Education Short List

Everyone does better in their learning when they have an example to follow. And, like so many other parts of life these days, that example comes from the classroom. As a big advocate of saving the environment (really who shouldn’t be?) I have the top 6 ways to help make that example of change start in your classroom.

1. Brown Bag Lunch

a. This concept has a wide reaching impact. Not only are you saving gas by bringing your lunch and not going out for it, but you are more likely to put better, healthier food into your body. By making your students aware of your homemade meals – you are inadvertently teaching them about food, farming, health, local, and pollution.
b. What if once a month you had a group of students bring their lunch and eat with you? Do you think that could provoke change? I do. I did this very thing. My students didn’t always bring a lunch and we didn’t always talk about the environment. Yet, they were always curious about the food I brought from home, which allowed me to express my views on caring for the planet to them.

2. Turn off the lights

a. I haven’t met a person yet who enjoys the harsh white lights that can be found in each classroom. So, I can’t imagine someone would feel denied an hour or two of having them turned off. By doing silent reading, or individual work time, with the lights off – a classroom is changed. People are quieter, a bit more mellow, and you are saving electricity to boot.
b. Turn off the A/C or heat for that matter. The same energy conservation applies to this. Obviously no one wants to be too cold or too warm. But, open up the windows and door for a breeze. Bring a sweater to wear on chiller days, drink water to quench your thirst.

3. Reuse Paper

a. You know what is so cool about white copier paper? The blank backside. Yup, just switch that paper over and you have a whole new side to print things on. In my classroom, our students take reading tests every day. Once that test was logged into the computer, there was a perfectly good piece of paper thrown away. We decided to print the reading reports on the other side. Viola.
b. That paper can also be used to sketch out problems for math, doodle on, write lists or notes. Several uses can be implemented. Don’t throw out a piece of a paper just because one side is used.

4. Classroom/School Garden

a. Go one step further and create a community garden with unused lawn space. There are schools around the country who are giving up unused lawn space to the community at large, so people without a yard can still have a garden. Not only is this a huge way to improve the environment, but it creates a community feeling of kinship with the school and neighbors and it teaches intrinsic values to students.
b. Butterfly and chick project – don’t want to grow vegetables? Alrighty, what about getting caterpillars that grow into butterflies and talk about that life cycle? Or eggs that grow into baby chicks and chickens?
c. Grow seeds of plants, vegetables, or fruit, in your room. This is appropriate for elementary to high school. High school students can study soil, erosion, various soil/planting materials. You can study geology, darwinism, etc.

5. Use reusable containers

a. Lunch bags/boxes, water bottles, and coffee mugs, etc. All of these containers are ones we, as adults, use each day. Why not show our students that we are taking the first step to protect the planet for them, and use these handy dandy containers?

6. Create an in-class recycling project

a. My master teacher loves Coke, drinks a coke every day. And each day she would save her coke can on the back counter, not throwing it in the trash – but leaving it out. I asked her why she did it. She wanted to use it as a conversation starter about recycling. Students were constantly asking her about it, which got them all talking about it, and got the kids interested in it to.
b. No matter what you have in the room, or the age of your students, you can do something just like my master teacher did.

7. Get out of the classroom

a. Alright, I know, it says ‘Top 6’ and this is 7 – but I’m much too much of an environmental nut to stop at 6. Realistically I could go to 12 or 18. But, this one – getting out of the classroom was too important to pass up.
b. Take your students out of the classroom for a lesson. Even if you teach math class, why not teach it outside one day? By getting more (literally) involved with nature, you are allowing your students to see and appreciate it more. Yes, there’s an obvious bonus if you teacher science and life science – but I had college professors who were teaching us about the Holocaust, and we did it outside.

As with all of these ideas, teachers should talk to their students about what they are doing and why it is important to make these changes. A teacher can go further and make their students part of the discussion and figure out how they want to make a change to protect the planet. These learning lessons are all around us. With a touch of time and planning, a teacher can bring the ‘real world’ with all its glories and disasters into the reality of their students. I believe that children and teenagers are just short adults. With that understanding, I believe that my students can examine any real world issue; and that they have a voice with an opinion on each subject.

Taking care of the planet is one of those subjects that educations can bring into focus in their classrooms. From little steps to big projects, to daily tasks and once a semester units – this topic, like a vast many others, has unlimited potential. Just like your students.

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2010/01/with_help_from_portland_eco-sc.html

Ahh, math word problems – the nemesis of every K-12 student.

The three things I get the most tutoring calls for is handwriting, study skills, and math, specifically math word problems.

