New Research Tool

This is a fascinating time for research in the world.  Things are changing so much from even 10 years ago.  Google has introduced a new thing that will change it even more.  Aardvark is a tool that will match your question to the proper expert.  That would allow you, or your students, to get an answer from an actual person, instead of a web page.
Research on the internet can be a difficult and sensitive topic for teachers. The way I choose to address it is to embrace it.  It's not going away.  I still require books as sources, but I also teach how to find answers on the internet.
For example, if a student uses Wikipedia, that's fine. I just require them to show documentation on how they verified the information.  (Of course, I teach them how to verify information found on sites like Wikipedia).
This way I feel I am empowering them to use the internet better, and with more accuracy.  Because I know that no matter what I say about the internet, they are going to use it.  I might as well teach them to use it well.

Poetry

Anyone headed into a poetry unit?  Here is a site you might want to take a look at. http://www.favoritepoem.org/  On this site people quote their favorite poems, then explain why that poem is their favorite.  Simple, yet brilliant.
It could be a springboard into a classroom project where students memorize a poem and say why they like it, just like in the videos.  It would be really neat if the poems could be posted on a classroom website so that students could look at them whenever they want.  Of course all the trimmings could still be included.  Free verse, rhyme, syllables, etc.  But it could all, or mostly, be done in the context of the poem they choose for their video.

Captioned Media: Literacy Support for Diverse Learners

Here we go.  Another good article addressing something I have never thought about, but should have always known and implemented.  Captioned Media.
The article makes very reasonable, and research based, claims that ESL students and learning disabled students can benefit from watching shows with captions.  The article says that captions can help students with:

• reading speed,
• word knowledge,
• decoding,
• vocabulary acquisition,
• word recognition,
• reading comprehension, and
• oral reading rates.

It is a very simple way of differentiating instruction in our classrooms.  It would be a good idea to let all the teachers in our schools know that this is something simple they could do to increase literacy.  It's a great excuse to send out a mass email to your co-workers.  In fact, I plan on doing just that.

How to Keep Students Engaged in Class

I just read an interesting article called How to Keep Students Engaged in Class. It was a good article. Though I surely wouldn't try all the things it mentions in the course of one class period. But it is good to have several tactics to use.
One tactic I do use everyday is switching up activities frequently.  For example, the structure of every English class period looks like this:

• Silent Reading
• Writing in Journals
• Additional Instruction/ New Information
• Practice

My Spanish classes also follow a structure:

• Self-directed Review for Previous Day/ Anticipation activity
• Speaking Exercise  (Usually takes the longest.  Students speak, I correct, and have them speak again in partners until I feel they have the concept.)
• Class discussion/Instruction
• Review of Day (Sometimes a review game)

In the beginning of my teaching I thought a daily structure would make the class boring, now I think it provides sanity.  Students perform better if they know what is expected.  They feel safer, and less time is spent giving instructions.  Also, the variety of activities that can be done within the structure helps eliminate boredom.

But I think the importance of structure was really highlighted when a sub was supposed to come to class and didn't show up until late.  I was in the school attending a meeting and was called out to watch my class until the sub showed.  When I walked in 34 of my 36 students were on task and working.  The two that weren't on task were asleep.  (It's a lot better than some of the alternatives.)

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This blog is dedicated to serving teachers in all places, and from all walks of life. We will discuss education issues from in our time and share our insights on how to better serve our students in the most practical aspects of our profession.