This was a fun piece that you all helped me write for the Atlantic. I asked you, my friends, on Twitter, Facebook, and Google plus about why you became a teacher. The response was overwhelming as you shared why you got into (and stay in) teaching. Your words are powerful and inspired me to be more. Thank you.
I know Steve Spangler sells a lot of science things on his website, but I just enjoy him. I like how he explains things and how he uses colorful, attractive things in his science experiments. If you're a science teacher, I think you'll enjoy browsing the experiments on his website. Here is one on convection currents. He shares how to do all of the experiments, so you don't have to buy anything from him. This is a great example of how you can be helpful and people want to buy from you.
2011 Edublog awards are open. Yes, I think these are important. It helped me a lot in knowing that what I said mattered when I've been nominated, been a finalist, and won as well. Join in the nominations.
The best way to respond to bullying of a physical nature (like repeated physical attacks or threats) is to ask the attacker, "Are you mad at me?" This brings the situation down from a physical to the verbal level.
You can connect with your students. Here are five ways I strive to do this in my own classroom. (In a piece I wrote for the Atlantic.com)
95% of what you accomplish is because of your habits. What are the habits in the classroom that will help you reach more students?
If you want to help tomorrow be better than today, put financial literacy into your school's program. In fact, I would venture to say that your community will reap the benefits in the years to come as students learn how to manage their money and balance their checkbook. I teach accounting and wish that every student knew how to balance a checkbook. They also need to know the difference between secured and unsecured debt. Spend less than you make, period.
"You may not realize it, but these three events are part-and an excellent illustration-of the global financial literacy crisis, one of the overriding problems of the modern financial world."
This site has a great set of downloadable PDF books and resources to help emergent readers with phonics. Free sign up is required.
http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/English
A Twitter-like social network study group platform. Post comments, upload and share files, use the collaborative whiteboard and text and video chat to help users study together when apart.
http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/ICT+%26+Web+Tools
Lesson plan to help you cover human slavery. This is hard topic but you cannot blame those who did nothing about slavery in the Civil War if you turn a blind eye to the unpleasantries of our world. This is from the New York Times and I am going to use it with my 9th graders on Monday.
Have you ever wondered how to create an animated picture ? If you have here is an answer for you. There are several online tools that allow users to create GIF animations from pictures stored on their computers. Here are some of the best free web tools that can help you create animated GIFs
A superb series of radio programmes from the BBC and the British Museum about the history of humans told through 100 artefacts. The website has all the shows archived and lots more resources to help you retell the human story in your class.
http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/History
Help develop language skills for students who are having difficulty with this Android and Apple Device App with a cartoon cat that copies every sound you make and interacts in other ways. The basic free version has lots of functionality, but comes with banner ads.
http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/Special+Educational+Needs
A collection of more than 100 videos that help you explore the world of mathematics. Just about any math topic is covered including probabilities Kaprekar's Constant and more. These videos will be useful if you're in the process of working towards flipping your classroom.
June 28 is the anniversary of the outbreak of World War 1. As you discuss this topic, here are some activitiesa and lessons to help you. There are some "causes" activities to introduce World War 1 that may interest some social studies teachers.