Accomplished Teachers Look like Professionals

How do you present yourself to your students?

I've shared several things about accomplished teachers in past posts, including Becoming an Accomplished Teacher, and 20 Things Accomplished Teachers Know about their Students, but this is a more basic concern. Have you ever gone into a classroom and had troubling identifying the teacher? On my visits to classrooms I have had this issue, and it's a problem. 

Consider other professions for a moment. When you see a doctor or nurse, you immediately know that you're in the presence of a professional who can understand and possibly solve your medical issues. When you see a police officer, you know someone's on the scene who can address law and order concerns. The fireman appears, and you know that the fire will be addressed!  What about the teacher - but more importantly, where is the teacher? 

Your dress is a fundamental part of creating the image of a professional. And it's important to create that presence in the classroom. Once you do, you can use that presence to lead the students. And believe me, students will treat you differently when you dress differently! What does this presence look like? Well, in American society it looks like:

• daily hygiene - daily shower, fresh breath, deodorant, etc.
• hair that is clean and cared for (whatever the style!)
• clothing that is freshly laundered and ironed 
• tops and bottoms that fit without clinging to your natural assets. (and if you have large natural assets, you need to wear clothing to cover them)
• shoes
• non-distracting accessories
• clothing that isn't too small or too short, and doesn't expose you when you take the tip test. (The tip test: tip yourself over  in front of a mirror. Do you see more than you want to show in front or in back? That's what students see every day)
• outfits that are not casual (think loungewear or the park)
• clothing that would be worn at important functions (dresses, jackets, sweaters, suits and ties, etc)

Now if you want to dress formally and wear dresses or suits and ties, that's automatically considered professional attire.  But you don't have to wear suits and ties. You do have to wear clothing that sets you apart from the students, and creates the impression that you are someone to look up to. I guarantee that the first time you dress this way, a student will ask you where you're going. Your answer should be, "I'm not going anywhere,  I'm coming to an important place: the classroom - to teach you."

Can I get a witness?

  

How Accomplished Teachers Manage Student Learning

Find ways to manage your students' learning!

I've discussed accomplished teachers, before, and shared insights on getting to know students in  20 Things Accomplished Teachers Know about their Students, and checking what you know about your content in Accomplished Teachers Know their Content. These are the first two steps. Step number three is how to manage and monitor student learning. Today we will address how to manage student learning.

How can you manage student learning?

In my teaching experience, I find that the best way to manage student learning is to structure your teaching in a way that will support all students. If you can remember the letters  a-b-c-d, you'l be able to: Always Believe, Consider and Differentiate.

• Always begin with the end in mind - what do you want students to remember when they've left your class? If you plan with your goal in mind, your ideas will become more focused and direct.
• Believe that each child will be able to understand the concepts you've taught. Of course that means that you will do everything you can to help that along, and you won't just plan for the bright students (or the slow ones).
• Consider each student's special needs and aptitudes. Make sure that you know what your students' talents are ahead of time.
• Differentiate - after considering student needs and aptitudes, create learning activities that will address those differences. This doesn't mean re-teaching a topic  8 different ways - it means designing activities that will give students options geared to their special talents.

How do you plan your lessons to manage student learning?

  

First Things, First

How about this quote to put our teaching into perspective...
                    

Are life skills a part of your curriculum?

  

Looking for Classroom Freebies on the Internet?

Finding free internet resources and downloads is easy!

There are lots of places to find free resources for your classroom, especially on the internet.   I've found many helpful educational sites during my travels around the digital wonderland.  I've even shared several great sites in the post, Top Ten Resources for Teachers. To find freebie resources and downloads, simply google the word "free" before the topic that you're searching. Here are a few sites to get you started:

1. Free Technology for Teachers: http://www.freetech4teachers.com
2. Teachers Pay Teachers: www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Price-Range/Free-Downloads
3. Free Resources from the Federal Government: free.ed.gov
4. AtoZ Teacher Stuff: www.atozteacherstuff.com
5. Teaching Tolerance Educational Materials www.tolerance.org/teaching-kits
6. TeachHUB: www.teachhub.com/free-interactive-whiteboard-resources
7. Free English Teacher Resources: www.geoffbarton.co.uk/teacher-resources.php
8. Classroom Freebies: www.classroomfreebies.com
9. Izzit Free Educational Videos: www.izzit.org
10. We Are Teachers Free Educational Resources: www.weareteachers.com

Do you have any favorite sites that offer free resources?


