Chances are you have a filing cabinet, or multiple ones like me, full of worksheets and printables that you use to engage your students in classroom learning experiences. Most of these printables probably started as a PDF that you opened on your computer, printed, and then copied for your kids. The vast array of paper and pencil assignments is perfect for differentiation and learning in the classroom. However, not as much for distance learning, right? Did you know that you can incorporate technology to create experiences perfect for learning at home or in the classroom setting? Here are three ways you can turn those PDF assignments into digital activities that engage your students in learning experiences for distance learning. Use Kami Kami is a teaching tool that allows you to upload a document and share it with students for distance learning. Once the kids have access, they can mark-up the assignment by adding textboxes or using the pen tool, for free. You can delete pages … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Add Entertainment to Education
Yes, you can add entertainment to education. According to Merriam-Webster's dictionary, entertainment is something that provides amusement or engagement. With this in mind, think about the practices that amuse and engage you daily. We tell Alexa, "good morning," as we make our coffee to have her entertain us with her daily highlights. Furthermore, we listen to Pandora or our favorite podcast on the way to work. We set our DVR timers to record our favorite shows. Also, we watch YouTube videos, go to concerts, scroll through our Instagram feed, and play games to entertain our minds. Entertainment is something we value. For that reason, we should be entertaining the students in our classrooms! That doesn't mean we need to dress up as a clown and juggle. But, we do need to mix up some of our traditional activities and assessments to move away from the boring and add entertainment. Let's talk about five ways you can add entertainment to education. Play Games to Add Entertainment to … [Read more...]
Yes to Success in the Classroom with Not-So-Average Tests
We can say yes to success with tests! How? Testing, testing, and more testing, right? Lately, it seems that is much of what education is all about. We test and test again in an effort to prepare our students for an end-of-grade or end-of-course test. I don't know about you, but tests have become a part of the routine. We give tests! But do we know why we are giving them? Is it because we need test grades in our grade book? Perhaps it is because our administration told us we needed to give an x-number of tests? Or, is it because that's what we've always done? We teach a unit, and then we give a test. Whatever the reason, we can say yes to success with not-so-average tests. First, let's think about the information that a test tells us. Is it simply a number that reflects the student's understanding of a unit? If that number is too low, what do we do? What if Omar and Jamal both score an 80? Does that mean that Omar and Jamal didn't understand the same concepts from … [Read more...]
Yes to Success in the Classroom with a Bellringer
It gives your students purpose immediately as they enter the classroom. Also, you can use it to review concepts learned the previous day. It will even work to connect to new concepts you need them to learn today. Furthermore, you can use it for grouping, remediation, enrichment, and more. Bellringers are a daily procedure that we, as teachers, should not go without. You can say yes to success with a bellringer! I call my bellringer the START. It simply stands for Scientific Thinking And Reasoning Time. It's our bellwork. And, you know what bellwork is right? It is something that your students do as they enter the classroom, allowing the teacher to maximize instructional time. Bellwork, for us, is a non-negotiable! Although we've used bellringers since year-1 in the classroom, how we use it has changed several times. Consider the changes like an experiment. We tried one way, make improvements, and then tried another. We've finally found something we love! In the … [Read more...]
Yes to Success in the Classroom with Modeling
Let's talk about modeling. Not the type where someone puts on a designer's dress and walks down the runway. The type that teachers can use to help their students understand and the type that students can use to show their understanding. You know those standards that begin with "develop and use a model"? That's them! Last year was our first year teaching the Georgia Standards of Excellence. It is not exactly NGSS, but the idea is the same. Our students learn science by doing science. That means that we learn by using the Science and Engineering Practices, too. On another note, in order to do science, the students must know what to do. Therefore, we implemented a beginning of the year unit called Practices (which is another day...stay tuned). Long story short, we teach about each practice and then we use various ways to check for student understanding. So, back to the modeling. You might ask, "What exactly is a scientific model?". A scientific model is something … [Read more...]
Yes to Success in the Classroom with Explanation
Using the 5E model of learning in the classroom is important! And although every "E" has its value, let's talk about one in particular...the EXPLANATION. It's the part where you make sure that your students have an understanding of the concept. It's the part where you get them the information that they need. It's the part that ensures the success of learning the objective. It's the part where you explain or offer some sort of explanation. So, what is an explanation? An explanation refers to the "act or process of explaining". Then, what does it mean to explain? To explain means to offer "a statement" to "clarify something or make understandable". We have standards that we, as teachers, need to help our students understand. Understanding is essential to our students being able to apply and connect what they have learned. Therefore, we must explain. There are several Go To Methods of explanation that we use to ensure that our students understand. Check them out in this series … [Read more...]
Yes to Success in the Classroom with Routines and Procedures
Welcome back! Or if it is your first time, welcome! I'm glad you are here and I hope by reading this, you will find at least one way to add a little success to your classroom. One way I add success is by using routines and procedures. Routines can create a sense of ownership, inclusiveness, and pride. Procedures can establish a community for your classroom. When students have these feelings, it is amazing to see what they will do. You can say Yes to Success in the Classroom by establishing routines and procedures with your students. How? Tell Them About It It is important that students understand your expectations. I start with the syllabus on the very first day of school. It gives the students, and their parents, a written copy of the procedures you expect them to follow. We also discuss it. And when we discuss it, we model and we practice it. Yes, even in the high school classroom, we practice the procedures over and over and over! We even role play what … [Read more...]
Yes to Success in the Classroom
This year was quite possibly one of the most successful years that I have had in the classroom. Student engagement was greater. Parent involvement was increased. Test scores soared through the roof! Chalk it up to 12 years of experience or just great students. Whatever the reason may be, it was a success. And to celebrate, I want to share with you some ways to achieve that success in your classroom. Join me over the next few weeks for a seven part summer series in which I share with you ways to say Yes to Success in the Classroom. There is no form to complete. No sign up is necessary. Simply add Yes to Success in the Classroom to your summer reading list, bookmark the page, and check back soon for some great ideas and gifts. Happy teaching! SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave … [Read more...]
Recap #NSTA2018
Wow! That is one word that I would use to describe the National Science Teachers Conference in Atlanta last week. So much fun! So many ideas! So much to share (but so little time)! So...here's just a few.If you teach any type of life science, you should not be doing so without hhmi BioInteractive resources. A few years ago, we found the short film called The Making of the Theory. It made teaching the history of the theory of natural selection through the eyes of Darwin and Wallace much more engaging. The kids love it. But, I didn't realize that there was so much more until the conference. BioInteractive has so many ready-made resources for teachers that encourage students to explore, model, elaborate, and so much more. CHECK IT OUT to get your students to "thinking like scientists." Use storylines to engage students into the learning experience and keep them wanting more. Coming up with your own storylines … [Read more...]
7 Steps Towards Becoming an Effective Science (or any) Teacher
According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, to be effective means to produce “a decided, decisive, or desired effect.” As a science teacher (or any teacher), our “desired effect” should be to engage our students in what they are learning, inspire them to learn more, and make them masters of that which they are learning. On a scale of 1 to 10, how effective are you? Are you a number 1, 2...9 but want to be a 10? You can follow these 7 steps to become an effective science (or any) teacher.Step 1: Plan investigations, inquiry, or discovery activities for your students. This will increase their engagement and retainment of information. Try using a real world phenomenon! For example, instead of lecturing about phases of matter and the changes that can happen, why not let them investigate the fact that clouds have flat bottoms?Step 2: Collaborate with teachers of the same subject. I used to think that I could do it better by myself. But after … [Read more...]