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Project-based learning: Working together for deeper understanding
Bambi Majumdar EducationThere are two important aspects to project-based learning (PBL), going to the core of every subject to gain deeper insights and learning by doing instead of a one-way instructional pattern. Though PBL is by no means a new concept, it has gained major momentum in recent times. Educators across the country are focused on harnessing the various tools and technologies available to make learning more interesting and informative and to engage students deeper.
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Leadership lessons from the language classroom
Andy Curtis EducationAlthough workplace bullying used to be thought of mainly in terms of bosses bullying employees, or bullying between employees, it is now becoming clear that some staff bully not only their colleagues but also their bosses. I want to focus on the more general disruptive behaviors of some staff in some language teaching organizations that make life difficult for everyone, especially those in leadership and management roles.
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MAP assessments: The new way to gauge potential
Bambi Majumdar EducationMeasures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessments are fairly recent entrants to the wide world of standardized achievement tests but have quickly become the norm due to their deceptively simple yet effective ways to gauge student performance and inherent abilities.
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Music and performance: Methods for language learning and retention
Beth Crumpler EducationMusic instruction greatly improves student working memory by minimizing the variables that impair it. It has been documented and proven that music students do better on IQ tests. This is not due to their superior intelligence, but rather a result of their music training. Many variables affect the working memory of ESL students, and music is a gateway that ESL teachers can use to decrease these imparities for English learning.
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Scaffolding: Helping all students reach academic excellence
Erick Herrmann EducationEducation can be seen as the act of helping students learn new content, concepts and skills over time by teaching the steps necessary to master the skills being taught. Teachers need to provide scaffolding for students to reach each skill or concept and achieve at higher levels.
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LEP student learning struggles: Language or disability assessment
Beth Crumpler EducationLimited English proficient (LEP) students struggle with academic and content-area concepts. When these students have lower proficiency levels and show little to no increase in their English academic abilities, it sets off a red flag to content-area teachers. LEP student struggles within the content area could be a result of not having developed academic English yet, or could be a result of an unidentified disability.
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The importance of Internet safety for students
Bambi Majumdar EducationIs the boogeyman out there on the Internet? What do children need to know about the danger of Internet usage so they can take advantage of progress without succumbing to its pitfalls? The technology revolution has completely opened up our world and changed the way we learn, sift through and absorb information. But progress does not come without pains. For every new development, a price is attached.
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Learning to lead through learning to follow
Andy CurtisMy previous article prompted several readers to respond. Many of the messages posted and emails sent confirmed that, compared with books on methodology and other areas in our field, this area of leadership in English language teaching does appear to have been relatively overlooked. We have, then, decided to make this a series of articles, and we hope to hear from more readers about their experiences of leadership in ELT.
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Fostering STEM vocabulary development in ESL students
Beth CrumplerWith the implementation of the Common Core State Standards, content-area literacy is a huge focus right now. The Common Core State Standards emphasize the literacy of math, science and technical subjects in English language arts. Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) content areas difficult for ESL students.
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Texas schools are expanding the reach of technology
Bambi MajumdarTexas has a nationwide reputation for having good schools that show both academic excellence and all-around development of students, compared to most other states. The Texas Education Agency is working to integrate technology with the needs of students, teachers and librarians, thus creating a 360-degree learning advantage.
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