I totally get it – word problems are difficult. It’s only been in the past three years that I have felt comfortable with them. Yet there are still times when I get completely stumped.

But, starting out in elementary school it doesn’t need to be so hard. First, teachers should stop telling their students that word problems are really difficult to learn. By doing this repeatedly throughout a child’s education, you are basically setting them up to fail. Instead, just teach word problems like it’s any other lesson. Thereby teaching students that word problems do have their difficulty but can be learned and mastered. I would also suggest using pictures, or even better – math manipulatives – to give a visual representation to the problems that students are doing.

Another strategy is to examine word problems from real life. Any good saleswoman will tell you that if you can make a connection with a prospective buyer, then you have already won. The same concept is very true for math word problems. If you can get your students to make a personal connection to the work, it becomes that much easier for them to understand and comprehend them. I like to use examples about buying games or eating lunch. “If you are given $9.80 from your family on Monday to buy lunch for the whole week; how much do you have to spend each day? Say you want to buy pizza on Monday, and that is $1.75; sandwich and a salad is $3.00 on Tuesday; what is the rest that is left?” Get the students involved, talk about percentages and fractions too. “The game you want is listed as $29.50; but it says that you can take 25% off, what is the new price?” Have students work in pairs or small groups. By bringing their own world to the lessons they are learning, it gives them ownership and makes them feel important; while at the same time allowing them to learn.

As for when it comes to taking a test that is filled with word problems, I have a four step process that gives the test taker a better chance at being successful.
1. remember that word problems are meant to be confusing and contain more information than is needed to complete the actual question
2. Read the actual question FIRST
3. Read the whole problem and the question. Put a box around any information that directly relates to what the question is asking you.
4. Complete the problem.

By breaking down word problems and demystifying why they are so difficult, you allow your students to be more successful and help them to understand and use a concept that will be very helpful later on in life.

In the past two weeks there have been so many print articles and news stories about education that have gotten me fired up. Too many for me to take them one by one and present them to you. So here I have complied a few, with my added commentary, for you to peruse.

Evening News with Katie Couric — All teachers being fired from schools in Rhode Island

This story focused on a school district in Rhode Island that is planning on firing ALL of the teachers at one of its schools. The reason why? Not meeting NCLB standards and it gives them a chance to get approximately $2 million in national aid.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/23/eveningnews/main6236348.shtml?tag=mncol;lst;3

Video of Evening News Program

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6236440n&tag=related;photovideo

Firing All Teachers in Rhode Island School

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Longview Principal Fired for Funds

Very similar to the previous story, a principal is fired for low test scores and the hopes of millions in federal financial aid.
http://www.king5.com/news/local/Popular-Longview-principal-forced-to-quit-by-low-scores-84807537.html

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Oregon’s Online Education Choices

Since families, students and parents alike, are ‘fed up’ with the public school options, there is an increase in alternative school settings. One of the largest of those being online schools.
http://www.opb.org/thinkoutloud/shows/going-school-online/

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Oregon’s Failing Schools

Also from Oregon, the state releases the new data and research on the success rates of the public school system.
http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2010/01/report_oregon_fails_at_measuri.html

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Commentary on President’s Education Address

President Obama’s March 1st speech on Education
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/02/us/02obama.html

President Obama on Education, Specifically Commencement
http://www.whitehouse.gov/commencement

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All of these articles talk about education, how it’s failing, and how ‘we’ are going to make it better. And it frustrates me deeply. Firing a principal? Firing all of the teachers? NCLB? The whole point of school is to gain an education – TO LEARN. Test scores aren’t the only indicator of learning. And, each student and school operates under different circumstances. How is an all English speaking upper class school able to compare with an all English learning language school? It can’t. And for some reason we continue to treat them as the same. Until the playing field is equalled out, the schools will never be the same. And lots of children, teachers, and schools will get left behind. and forgotten.

Really, what about the Olympics can’t be made into a lesson? There’s history, athletics, mathematics, geography, measurements, distance, arts, public speaking, coloring/drawing, graphs, reports, research, languages, foreign cultures, etc.

For me, as an educator, the biggest frustration I had with graduate school was that my professors wanted me to bring more to my lessons and give my students more; but never gave me the direction on how to do that. By taking this long-term option of integrating the Olympics – a teacher has a great opportunity to do more with the lessons they are already teaching.