  

Happy Labor Day!

To all my fellow teachers, mentors, family and friends:

 

How will you spend today?

Taking A Gallery Walk: A Teaching Strategy

Gallery walks turn your classroom into an educational showcase!

Your cooperative small groups have worked hard, creating amazing examples of the skill that you've taught. Have you  thought of how to show the rest of the class what everyone has done? What about having a gallery walk?

What is a gallery walk?

A gallery walk is a way to showcase student work in the classroom. Student work is posted around the room so that everyone can see what has been accomplished.

How does it work?

1.  Student groups complete an activity with a presentable result (poster, diagram, diorama, storyboard, etc.) that can be understood without verbal explanation.
2. These finished exhibits are posted around the room (with adequate room between them) after all groups have finished their work.
3. Once these exhibits are posted, the teacher discusses the parameters of viewing (behavior norms: such as "no running or talking," and viewing norms: such as "see - don't touch,"
4. You establish a timeline for each stop and give an audible signal for group movement to each exhibit. 
5. Each group moves as a unit and visits each product in order. (You circulate to encourage on task performance)
6. You  may want groups to complete a review card/rubric for each product they see. 
7. Discuss the exhibits as a whole afterwards, and have groups share the highlights of what they saw.

Why should we use this strategy?

• Students take pride in producing quality work when they know it will be displayed to others.
• The exhibits provide students with ideas of how to present their own work.
• The walk gets students out of their seats, with a purpose.
• This strategy enhances the class-building environment, as students share what they can do. 

Is this something that you could use in your classroom?

  Queen Bee

Lessons from My Summer Vacation

Every experience teaches us something, so what has this summer vacation taught me?

What have I learned during my vacation?

Well, if I had to make a "take away" list of what I learned, these things would definitely be highlights:

1. Rest is important - in fact, it is pretty much a key to functioning my best.
2. Family connections and friendships should  be cherished and developed and nurtured.
3. I need to plan and do something that I enjoy everyday that is not job-related.
4. Fresh air and nature keep me grounded.
5. There's nothing wrong with enjoying a quiet sunset at home.

What's on your list?

Clearing Off that Desk!

Does your desk look like a tornado's aftermath? Don't worry - many teachers have a messy desk. You may have noticed that past posts, Starting the Year Off Smoothly and Tips for Getting Organized, featured ways to organize your records and your lesson planning, but this post addresses the desk! 

I can't count how many times I've scrambled through piles papers and books to find a needed note or memo. Of course I would find what I needed, but sometimes I found it after I needed it!  Clearing my desk  always make finding stuff easier, and sends students the nonverbal message that neatness is important and possible. 

I noticed that my neatest desk arrangements come to life when I use two desks in an L-shaped pattern (one desk was for files, paperwork, curriculum resources, etc.)

1. I had a small bookcase behind my desk for reference items.
2. I use a folder for each day of the week. Each folder contained the lesson and a list of needed resources. These folders were placed on top of my small bookcase.
3. Records (portfolio records, IEP At a Glance documents, etc) have a desk drawer allotted to only those items.
4. All assessments, projects, classwork and homework are evaluated quickly, posted and returned to students.  

What things do you do to handle the daily clutter on your desks?

Accomplished Teachers Know their Subjects

Do you really know the content of your subject area?

If you consider yourself a good teacher, just how good are you? Take this quiz and see how well you do:

1. Do you know your content - its standards, processes, scope and sequence?
2. Have you kept current with the new trends, style and substance for your content area? 
3. Do you belong to a professional organization for teaching your subject?
4. Have you subscribed to any professional journals?
5. How do you differentiate in order to meet the needs of all of your students?
6. Do you keep current in your content by attending professional development workshops to improve your practice?
7. What was the last book that you read in your subject area?

Don't feel badly if you come up short in any of these areas. As teachers, however, we have a gift of time each summer to improve our teaching skills. That is, if we want to be seen as accomplished. One of the elements that is necessary to be recognized as accomplished is knowing your content and also knowing how to share that content with your students. The National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) lists this as its second core proposition:

Teachers know the subjects that they teach, and know how to teach those subjects to their students.

