The massive influx of public school students coming from homes without English fluency is requiring resources to be diverted to ESL and bilingual instruction. Teachers are in need of resources to handle students with wider ranges of language skills than ever in a single classroom. Expect a growing market for teachers fluent in more than one language. Robotics is becoming […]
Here are 3 tips to the longer term–the year leading up to the test–and 3 for the test date. Rest before the test. Do not cram. By the night before the test, you are as ready as you can be. Sleep well and get up in time to eat breakfast and arrive early, unhurried. Nothing you learn overnight will change […]
Computers, used properly, are powerful tools. Teach children when and how to use computers. The Right Tool for the Task Introduce students to a variety of software applications, including g spreadsheets, word processing and graphics. Be sure they learn that computers are not substitutes for their own thinking skills and creativity, but are tools to help them communicate their ideas and research. Teach about graphs, charts, and slides and how to use each effectively. Deal with Information Overload Help students avoid being overwhelmed. Teach them to use focused searches to find needed information without irrelevant extras. Teach them to recognize authoritative sources and ignore click bait pages. A librarian can help teach kids about safe and productive searching of databases and other online resources. Teach About Logic and Procedures Logic is an important part of a classical education. It is not just for programmers. Students can learn basic Boolean operators such as AND, OR, and NOT. Also, give students practice writing procedures. Think through the steps required in a simple task, such as making a sandwich. Students can write procedures, then try to follow them exactly to see what they missed. In Conclusion Many important computer skills are really general thinking skills, applicable to many tasks. Better thinkers use computers more effectively and good computer users become better thinkers as they wisely apply their technical skills.
Even seasoned classroom teachers and tutors need a little help at times. Check out these online resources for fresh practice exercises or extra help for struggling students. They may also help with students who are ready for more challenges than their textbook presents. ipracticemath.com is a multipurpose math website with excellent algebra resources. Practice problems for concepts such as simplifying […]
Homework time is a major source of stress in some families. Here are some tips for optimizing homework time so students and families can prosper and harmony in the home can continue. Provide a space for homework to take place. Your student needs a desk or table space for writing as well as proper lighting to prevent eyestrain. If space is limited, get a laptop desk. Some lap desks include a handy storage compartment for pencils and other supplies. Keep a stash of office supp!ies in the house. You do not want homework delayed while you run to the store for graph paper or colored pencils. Eliminate or minimize distractions. Take phones and games to recharge during study time. Turn off the television. If music or earplugs help your child, go with what works for them. Perhaps parents could also use this time for reading or other quiet work, setting an example for the child. Remember homework is a student responsibility. Answer an occasional question, but give your student the chance to struggle and reason out problems independently as much as possible. If the student consistently seems to have hours of homework or great difficulty, schedule a conference with teachers to understand the problem. Develop a game plan to address problems with comprehension, organization, or processing speed.
Elementary Students should be encouraged to read for pleasure. Building reading skills is not drudgery when the books are excellent stories or poetry. Young Readers (Grades 2-4) The Frog and Toad series by Arnold Lobel is a collection children will want to read for themselves. Simple language is combined with truly interesting stories about a pair of friends. Amelia Bedelia […]
Math teaching is more effective and enjoyable with the right classroom tools. Try these eight for starters: Whiteboard Compass Circles are one of the most useful geometric shapes in the math classroom. Draw perfect circles for pie charts, polar coordinates, or Venn diagrams. Simply insert a dry-erase marker in the foot-long tool, set to desired radius, and draw. Use a […]
If your child is intellectually gifted, you probably don’t need to ask the question. Gifted children often run as fast as they can, intellectually, and leave parents and teachers trying to catch up! Here are some things to look for in children who seem a bit more than average. We will consider children with high IQ here, although the term […]
Math classes can get stuck in a dull routine unless teachers work to keep things fresh. Keep teaching those important fundamentals, but mix it up to keep students on their toes. Let Students Struggle Americans tend to think if students struggle, that means something is wrong. The Asian view is that the struggle is an important part of the learning process. An athlete lifts weights (struggling at times) to become stronger. Give math students some brain teasers or some problems from a more advanced textbook. Challenge them to see what they can come up with—and what questions they need to answer or skills they need to learn. Game Show Time! Make a simple Jeopardy or Concentration board for students. Use this to drill math vocabulary, multiplication facts. Match the items that are equivalent, such as x to the zero power and 1, or 1+3 and 2+2. You may also make BINGO cards to use while the caller reads math problems and students look for answers. Play With Blocks Why not use real blocks to visualize surface areas and volumes? While holding a cubic foam block, it is easy to see that it has 6 square faces. Let students build structures, then compute the volume of the structure. Paper Models Printable nets for polyhedra are available online. Students can cut them out and tape them together to get a better idea of how polygons combine to form 3-D forms. Older students […]
Math facts need to be automatic before students can move on to master higher math. Use a variety of means to help students commit those fundamentals to memory. Let Students “Teach” Mix things up by letting a student show the class flash cards, ask for the answer, and check it for accuracy. Elementary students may enjoy being “in charge” and those who ask the questions will also learn the facts as others who answer those questions. Mixed Media Offer students different art supplies to use while writing multiplication tables or addition facts. Even the dullest drill is more fun with colored chalk or crayons or markers. Use sidewalk chalk to make a giant multiplication table outside. Students may also enjoy using small whiteboards and markers at their desks. Ask parents to send in an odd sock for each student to use as an eraser. Whiteboards eliminate paper waste and let students practice over and over. Labels Make up labels with math vocabulary or formulae and let students place them on appropriate objects in the room. For example, a clock is labeled “circle” while the door is a “rectangle.” Add the formula for computing the area of each. Wall Art Posters and bulletin boards are passive methods of teaching that keep information before students’ eyes. Look for interesting visuals or let student do the work for you. They can cut out shapes or make neat numbers to place on a bulletin […]
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