For elementary school:
– find a map of the world and locate the countries that are participating in the Olympics on it

- coloring: the flags of the different countries could provide fine motor skills functions lessons for pre-k -3rd grade

- biography reports

- reading stories from other countries or stories about the Olympics

http://www.lessonplanspage.com/MathOlympicsMedalsGraphIdea35.htm

http://www.lessonplanspage.com/PEMDOlympicOpeningCeremoniesAndGameDaysK6.htm

For middle school:
- Book Reports about athletics, athletes, biographies, history of the Olympics, countries, using the country and creating a personal family history timeline

- listen to music and national anthems from various countries

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/17/gk2/olympic.html

For high school:
- Reports about athletics, athletes, biographies, history of the Olympics, countries, using the country and creating a personal family history timeline. The same idea as the middle school lessons, but more indepth and have them include resources

- Pick a country and discover their journey to the Olympics

http://www.vancouver2010.com/

http://eduforum.vancouver2010.com/

These are just a few ideas I can think of off the top of my head. Here are some additional links that should support your work academically. I’d like to know if you have any other ideas or lessons that have worked for you in the past.

And families — don’t be afraid to get in this action yourself!

Do you sit in a drab cubicle day after day, while co-workers shoot up the corporate ladder? If you are stuck on the same rung and a promotion seems impossible, here are some possible reasons and what you can do to earn your own corner office.

1. You don’t dress for success
Although you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover, what you wear at work does send a subconscious message to others. Jeans and sneakers, facial piercings, visible tattoos — these don’t say promote me. If you want to give the impression of power and authority, analyze what successful people in your office are wearing. Whatever their style, you will want to follow along to some degree because it makes you more approachable and creates a sense of camaraderie.

2. You do the bare minimum
Doing an okay job may be enough to remain employed, but it won’t help you earn a promotion. If you want to advance in your career, you will need to exceed your employer’s expectations, and you can’t do that by being the first person out the door at quitting time. It’s not to say that you have to work twelve hours a day to be noticed; but allow yourself to have flexibility to the hours you keep at work.

3. You aren’t visible enough
Here you have to demonstrate to the ‘higher-ups’ that you have leadership potential and drive. If a project that you’ve been working on has gone well, send a memo to the other team members (and your boss) praising the team’s successful efforts. Contribute more to meeting, don’t just sit there and doodle. Also, volunteer to be a part of other projects – but only if you can handle the additional workload. It doesn’t help to finally draw attention to yourself – when it is as the person who can’t finish their work.

4. You aren’t likeable
While the workplace isn’t a popularity contest, it is important to be friendly and interact well with others. don’t isolate yourself, it can be misconstrued as arrogant or condescending. Be professional, trustworthy, and positive. Being anything but could have an impact on your promotion potential.

5. Your work is sloppy
Whenever you have to do a write-up, send a letter or email, take the time to ensure that your work is grammatically correct. It sends the message that you didn’t care enough to proof your work before sending it out – which hurts your chances for a promotion. This is especially true, now that there is grammar check and spell check in nearly every application. It’s very important to pay attention to the little details.

6. You have the wrong focus
Instead of thinking that your boss “owes” you a promotion, consider how moving to a position with more responsibility will benefit the company. Convince your employer that your efforts and ideas with aide the company, as a whole, in achieving their goals.

All of these points are targeted directly at those that are hoping for a promotion; but they can be applied to other employment situations as well. For example, in this current economy, for people to keep their jobs they have to do more than the bare minimum and not complain about it. Also, it’s a good point to make sure that you are more visible – so when your organization is making cuts, that you aren’t one of those. As for having the wrong focus, this relates directly to improving your resume. Sprucing up your skills, and realizing what you are doing at work is a great way to align yourself for a promotion and to ensure that your goals are directly matched up with those of the company that you work for.

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Here are additional sources

moneysmartlife.com/how-to-get-the-promotion-you-deserve/

www.career-success-for-newbies.com/how-to-get-promoted.html

Okay, so you’ve gone through the whole process and now you are about to start your first day of subbing. Here are some pointers and tips to get you through the first day, as well as the others, without a snag.

1. Show up early
a. Most schools ask that you be there 30 minutes prior to the start of school. From my experience, it would be wise to be there at least 45 minutes early. You will appreciate that extra time to get settled. You also don’t know what surprises could be waiting for you (aka, morning duty) that would take away from your prep time.

2. Eat lunch in the teachers’ lounge
a. Although it may sound overwhelming to go into the ‘teachers’ lounge; it’s a smart move for your career as a substitute teacher. Here you will learn more about the teacher and class of students you are working with, You can ask questions, seek advice or assistance; but most importantly is this. By making yourself know to other educators and instructors – you will have a greater likelihood of getting on those teachers preferred substitute pick list.
b. If you are subbing in a school you are familiar with (live near, have children that go to school there, etc) make sure to keep all conversation on a professional course. You don’t want to engage in gossip; you never know who you could be talking to or about. Plus, you don’t want to ruin your chances of being asked to come back to the school.
c. Play Meet and Greet with all staff and faculty that you meet along the way. Make your presence known on the campus; these could be your future co-workers; but at least, for today, they are your guidance to a successful day.