How close are you to being an accomplished teacher?

  

The Jigsaw: A Teaching Strategy

The jigsaw strategy helps students with  informational reading comprehension 

How good are you at solving jigsaw puzzles? Not 500 or 1000 piece puzzles, but 5 or 6 piece puzzles?  Easy, peazy, lemon squeezy! Well, this strategy is called the jigsaw because it uses a jigsaw method to help students understand informational text.

What is the jigsaw strategy?

The jigsaw is a strategy that divides the responsibility of reading text between a select number of student groups. This strategy enhances student focus, strengthens summarization skills and helps with comprehension of informational text.

How does it work?

1. Select a reading passage on the mid-range level of the class's comprehension.
2. Divide the passage into 5-6 sections.
3. Divide your class into the same number of groups (making sure that the groups contain a mixture of reading levels)
4. Have all student groups read the introductory paragraph of the selection. Then select one section for each group to read. 
5. After reading their selection, have each group internally discuss what they read.
6. Have each group summarize the reading selection and present that summary in chart form (using text or pictures.)
7. The teacher briefly discusses the introduction, with assistance from the entire class.
8. Then, in the order of the text, each group  presents what they learned from the reading. 

Why should we use this strategy?

This strategy is good because it encourages students to work cooperatively - strong readers assist struggling students  as they discuss the reading. The jigsaw strategy also helps students practice summarizing skills. Students are more engaged, because they are reading chunks of text instead of the entire text. And when they present their summaries to the whole class, they hone presentation skills.

Could you use this strategy in your classroom?

  Queen Bee

What Should I Keep?

Why do we keep so much stuff?

Do you ask yourself what I ask myself several times a year?

I'm always saving books and supplies because - well what will happen if I discard something that I need next year?  Or, I can't throw this away - if I teach this subject in the future, I might need this. What resources and materials should be kept and which ones should be donated or trashed?

Well, I took the plunge and began opening up my stockpile of educational supplies...

What have I found so far in my stockpile:

1. Mimeograph books : Our district no longer uses them, and they are 20 yrs obsolete - trash
2. Incomplete bingo sets: Missing too many dice -  trash
3. Set of geography books saved from the dumpster - review for currency then either donate or trash
4. Class copies of old worksheets: Why did I save these? Trash
5. Teacher resources for subjects that I won't teach again: Collated and donated to private schools

I'm not finished, but I'm well on my way. What are you keeping, and what are you trashing this summer?

Dear friends - 

Beginning this week, I will be focusing on completing the Ramadan fast. Therefore, I will be posting articles only once per week until mid-August. Please check in each Monday for a new posting!

  

Remembering My Favorite Teachers

     Teachers often become part of our mental "scrapbook" and can flavor our perceptions of education and learning.

A favorite teacher also stands out from the rest!

     How were the teachers you had during your school experience? Once in a while, I reflect on my teachers. I had mostly good teachers, but I really appreciate two teachers that I had in high school. Why? Because they helped me value myself as a learner and helped me see school as a place of nurture and support.


      These high school teachers taught the two hardest subjects that I had in school, and somehow they were able to present them to me in a way that helped me learn. 

Teacher #1: Mr Guggenheim taught chemistry. He was really kind and he presented information by scaffolding learned skills into every lesson and assessment. He made chemistry easy to learn. He also took a personal interest in me and took the time to get to know my specific learning style. 

Teacher #2: Mr Geiger was my geometry teacher. What a character he was - every day was an adventure to see what he would do in class! One day he jumped onto the desk and used an air guitar to recite a theorem - a visual that I can still see in my mind almost 45 years later! He interjected novelty to stimulate our learning.

     Mr Guggenheim and Mr. Geiger - thank you for what you taught me about math, science and the power of self-esteem. I'm sure that you would never guess that I would follow in your footsteps.

  

Foldables: A Tool for All Ages

Here is a great foldable activity that you can use for any grade level and any subject. 

• Use construction paper or index cards (my favorite) 
• Nest each new sheet or card so that at least 1" peeks below the previous sheet/card.
• Connect the individual sheets with tape or staples.

