard: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.2 Determine the main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key details; summarize the text. http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/RI/4/#CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.2 Rewrite Standard so it is usable: Determine the main idea of a text and explain... Continue Reading →
To be successful at scaffolding, students need to be able to understand and take the capacity verbs of the learning targets and successfully master them to climb up in their learning. This is all about, building one step at a time; hence why it is called scaffolding. For example, to compare and contrast something complex... Continue Reading →
Today, did my students learn? If not, why not? These are hard questions we must always ask ourselves and any good Principal should also ask: Are you providing students with what they need or just what they want? Are the students engaged? (For how to better ourselves, see “Always Actions” post.) We always need to... Continue Reading →
I have used this formula for years, as a trainer for a major Bank, as a public speaker, and as a curriculum writer, and as a teacher. Keep in mind that Learning Objectives give the purpose of what the student will be learning. This serves as the foundation and the heart of our lesson plans. Good Objectives... Continue Reading →
Learning Objectives are not just for teachers, they are for the students. Having well thought-out learning objectives is thefoundation for class planning. These objectives need to state what the students will be able to know and what they will do when they complete the lesson. At this stage, they are to be specific, measurable, short-term, and... Continue Reading →
The key for students to be able to learn is for them to know what is expected from them and then be able to see what success of that look like. Thus, a good teacher must be able to create and effectually communicate clear defined learning targets. And these must be presented and posted so... Continue Reading →
What do we do first when undertaking a standard, we have not done before? The first step I take with a new Common Core standard is identify the “what.” That is, what are the concepts and big ideas I can pull from that mess. Then, what will be my lesson goals? So, that I can break it... Continue Reading →
Learning a new language takes years. The reason is obvious, usually an ELL or ESL, English as a Second Language student comes into one of the most difficult and illogical languages, English, from another culture and home language. Imagine yourself moving to Beijing and trying to learn Mandarin with little help and you have Dyslexia.... Continue Reading →
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