3. Notes for you, Notes for the Teacher
a. This is the biggest portion for me, as an educator. By leaving detailed notes of what you accomplished and what happened today – you are helping me to then be able to flow seamlessly into the next day. But when I don’t know how the previous day went, I spend more time the next day, before each class, playing catch up.
b. Be sure to also take detailed notes for yourself. Mention the students you liked or didn’t; what you liked about the classroom, things that you would take away from the day and put into your own room. Make notes of the school environment, other teachers, principal and school staff. These are all valuable points to note, especially if you plan on being a teacher in the future.
c. On a side note, I spent 4 years substituting. So these pointers come from solid experience.

4. Remember It’s Not Your Room
a. Act like a guest in your best friend’s parent’s house. It may not be your taste, but it’s still someone’s home right now. Be respectful of the way it is laid out and set up. Realize too, that the teacher isn’t always aware of what you, as a new person, need in the room. Take your time to find books and paper; ask the students for assistance – or another teacher.

5. Bring some time filler activities
a. Find time during the day to play with the students, or offer free time
b. It’s been my experience that having a few extra activities that can fill empty time are always a plus. These activities have been successful for me. Play around the world with math flashcards, give extra recess, have quiet reading time, for younger kids read them a story, have them clean up the room for candy.
c. Teachers know that some lesson can run fast or be longer than they anticipated. But it’s easier for the classroom teacher to deal with that than it is for a substitute. For that reason, it’s good to have some time fillers.
d. You could use the ‘Caterpillar Game’ http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Caterpillar-Word-Game

6. Know Your Audience
a. These students sitting before you are excited to have you there; skeptical of what you are going to make the day like, and hoping to get away with things that their regular teacher wouldn’t let them.
b. Now to the reason why you are there – the students. Think back to when you were in school and how thrilled you were to have a substitute teacher. These students sitting in front of you are thinking exactly the same thing. Furthermore, these students’ main teacher knows exactly what their students are thinking too.
c. Keep in mind that you are there to teach, not to dictate. Don’t take an iron first approach; but don’t walk in wanting to be their best friend. If you want to make a career in education, or subbing, know that teacher recommendations – not student ones – are the ones that get you back in the classroom.

7. Bring Your Own Lunch
a. Kind of seems like a ‘duh’ but you would be surprised at how many people waste their lunch town scrambling to find something to eat. By already having your lunch, it allows to you eat and relax with the other educators. Plus you will have time to get prepared for the on-goings in the afternoon.

Remember to relax and breathe. It’s almost a guarantee that there will be a surprise the first day; and it’s almost as likely that no one but you will notice it. I really believe that subbing is a fantastic way to get into education. I learned more from my days as a sub on how to be a teacher than I did through the whole of my graduate school program.

Another blog that I like that discusses how to become a teacher and substitute teaching is Road to Teaching, http://roadtoteaching.com/

The winter holidays are quickly approaching, teachers are excited about being able to integrate some fun, alternative, creative lessons. But, while still enjoying the celebration it is just as important to acknowledge and learn about something other than just Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Teaching Tolerance created a great resource of lessons for just this purpose. The part that I think is the best is that these lessons aren’t just geared toward elementary-aged students (as it common during this time of year); so educators are able to give their high school students something different as well.

http://www.tolerance.org/activity/school-holiday-calendar?ttnewsletter=ttnewsgen-111509

This Wednesday is November 11th, an annual day in recognition of the service of the women and men in the military. This year, I feel, is particularly bittersweet. It’s a joyous time because we can celebrate the 20 year anniversary of the Berlin Wall coming down; yet it’s sad because of the recent tragedy at Fort Hood Texas. It’s a celebration because of the achievements made in encouraging more people into the service; but it’s heartbreaking to know that the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars are in their 8th year.

Taking time to create a small learning lesson in tribute to Veterans Day needn’t be controversial or time consuming. Below you will find several sites that have printables ready to use in the classroom; as well as articles about the Berlin Wall and Fort Hood.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1625786/20091107/story.jhtml

http://abcnews.go.com/International/gorbachev-hailed-berlin-wall-anniversary/story?id=9035215

http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/09/special-news-quiz-berlin-wall-history/

http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/

http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=9

http://www.lessonplanspage.com/SSTheWallVeteransDayActivityIdea23.htm

Hispanic Latino Heritage Month

September 15 was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. They all declared independence in 1821. In addition, Mexico, Chile and Belize celebrate their independence days on September 16, September 18 and September 21, respectively.

