Shutting Down Brainstorm Session Saboteurs

The purpose of a good Brainstorming session is to have a shower of ideas from which to choose. I like to use Brainstorming when I’m asking the class for input on a project rubric, project topic ideas, and possible endings for the novel we’re reading.

Like anything else, good procedures make the Brainstorming session go smoothly. I set down the procedures early in the year and use a transparency to remind the class of my expectations every time we Brainstorm. Sure, it’s redundant, but I think that the sessions go more smoothly when everyone understands what to do.

10 Alternative Assessments for Homework

Homework is a dreaded word for many of our students. To them, homework means endless problem sets, memorizing vocabulary, or filling in the blanks. It’s hard for many kids to find a quiet place at home for homework or even a quiet place on the bus ride to the JV basketball game.

Extending classroom learning outside the school walls is a great idea; it reinforces objectives and makes for better classroom discussions. But the same ol’ read-and-respond assignments get dull. It’s good for everyone to mix up the assessments. After all, the brain loves novelty.

Do You Grade Class Participation?

Grading class participation or giving students a daily grade is beneficial because these grades hold students accountable for their learning in class. If a student is chronically absent from class or sits in the office for most of the period, her participation grade will suffer. These grades also reward students who come to class and stay on task.

But, grading class participation can be tedious. It’s also tough to make it fair. What makes good class participation and what is just merely warming a desk?

Using a Beach Ball for Review Questions

Whenever the seasons change, I start to get really excited. There are few things I love more than a good clearance rack. One of the items you can depend on finding at half price this time of year is the beach ball. I can usually pick one up for about a dollar, but I’ve seen them in August for 50 cents or less. I buy a good half dozen.

Beach balls are wonderful things. You can blow them up and, deflated, they store flat. If you puncture a beach ball, a small bit of duct tape will allow you to continue to use the ball, at least for a time. You can also repair them with vinyl repair kits (be careful not to stick two layers of the ball together).

Why all this talk about beach balls? They make for a wonderful review game and a great change of pace. Pull out the beach ball and start blowing it up and you’ll have a class full of engaged students.

Five Deadly Staff Meeting Sins and How to Avoid Them

When I was teaching, I used to say, “May I die during a staff meeting. The transition between life and death would be so subtle.”

It’s kind of snarky, but I’m sure you’ve sat through staff meetings where you were guilty of watching the clock, grading papers, doodling, or making lists.

It’s the beginning of another school year and I bet you have at least a half day full of staff meetings – maybe several days. Man, that’s rough. What makes these days so painful and what takeaways do we have for our own teaching?

What Did You Like about Your Favorite Teachers?

One of my favorite teachers was my high school French teacher. I really liked the way he started off the class in our first year of language learning with total immersion for the first quarter. When we finally heard him speak English, we all thought it was the funniest thing. He had a good sense of humor and made learning the language fun. We talked in silly voices, sang, drew pictures, and threw parties. I looked forward to his class every day.

That’s quite a compliment, isn’t it? I looked forward to his class every day.

No Big Deal: Providing a Classroom Environment Where It’s Safe to Participate

I remember sitting in my high school chemistry class and praying that the teacher wouldn’t call on me. I made no eye contact, sunk low in my seat, and tried to hide behind my long hair. It worked pretty well. The times that the teacher did call on me, I was so hopelessly lost that I just mumbled some answer. He learned not to ask me questions and I learned how to master that queasy feeling in my gut. Chemistry? I didn’t learn very much of that at all.

As a teacher, I know better. If I have a student who’s hiding from me and unwilling to answer a question, I have a problem. That’s not a kid who’s learning; that’s a kid who’s miserable for an hour each day.

Want to Boost Test Scores? Wish Your Students Good Luck

Ben Goldacre is a medical doctor in the U.K. who writes a column in The Guardian called “Bad Science” and has a blog of the same name. Goldacre takes pride in debunking the pseudo-scientific claims from the dietary supplements, baby genius, and cosmetics industries.

Despite the fact that Dr. Goldacre doesn’t believe in the amazing health benefits and antioxidant powers of chocolate, I think that his conclusinons are sound, expecially those about the mind’s incredible response to belief.

Top Ten Things I Learned about Teaching This Year

The school year’s almost over, or maybe it is over for some of you lucky people. You’re checking in books, correcting exams, and closing up the grade book. You know that some of your lessons really met the objectives and the kids learned a lot. They caught the spark and you could see how the new understanding captured their interest.

But what did you learn? Did you catch that spark? Did you have an ah-ha moment? I’m out of the classroom and able to talk education experts. Here are my ah-ha moments: