Words that need to be outlawed in a Teachers vocabulary

Words that need to be outlawed in a Teachers vocabulary:
Here is a list of words that I think needs to be outlawed or at least not used by an educator any more.
• Lazy
• Stupid
• Dumb
Instead these are the words that should be used
• Unmotivated
• unengaged
Here are some examples of what I mean.

Wrong things to say:
• “Johnny is lazy in my class room and doesn’t want to learn.”

Right things to say:
• “Johnny is not motivated he seems to be unengaged by my teaching style.”
• “I have not found how to engage Johnny in his intrinsic will to learn”
• “I have not found how to excite Johnny in my class and to help him gain a desire to learn”

Using these words in the first part reminds me of this saying that I have read, “All beating will continue until the moral improves.”

I know this is true I was one of those students that was unmotivated, I was also told as a 9th grader that I was not college material by a guidance councilor. I know love to learn and I am engaged every day of my life. I love to learn something new and strive to everyday. This is all because I had a sixth grade teacher, that knew how to motivate and engage me into learning. Thank you Jody Miklovic, for you are one of the rare few that knows how to motivate students into wanting to learn.

Micro lesson plans by Salman Khan (Sal) founder of the Khan Academy

Here is a sample of a micro lesson on adding for students. I think this technique will help many people to learn concepts in learning. Many times students don't want to hold up there hands in front of there peers. So they will not ask for help or for a teacher to repeat it. But with this help they can watch the video multiple times or rewind and watch a concept that they didn't under stand.


http://www.khanacademy.org/index.html

Micro lessons for student learning - Salman Khan

 Salman Khan (Sal) founded the Khan Academy with the goal of using technology to educate the world Sal received his MBA from Harvard Business School. He also holds a Masters in electrical engineering and computer science, a BS in electrical engineering and computer science, and a BS in mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Here is his website where you can find his video micro lessons.
http://www.khanacademy.org/index.html

Micro professional development

Micro professional development
I was thinking about professional development and I was working on my blog site early Sunday morning. I was thinking about the time restraints that we have in K-12 education and professional development. I was entering in some new content to my site and it made me to think about my blog site and why I like it so much. I like this because these are short to the point videos most are three to five minuets. They are power sessions, to the point cut out the fluff. I have an example of what I mean here is the link .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObXdt-Yc6sg

Many times I think we get way to wordy in our education and training. The minimalist approach might have some merit in helping us to learn and focus what is important. I believe that we need to focus more on the main content. Kind of like what the power standards are do in helping students to get all the content they need to pass the MEAP. Many times when I read these books on education the 200 plus pages could be condensed or summarized into a chapter or less. So why could we not do this with short Professional development videos and articles.

Maybe this is a tool that we could use in K-12 to help meet some of the needs of professional development training of staff also.

What is your thoughts on this?
sharpstf@usak12.org

TIC - Educational Technology website

Here is an Educational website about technology in the classroom. They have some great resources to help find technology that will fit your needs in the classroom.


Technology In Class (TIE)

Here is a self description of the website that they have created.

Enjoy!
In the 21st century classroom rapidly evolving technology and education are inseparable. Most educators cannot imagine using a typewriter after having used a PC. However, when it comes to more advanced applications of new technology, teacher knowledge often falls below student knowledge. Lamentably, teachers do not take advantage of or are simply not aware of the many uses of technology in the classroom. Instead of integrating technology into a lesson, teachers often rely on outdated methodologies.

We’re here to help. Our purpose is to make the connection of education and technology as clear and seamless as possible. We want to ensure that you get the full benefit of whatever technology you use in your classroom. This site will provide free information about the uses of technology in the classroom.

This site is a thorough, one stop place for all of your pedagogical and practical needs. We believe that through our website, teachers and students will develop proficiency with relevant tools of technology. Come in and take a look around. We are confident that you will find something to use in your classroom or learning environment.

Guided Reading in Elementary Classrooms

Guided Reading in Elementary Classrooms

Developing reading comprehension

Developing reading comprehension with student friendly reading strategies and clear guided reading group routines. An effective guided reading programme for small groups.
Category: Education

Tags: reading strategies comprehension read groups guided silent group strategy learning learn

Click here
This is a video of how to develop reading comprehension.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObXdt-Yc6sg

Reading is cool video ( show your studnets this video it is a must see)

Here is a great way to show students that reading is cool. This is a great way to help get them to understand that reading is cool. We need to find more ways to make education fun and motivate students to want to learn.

Check out this video- based off the flashmob Oprah/Black Eyed Peas show!!!!

Google Voice - How it could help teachers and connecting to students.

Google Voice gives you more control over your phone calls. With Google Voice, you get one number for all your phones, cheap international calls, voicemail like email, and more, for free! (US only). Do you wish you could beter control your student getting ahold of you. Would you rather not give them your home phone number but would not mind taking some calls from students at home with set hours that they would come to that number. Here is a tool to help do this.
Learn more at http://www.google.com/voice

What is a browser?

Only 8% of people off of the street in New York know what a browser was. With computers and computer literacy needed in to days work force, we have much work ahead of us in education. Do you know what a internet browser is? What is a browser? This was the question that was asked of over 50 passersby of different ages and backgrounds in the Times Square in New York. Watch the many responses people came up with.

Technologies that are coming of age

Technologies that are coming of age:
_______________________________________________
1. One to one Laptops
2. Personal Learning Device – PDA, Cell phone, Smartphone’s
3. Open Source and Free Solutions – Open office, Linux OS many other applications
4. Making Good Decisions (ethics online) – Student are challenges with making good decisions while online, Cyber bullying, Sexting, Tone of voice while making comments and post online.
5. Students as Creator/Collaborator – Social learning environments, Facebook, Ning, Twitter, Wiki’s
6. Extended Learning – Any where any time learning, At home, At Play, At Work learning every where there is access.
7. Open Courseware – MIT Open Courseware, hippocampus
8. Differentiation/Universal Design for Learning – UDL template lesson plans

Challenges awaiting us in k12 education:
Over the years these issues have not been solved yet: time, money, training, support, access.

Time: technology integration needs to become transparent or seamless in it use, it is no longer seen as something on top of what teachers already have to do. In order for this it must become simplistic, something as simple as a traditional pencil. No one has to tell someone how to use a pencil, it is a standard. This is when it will become a part of the entire curriculum.

Money: schools looking to save money can begin using solutions which utilize open source and free applications.

Training: we need to continue to work toward educating teachers to effectively integrate technology tools. Teachers must make a commitment to change teaching practices. It is not good enough to go the conference learn the best management practices and then go back in the room behind closed doors and change nothing.

Support: If we offer support and professional development training, teachers will never change the way they use technology. This support must be timely if you want them to integrate it in to there lesson plans. Access: this is an issue. We must provide fast connections needed for the new Web 2.0 applications and streaming video.

RTI Video

RTI Video

Don Deshler discusses the following RTI topics

Don Deshler discusses the following RTI topics:

- What makes RTI difficult to implement? (:09)
- Creating Support for Teachers (1:50)
- Changing Roles (3:06)
- Time Needed for Change (4:43)
- Having a Voice (6:15)

See http://www.rtinetwork.org for more information.