For educators, this is an opportunity to celebrate diversity found in your classroom and/or your community. Personally, I believe that diversity should be integrated into lessons all the time, and that we shouldn’t necessarily focus on people’s racial backgrounds. However, having a dedicated time to honor the accomplishments of people from Latino decent should still be acknowledged.

Here is a grouping of six websites that are dedicated to providing teachers and instructors with materials and lessons that are directly related to teaching about Latino Heritage Month. And although the month of celebrating this month ends on October 15th, several schools and districts continue these types of lessons until the end of October.

EDUCATION WORLD LATINO LESSONS

http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson023.shtml

SCHOLASTIC HISPANIC LESSONS

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/hispanic/index.htm

SMITHSONIAN’S EDUCATION HISPANIC RESOURCES SITE

http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/resource_library/hispanic_resources.html

TEACHING TOLERANCE SITE

http://www.teachingtolerance.org

TARGET’S DREAM IN COLOR SITE
http://scholastic.com/dreamincolor/

IMPORTANT FIRSTS BY HISPANIC AMERICANS

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0933896.html

In the current economic recession, more people are going through the interview process than a decade ago. For many people, they are entering a new market of hiring and interviewing. No longer are employers satisfied with people who have a bit of experience or a Bachelor’s degree. No longer is it assumed that every qualified job seeker is going to be given a face-to-face interview. Here are some tips for those new interviewees.

All of these steps deal with being prepared and focused; if you can’t do these you should ask your interviewer for the chance to reschedule. By doing so, it demonstrates to your potential boss that you are serious and passionate about performing well – in all situations. This is definitely a quality that employers are looking for.

1. Know What You Are Talking About
a. Know what you’re talking about
b. Have information about the company and position readily available

2. Use a Quiet Space
a. Somewhere in your home that is clear of distractions
b. Barking dogs, car traffic, and screaming kids don’t help
c. Aside from the noise aspect, these distractions will pull your focus away from the task at hand

3. Take Your Time
a. Don’t rush your answers
b. Speak clearly – be articulate and professional
c. Do Not use slang; ‘umm’, ‘ya know’ or ‘yup’ are not things your interviewer wants to hear

4. Have a Reliable Phone Line
a. If using a cell phone make sure that it has a clear and full range of signal
b. It is preferable to have a land line for these situation
c. Ignore or turn off your call waiting

5. Keep Your Resume and Cover Letter Handy
a. This is especially important if you have applied for multiple positions; you want to keep each one clear
b. This assists you in knowing what your interviewer is looking at
c. You are able to focus, highlight, and reiterate your ‘selling points’ to your interviewer

6. Take Notes
a. Remember, you may be receiving a 2nd interview or a face-to-face interview later on – these notes will be of assistance
b. You should write the name(s) and position(s) of people that you are speaking with
c. It is not uncommon to have group phone interviews [this was the case in my situation]
d. You will most likely not be able to recall all details said, so notes would be a smart asset.

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Recently, an article from The Week, was about phone interviews. It is included here.

It used to be that job candidates could “breeze through” phone interviews quickly by answering a few “softball questions,” said Sarah Needleman in the Wall Street Journal. But now that employers are faced with piles of qualified applicants, a phone interview can be more than just a formality. These days, it’s often a one-hour affair loaded with “the kinds of in-depth questions previously reserved for finalists.” That means you’ll want to prepare for it with the same diligence that you’d approach a face-to-face interview.

When it’s time for the interview, lock yourself in a quiet room armed with such essentials” as your resume and the company’s background information, said Joyce Lain Kennedy in the Hartford Courant. Remember to turn off the call-waiting feature. “Interruptions are unprofessional and show that details get away from you.” Make a conscious effort not to ramble, which is easy to do on the phone. Pithy, positive answers can be the difference between getting cut or getting another call back. If an interviewer calls you without advance warning, don’t try to improvise. “Say you have to leave immediately for an appointment, and pleasantly ask if you can reschedule.”

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On a side note, a few years ago I had a phone interview. It was definitely impromptu, I had no idea I was even being considered for the position. Although it went well, I did accept the job, it would have been helpful to know these bits of information. I would have taken the time to reschedule the interview, especially now that the market has changed for teaching roles. I would consider this to be a great piece of information to have.