Home >> Best of >> 2006 >> Curr >> Professional Development Channel

Search form

Home > Best of Education World Series > Best of 2006: Professional Development Channel

Professional Development Header Graphic


Happy Holidays!
While you're enjoying your holiday break, we hope you will take time to read (or re-read) some of our best articles from 2006.

Cafeteria Noise
One reader posed this question in our Ask Dr. Shore feature: "Do you have any suggestions for managing a cafeteria in a K-2 building? The noise level in ours is tremendous! In an emergency, I don't think we could get the children out safely because of the chaos that exists." Read Dr. Shore's response.

Getting Off to a Fresh Start
The promise of a successful year is the hope of every student and teacher. Brenda Dyck shares the story of Stephen and ponders the importance of offering a fresh start to every student who enters her classroom.

Family Memoirs
Donna Sacco's "Family Writer's Workshop" brings families together to share ideas and experiences -- and it produces better writers among both students and parents.

Strategies That Work:
Involving Parents

Research shows that children are more likely to succeed academically, and less likely to engage in violent behavior, if their families are involved in their education. Included: Tips for bridging the gap between school and home.

Long-Term Planning Strategies
A little long-term planning can keep you from getting stressed out in the months ahead. Emma McDonald's practical planning system will ensure a successful spring semester for you and your students.

Reader's Theater:
"Will the Music Play?"

To mark the 50th anniversary of Symphony Land's world-famous Classical Music Festival, some musicians want to play modern music; others want to stick with the traditional. Will the music play?

Layering Instruction
The pace of instruction seems our first enemy, says reading expert Cathy Puett Miller. Discover Miller's tips for making every minute count in your classroom.

Reading Aloud
Teachers who read aloud in class model fluent reading, improve students' fluency, and increase students' ability to understand written text. Eight tips for getting the maximum benefit from reading aloud.

The Importance of Practice
Vince Lombardi said, "Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect." Classroom management expert Fred Jones says a key part of a teacher's job is to create perfect practice. Creating bad habits is the alternative.

"Why I Am a Teacher"
Do you refuse to admit to your non-teaching friends that the school calendar is one of the great joys of teaching? Eric Baylin doesn't. In fact, he invites you to join him in singing about it.

The Classroom Problem Solver
Dr. Ken Shore, the "Classroom Problem Solver," discusses strategies for handling difficult students and situations -- and answers readers' questions about their personal education issues.

  • Trouble-Free Field Trips
  • Bully-Proofing Your Classroom
  • More from Ken Shore...

    New Teacher Advisor
    Are you a new teacher struggling to learn the "tricks of the trade?" Don't miss Emma McDonald's experienced insights and practical advice for new teachers -- and veterans too.

  • Motivating Students
  • Maximizing Classroom Space
  • More from Emma McDonald...

    Tools for Teaching
    Dr. Fred Jones describes the skills and strategies teachers can use to make the classroom a place of safety, enjoyment, and academic success for all students.

  • Teaching Students to Hustle
  • Responsibility Training
  • More from Fred Jones...

    The Reading Coach
    Education World's reading coach, Cathy Puett Miller, explores research-based concepts, ready-to-use tools, and extensions for learning -- and helps you apply them all to your day-to-day teaching.

  • Creating a Reading Community
  • Improving Vocabulary Instruction
  • More from Cathy Puett Miller...

    Tunes to Brighten a Teacher's Day
    Teacher-songwriter Eric Baylin's new lyrics to familiar tunes are sure to bring a smile to your day.

  • "Thank Goodness for Weekends"
  • "I Might Survive"
  • More from Eric Baylin...
    Go Figure
    These math-based puzzles, problems, and brainteasers make great morning activities or free-time fillers.
  • What's Your Angle?
  • Count the Monkeys
  • More "Go Figure" Puzzles

    More Math Corner Features

  • Explain That
    Simple explanations for teaching basic math concepts.
  • Math on the Web
    Great sites for teaching or learning about math.
  • Math Mnemonics
    Memory aids for math formulas, concepts, operations, and more.

  • More Professional Development Features

    Teacher Feature
    Some of the world's most creative teachers invite you into their classrooms to observe their teaching methods and "steal" their best ideas.

    Reader's Theater
    Education World's original scripts provide students with engaging and entertaining stories -- and authentic reading practice.

    Strategies that Work
    How do you handle homework? Motivate students? Involve parents? Explore proven strategies for dealing with those issues -- and many more.

    Voice of Experience
    Veteran educators take a stand, offer an insight, share an experience, or recount a special classroom moment in these revealing essays.

    Reading Tips
    Practical reading activities and strategies.

    Backpack-tivity
    Weekly learning activities for students and families.

    The Responsive Classroom
    Articles from the Responsive Classroom Newsletter.