This  is one way to use this foldable:
The front sheet lists each title. When you flip the sheet, you see  notes listed on the back:

Foldables can be used for vocabulary, skills review and informational notes

Source: Uploaded by user via Bayyinah on Pinterest

I found this foldable example on Pinterest. I am planning to use this foldable with adults using 3x5" neon index cards and connecting the foldable inside a folder.  I've used it for the past several years, and its a winner because it's a great resource that condenses lots of information in one  folder.

How can you use this type of foldable in your classroom?

  

The Carousel: A Teaching Strategy

The carousel is just as much fun in the classroom as it is at a carnival!

Summertime reminds me of carnivals, cotton candy and carousel rides - and carousel rides remind me of a great teaching toolkit strategy. It's called "the carousel," because it involves moving around the classroom.

What is the Carousel strategy?

The carousel is a strategy that engages student interest by using cooperative skills and allowing movement. It also encourages students to practice HOTS (higher order thinking skills)

How does it work?

*It's important that students are given clear instructions about how to complete this strategy before it begins. They should also be aware of how to transition quietly.

1)Arrange 4-5 large sheets of paper around the room (with enough space for a small group of students to work at each station.) On each sheet of paper post an open-ended question that relates to a central topic. Number each sheet ( #1, #2, etc.) I usually print off the question on a piece of paper and attach that paper to the sheet in order to save space.

2)Have students count off from 1-4 (or 1-5) and then have  the #1 students congregate at the sheet labeled #1, the #2 students congregate at the #2 labeled sheet, etc. Each group should be given a different colored marker and have one student from each group picked as a recorder.

3)Have each student-group read their question and discuss answers. The recorder uses the marker to write 2-3 answers on the sheet. Tell the groups that the other groups will be adding info to their sheet, so they shouldn't fill up their sheet with writing.  

4)After 2-3 minutes, refocus student attention back to you, and have them rotate clockwise to the next sheet (taking their marker with them). Repeat steps 3 and 4 until all groups have traveled to all sheets. 

I usually have the groups put a check next to answers that are similar to a previous group's ideas, so that unique answers are written down and answer trends become apparent. (The students won't need as much time after the first rotation because students will be checking more and more answers. Tweak the time downward to fit students' needs.)

5)When students reach "home base," each recorder  selects  another group member to report out, and everyone else sits down.

6)Each reporter will read the answers on the sheet. The answers are color coded, so if there are questions about any of the comments/answers, they can be directed to the specific group.

Why use this strategy?

This is a great activity to get students practicing these skills:

• collaborating 
• summarizing 
• evaluating  
• reflecting on text
• moving around the room with a purpose  

Try this strategy and see how it works for your students. (It also works great with adult groups!)

  Queen Bee

Happy Independence Day, everyone!

Let's celebrate our country's independence in style!

Source: andrewrachelashmore.blogspot.com via Rachel on Pinterest

  

One Lovely Blog Award

Hey, everybody!

I just received my very first award, the "One Lovely Blog Award,"  and I'm so excited! I'll work hard to deserve this!

Thanks, Nicki, from the great blog Motivating Minds. 

               

   It's so great to be recognized, especially in the educational blogging universe!

This is an interactive award, meaning that I also get a chance to share this award with other deserving bloggers. Here's my list of lovely bloggers:


Roll the drums, please, for the following bloggers:

1. Be the Difference
2. Kids Cog Works
3. Lessons from the Middle
4. Making it as a Middle School Teacher
5. Blogging about the Web 2.0 Connected Classroom
6. Corkboard Connections
7. Getting to the Core
8. Reach then Teach
9. The Diary of a Not so Wimpy Teacher
10. Special Education Strategies and More
11. Teachers at Risk
12. SCAN-We're Critical to Teaching
13. Innovative Connections
14. Free Technology for Teachers
15. Beg, Borrow and Teach!

Congratulations on your award! 
Grab the award image and show it off on your blog!


Please share the love with other bloggers by following these rules. The rules to this award are as follows: 

1. Follow the person who gave you the award 

2. Link back to the person who gave you the award

3. Pass the award on to 15 bloggers 

4. Highlight your favorite awarder’s blog post to share with others!


Motivating Minds:

I am choosing to highlight this most recent posting from Nicki, because it shows her dedication and true generosity. She could have kept her award, or shared it with veteran bloggers who have been awarded time after time. However, she chose me, and that says that she's willing to give young bloggers a chance to be recognized. This recent posting shares the names of the other bloggers that she's recognized. Please take a moment to check out her blog, Motivating Minds.

