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SOM Turns Tutorials on Their Ear

SOMWant to dip your toe into the "flipped classroom" water without a big investment or learning curve? A free online tool that records actions on one's computer is winning fans among educators. Screencast-O-Matic, which allows users to create narrated videos of the actions that appear on their computer screens, is being hailed by some as the next level of digital learning.

Because Screencast-O-Matic allows the user to record up to 15 minutes of every action performed on his/her computer, complete with audio narration and visual effects, absent students can receive personalized versions of missed lessons. The recordings can be saved in mp4 format and shared in any number of ways, including email.

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The White House Webquest

With the upcoming election, I have developed materials which you may find of value to use with your students. The first resource is a webquest on the White House.

The White House is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.What do you know about where the President lives during his term in office?Did you know that President Jimmy Carter was the first to install solar energy panels on the White House or that President Ronald Reagan had them removed? Did you know that President Benjamin...

Wait...

Do you want to know one of the biggest mistakes teachers make?

Waitwaitwait for it.

Thats it! They dont wait for the answer.

The number one mistake teachers make, in my opinion, is they let students off the hook. Go into most classrooms and you will see the teacher ask a question of a child, then if that child does not know the answer, they will either tell them the answer, or more commonly, they will ask another child.

They simply dont wait long...

Changes in the Public’s Attitudes...

Change is hard something that those in the education community may know better than most. Whether it is changing a school culture, a childs life prospects, policymakers thoughts on accountability, or voters minds on a bond referendum, educators are constantly on the lookout for evidence that they are succeeding as change agents. Sometimes that evidence seems scarce, particularly at a national level, as policymakers push education in ways we dont always like and rhetoric indicates that we are...

Anchor Charts

Today was day 2 for my first graders. Today I introduced an anchor chart (formerly known as thinking maps). I prefer the term anchor charts because I create them with my students and post for the students to refer to. The charts are created for the sole purpose of "anchoring" their thinking. Anchor charts can be created and used for any subject.

Today we completed two charts. The first chart, we compared kindergartners and first graders. I helped the students brain-storm the...

Board?

Are your students bored? Then let them make a board. A game board that is.

As a teacher of gifted students, I am always amazed at how my classes have loved creating game boards as assignments. They become immersed in creating a theme, crafting game pieces, coming up with clever questionsthen the fun part, they get to play each others games.

Personally, I love using the game board lesson because it can be applied to almost any subject. If students are studying natural disasters,...

Redefining 'Class Participation...

This guest blog post was made by EducationWorld Web Assistant Joseph Murphy, a student at Furman University in Greenville, SC.

Students in the 21st century live and breathe technology. Cell phones are fused to their hands, ear buds are glued in their ears, and any kid can find the answer to a question in .5 seconds through the Web. With technology...

Teachers Are Unhappy In Their Work?

Employment Web site CareerBliss recently ranked the happiest and unhappiest jobs in America and, according to their methodology, teachers are the third unhappiest professionals in the country.

Teachers fall behind only security officers and registered nurses on the list. The CareerBliss data evaluated the key factors which affect work happiness, including: work-life balance, one's...

Get Out!

As a teacher, do you want to have tunnel vision? Do you want to be locked into one way of doing things? Do you want to stop growing and building upon your prior experience?

Ok, then I have some advice for you:

Stay in your classroom. Thats right. Dont venture out into the world of education, where you can pick up techniques, lessons and philosophies that can greatly enhance your instruction. Stay cooped up in your room and just keep chugging along, without knowing that...

Elephant Appreciation Day is Coming(...

September 22 is Elephant Appreciation Day. Did you know that elephants can be right or left tusked, kind of like humans are with their hands? Did you know that the elephant has the largest brain of the animal world?Learn more interesting facts about the elephant with this fun and informative webquest. I have also listed several extension activities. Hope you find the activity of value with your students.
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Smooth Transition

Changing jobs can be stressful. Lets face it. No matter what you know from the previous job, you will always face a learning curve when entering a new position.

I am facing that learning curve as we speak, as I have recently accepted a new position teaching gifted students at a school in Tampa, which also happens to be in a different school district.

The situation has inspired me to brainstorm creative, calm ways to make your transition from one teaching job to another smoother...

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