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Common Core-ify Student Assessments

Speed of Creativity blogger Dr. Wesley Fryer encourages teachers to give students differentiated, 21st-century options for demonstrating mastery and understanding of the curriculum.

These methods can include images, audio and video, as opposed to the typical text-only type of assessment. To that end, Fryer provides a helpful list of resources and Web sites related to Common Core and media creation/sharing.

Check out these ideas and start assessing students more creatively!

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Earth Hour is coming

Earth Hour is coming. Here is a way to participate in developing environmental responsibility and awareness that climate challenges facing our planet need to be global. In its 6th year~ people around the world are being asked to shut off electric lights and other electrical devices for one hour on March 31st. Begun in New Zealand~ it is estimated that over 135 countries around the world will take part this year.Landmarks such as the leaning Tower of Pisa~ the Vatican~ the Eiffel Tower~ the...

Sign of the times....digital books!

A sign of the times that more and more people are reading e-books. Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc.~ which has published their encyclopedias for more than 200 years~ has announced that they will cease publishing their print editions~ focusing on their digital versions of their encyclopedia~ instead.

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Ireland~ the Emerald Isle

Perhaps~ the webquest I develop on Ireland might be of interest~ too: http://www.gailhennessey.com/index.shtml?cyberhuntireland.html...

Clicker Crazy!

Its official. I have gone Clicker Crazy! I have found ways to incorporate the clickers~ or remote control keypads as they are known in my school district~ into all kind of activities. These remote controls allow students to punch in answers electronically~ and the results are posted on the overhead screen. For instance~ the class answers a math problem~ punching in either the number or choosing a mutliple choice answer~ and then the screen shows what percent of the class got the...

Women's History Month-Learn about...

I developed plays based on the To Tell the Truth Game Show on several of our First Ladies. Perhaps~ you may find them useful to use with your students during this month which highlights the contribution of women.Go here to download(free) the following plays: http://www.gailhennessey.com/index.shtml?plays.html


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Classroom Accountability!

Most teachers have heard of a token economy classroom. Many variations are out there based on this very principle. I personally find a simple form of this idea to be rewarding for the students~ but more importantly~ for me. This is how I set up my classroom environment: First~ I begin with contacting local banks to donate a class set of blank check registers and checkbook covers. Second~ the students use sticky foam letters to place their name on their...

A Novel Idea!

I have an idea I want to share. I don't know about you~ but as an educator I have sometimes sat in professional development trainings and wondered how the training applied to my classroom. I have also wondered how much my school district might be spending to bring in these trainers~ some of whom may haven't been in an actual classroom in years.

How about this: school districts use professional development days to allow educators to come together and share their best practices....

John Glenn~ First American to Orbit the...

Whenever astronaut John Glenn left on a mission as a fighter pilot~ he'd tell his wife~"Well~ I'm going down to the corner to buy some chewing gum". He said the same thing on Feb.20~ 1962~ when he left to board the Mercury capsule~ on a mission to orbit the Earth~ In a 9 1/2 by 6 ft. space...

Keep'em Moving!

Movement. I think it defines my classroom for most of the day. I have students take a stand when debating. They stand to answer questions or play games. They stand and perform movements when singing chants. When they get an answer correct~ they come up to the front of the room and jump a few times on the trampoline. Keeping youngsters moving just makes sense. Expecting children to sit still in a room all day is a recipe for disaster. Using movement purposely in your teaching does a few...

Don't Forget the Tunes!

Noise level is something we have to control every second in our classroom. It can't be too noisy, or others will be bothered, including the teacher next door. I was always conscious of my class's noise level so I didn't become a nuisance. It is never much fun to hear the "Wow, your class must have been really excited about something today" line from your partner across the hall.

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