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Improving school productivity for ‘non-average’ students
Susan Winebrenner EducationYou have undoubtedly noticed that only some of your students enthusiastically dig in to their schoolwork and seem motivated to get their work done. Learning standards are actually not written for specific grade levels! They are aimed at the perceived learning abilities of the students in the middle of achievement expectations for typical learners of a certain age in a targeted grade. So, the truth is that the students who are not being productive are "located" at both ends of the learning continuum. Those kids who are "not doing or handing in their work" are the target groups for this article.
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How to use quizzes in your music classroom
Aileen Miracle EducationRecently, I took a class about different web apps to use in the classroom. During that class, I discovered Quizizz, and was immediately excited about the possibilities. In this article, I'll write about how to use Quizizz, how to create a quiz on Quizizz, and how to find quizzes I've made on the platform. Quizizz is a website that allows students to take quizzes. It is similar to Kahoot, but you can give the quiz as homework, instead of having all students take it live.
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The gravity of personal responsibility
Debra Josephson Abrams EducationDespite articulating my professional responsibilities in a written and signed commitment to my students and asking them to reciprocate, disinterested and disengaged students did not become interested and engaged, nor did they become responsible, not even in the slightest. To each class, they continued to come unprepared, continued to fall asleep, and continued not to not participate. Surely, I thought, at the very least, they know they are going to fail the course. What else could I do to save them from themselves?
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Are brighter futures through edtech within reach?
Sheilamary Koch EducationPossibilities for using technology in schools are endless — but the conditions that nurture successful educational technology programs boil down to a handful. Institutions that boast excellent outcomes associated with their high-tech capabilities had three common traits; detailed technology visions and plans, teacher and student involvement in technology planning, and formal evaluation of technology effectiveness. These findings were based on a global survey evaluating 22 evidence-based edtech capabilities.
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Overcoming obstacles as an ESL teacher
Douglas Magrath EducationTeachers, including those in ESL, may decide to leave the profession for a variety of reasons. In this article, the author encourages teachers to stay the course and overcome barriers in order to continue in their chosen profession. Teachers want to teach. That is why they enter the profession. But things may be different when they finally start.
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A balanced approach to technology in the classroom
Sheilamary Koch EducationThe powerful influence of technology on our lives is not to be taken lightly — and it’s no surprise that educators have strong opinions on its place in our schools. Evidence that educational technologies displace curricular activities that better develop students’ ability to relate to each other, think critically and concentrate were key justifications for low-tech education expressed in the previous article. While some take an extreme stance against technology in schools, many seem to believe it has a place in the education of our children.
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What are the consequences if Education, Labor Departments merge?
Bambi Majumdar EducationThe White House has proposed to merge the federal Department of Education and the Department of Labor. The merger would form a new agency called the Department of Education and the Workforce. This proposal is one of the many that the administration has mentioned in a 132-page document for the restructuring of the federal government. Their focus is to create a leaner, more efficient and more accountable government. If it goes through, the merger would have a lasting impact on American education, with not everything being beneficial for schools.
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Improving engagement for students with disabilities
Brian Stack EducationRecently, I co-hosted a chat on Twitter on student engagement for Understood.org, an organization that focuses on giving parents of children who struggle with learning and attention issues the tools and supports they need to be successful. As we get ready to embark on a new school year, I thought it would be a timely opportunity to summarize the chat and the resources that were shared.
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The ‘3D’ model of effective instruction for English learners
Erick Herrmann EducationThe teaching profession is an important one, designed to create healthy, happy individuals who can accomplish their goals in life and be productive and happy. Yet, as a profession, teachers are not always held in high esteem. As our job is of critical importance, it is important that we use our professional knowledge and training to meet the instructional needs of students. To do that, we should follow a similar approach to what doctors use: diagnose, decide, and deliver.
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Beat-passing games for your students
Aileen Miracle EducationLooking for fun new songs for your music room next school year? In this post, I’ll share beat-passing games, which are games in which the beat is passed from one person to the next. Typically, at the end, the last person to be hit is "out." It is so much harder to pass the beat than it is to keep it on your lap, so whether your students have a solid foundation of beat since kindergarten and need a challenge, or if students are just learning steady beat, these can be very fun and rewarding games for upper elementary!
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