  

Read this before You Quit Teaching

This is a very brief statement that summarizes my thoughts for all beginner teachers. This is a posting that I found on Pinterest. It's written for creative artists, and I believe that education is one of the greatest arts around:

                      Source: i.imgur.com via Bayyinah on Pinterest

Many teachers will agree that they became better with practice - so will you. As long as you want to teach, persevere. Read, practice, and get professional development. Those are the keys to success.

Veteran teachers, what do you think about this?
  

20 Things Accomplished Teachers Know about Students

How much do you know about your students and their families?

     Do you really know the kids in your classroom? If you are an accomplished teacher, you need to know a lot about your students. But with everything else you do with students everyday, how can you get to know about everyone in your classroom?  Just ask!


    Most teachers know students' names and  maybe a little about how students learn. They may or may not have regular contact with parents. They might even be regular customers with businesses around their school. However, teachers need to know more than these things about their students.  


    Accomplished teachers get info about students, families and communities in order to craft lessons tailored to student needs. It is as simple as asking them basic questions and getting answers. You can garner this info  during informal conversations, through teacher observation and listening in on student conversations.


       Think about these  20 questions and how their answers  can impact student learning.  Each answer gets you closer to understanding the academic or social needs of students and families.

• what are your students' learning styles and learning strengths? 
• when is the best time for  your students to learn? 
• are your students outgoing or introverted? 
• how do your students connect with other teachers?
• what are the family dynamics of each student?
• who do your students live with? 
• what are their close families' academic histories?
• do the students' families visit or contact your school?
• are your students' families interested in technology?
• is there a computer or internet connection at home?
• are students familiar with using computers and basic formatting programs? 
• are the families able to help their children with schoolwork?
• what are the family members' experiences with school?
• do any immediate families volunteer to work with the school?
• how often do you contact parents ?
• why and when do you contact the families?
• are you familiar with the community around your school? (businesses, religious or service organizations, etc) 
• do you visit and support any of the community partners?
• have you welcomed any of the community partners into your classroom?
• do the community partners actually come to your classroom and work with your students?

After knowing the answers to these twenty questions, how do you use the new information that you've gained?  

  

Tips for Online Writing

Do you need a way to remind students about using correct grammar? I found a great poster on Pinterest that comes from the Copyblogger website. This inf0-graphic shows examples of correct grammar usage and grammar mistakes in a humorous way. This would be a great fit for the computer lab so that students will have a guide to make correct writing choices. (I found a few great reminders for my online writing, too!)

Like this infographic? Get more copywriting tips from Copyblogger.

How many of these mistakes have you made lately? If you're at all like me, I'm sure that you can appreciate these reminders, and now you might understand why a certain spelling rule is what it is. Do you think that this info-graphic will help your students?

  

Tips for Getting Organized

How can you organize yourself before the next school year begins?

This summer season is a great time for planning and preparing for the next school year. This is a great time to organize your records and information so that you have smoother sailing during the school year.

Here are two great suggestions that you might want to try:

 Student Organization Binder:

A looseleaf binder that contains a calendar, seating plan, student pix and names, basic student information, conference info, behavior plans, anecdotal reports, etc. is a great way to collate important information and keep it centralized. Check out a great example on the blog Beyond the Grades:

Source: beyondthegrades.blogspot.com via Bayyinah on Pinterest

Here is a visual of a student information binder. 

Here is the URL for a student information folder. 

Please check it out for the exact details: 

http://beyondthegrades.blogspot.com/2011/10/teacher-binder.html. 

Student Lending Library:

Establish a lending library for students. Many teachers have a bookshelf full of books for students to read, but how are they organized? You can develop a list of books using the genre or reading level to differentiate them for students. 

Beth Newingham's Third Grade is a great website that details ways that you can organize your own library. It also gives you a link to Scholastic's readability scale(or you can use the readability scale available on your computer's Word application.)  Please check out the website's Studio 13 link: 

URL: http://hill.troy.k12.mi.us/staff/bnewingham/myweb3/library%20organization.htm

Here is a great reference for establishing your own classroom library

Why not take a little time this summer thinking about how you are going to organize your student information and your lending library?