Education World's
Learning Machine
Explore the coolest teaching resources on the Web.
From the Science Machine
Use Amusement Park Physics to explore the topics of physics and forces. (Grades 3-12)
From the Reading Machine Wizards and Pigs Poetry Pickle reinforces rhyme and alliteration. (Grades 3-6)
From the Math Machine Da' Numba is a fun Web site for teaching addition. (Grades 1-12)
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As we move farther into September, and students begin to settle into the new routine, it's time to think about those other important people in your students' lives -- their parents. We know parent involvement is a strong determining factor in student success, but we don't always know how to best involve busy parents in their children's school lives. This week's articles will offer some valuable suggestions.
You also won't want to miss part 2 of David Maxfield's series "Speak Up or Burn Out: Five Crucial Conversations that Drive Educational Excellence." This week, he introduces the topics of his first two crucial conversations -- unsupportive leaders and failing teachers.
And don't forget that September 17th is Constitution Day. We have some great lessons for teaching about it!
By the way, did you and your students watch President Obamas back-to-school address on Tuesday? What did you think of it? How did your students react? Share your thoughts on an Education World message board -- or on Facebook.
Two Crucial Conversations
Five crucial conversations drive educational excellence while preventing teacher burnout. The first two conversations are about unsupportive leaders and failing teachers.
Handprints Across the World
David Anderson's collaborative project helps students learn about other cultures -- and share their own.
Wire Side Chat
Celebrating the U.S. Constitution
On the day set aside for all Americans to honor and study the U.S. Constitution. Louise Leigh, the founder of Constitution Day, hopes some of the lessons prepared for teachers give students a new appreciation of their heritage and freedoms.
Strategy of the Week
Parent Open House Open house night is the perfect opportunity to make connections with parents. With a little planning, your school can improve open house attendance and make a good first impression too.
Ken Shore: The Classroom Problem Solver
The Unmotivated Student
When working with an unmotivated student, you first have to convince him that he can be successful, and then you must figure out how to capture his interest.
Ms. Powell's Tips for Organizing Your Classroom Organize Classroom Aides
Help classroom aides feel welcome, appreciated, and well-informed.
Classroom Management Article of the Week
Class Meetings: A Democratic Approach to Classroom Management
Patterned after family meetings in her own home, teacher Donna Styles established a format for class meetings that enabled her students to share their thoughts and solve classroom issues on their own.
From Our Classroom Tips Library
Classroom Management: Getting to Know You Behavior Management: Group Dynamics Motivating Kids: The Passion List Book Report Makeover: Ten Fast Facts Homework Tips: The Task Analysis Sheet Best Idea: Admit and Exit Slips Testing Tips: Work Your Brain
Emma McDonald: The New Teacher Advisor
Developing Positive Parent Partnerships
If we are to reach our goal of producing successful students, we must partner with the people ultimately responsible for those students -- their parents.
Fred Jones's Tools for Teaching
Weaning the Helpless Handraisers (Part 2)
Developing and implementing a "Visual Instruction Plan" can reduce the duration of your helping interactions with helpless handraisers from 30 seconds to 5 seconds.
Ruth Sidney Charney: The Responsive Classroom From Our Hopes and Dreams Come the Rules
The quest for rules helps us achieve our hopes. "If we are going to learn math...make friends...what rules do we need?" Rules help the good things happen.
Eric Baylin's Songs to Brighten a Teacher's Day Thank Goodness for Weekends
The concept of a day of rest dates to ancient times, but the notion of a two-day buffer between five-day work weeks is a relatively new innovation. And what a brilliant, sanity-saving innovation it is.
Meet other members of Education World's Professional Development columnist team.
How to Write a Five-Paragraph Essay
Help students develop their writing skills with these step-by-step instructions for planning, outlining, and writing a five-paragraph essay.
The Anne Frank Wall Project Jim DeLong's "Anne Frank Wall" celebrates the written word.
Writing Bugs Inquiring Minds Want to Know Become a news reporter. Time for a Change If I could change one thing about myself...
Tomie dePaola's Adelita: A Bio Poem Write a bio poem about Adelita. (Grades K-2)
Art Imitates Life Study postcards of WWI; create postcards that reflect your life. (Grades 3-12)
Cathy Puett Miller:
Getting Parents in the Literacy Loop
Create a unique system for student reading success using techniques developed and proven in real school environments. Begin the transformation at your school through the marriage of effective parent involvement techniques and the power of reading.
Reader's Theater How the Camel Got Its Hump
At the beginning of the world, there is much work to do. But while others carry the load, the camel refuses to help. So the magical Wizard of All Deserts teaches the lazy animal an important lesson.
Reading Feature
Checkpoints in Reading
The Council for Educational Development and Research (CEDaR) has created a list of checkpoints in reading -- for kindergarten and grades 3, 6, 9, and 12 -- to help parents better understand their childs reading development.
Best Books for Teaching About...
Spelling Fitness
More from Our Professional Development Archive
Have you seen our new Science Machine? The Science Machine, part of our Learning Machine series (which also includes a Reading Machine and a Math Machine), links to three dozen online resources to help you teach and reinforce important science concepts and skills. Use them with your whole class or schedule students to use the activities individually on computers in your classroom science center. Either way, these resources provide you with 36 ready-made science lessons -- and they make great reward time activities too.
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