Thought provoking video

Interesting questions aired here.

Americans Deserve Leadership on Education
To boost America’s economy we must focus on strengthening K-12 education.

We need to realize that we aren't doing enough to assist our children for the future. We have to take it further. We don't need to work harder... just smarter. Promote reading and writing in every classroom. Develop opinions. Be open to new ideas. Change the future. Focus on thinking.

Stop rote memorization. Cut fill in the blanks. Ask questions instead of giving answers. Let's get the gears turning. We need real thinking in schools.

Annenburg Media Site

Use this free site to brush up on rough spots in your content. Really nice videos, you won't be able to download, but available to buy as a DVD if you want. I have enjoyed using this site to enhance prior knowledge, check myself and pull tidbits of information or ideas.

How should we determine Professional Competence?

(Click on the title to view site)

"But, how do we know what makes a good teacher? What is competency in teaching? What are the criteria needed for a new teacher to already possess before they begin teaching? Who should design the assessment for teaching? What are the qualifying marks of a good teacher? Are they universal? What makes a perfect score? Will we stifle new innovations in the process of determining competency? These questions have to be addressed before we can safely say that we are finished with the creation of standard assessments."

Useful Timer Tool

(Click on title to view site)

I use this Timer Tool to assist me with classroom time keeping. It is a great little program that installs on my computer. It can be minimized to hide or maximized for the whole class to see.
I recommend that you use something that helps you to keep track of time.

Teaching Strategies Ideas

This document is full of ideas for new and experienced teachers alike.
I put this together for my cross-cultural class at the university.

http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=drqm7jt_13dbspw4v4&hl=en

Group Sorting Cards
The sorting cards are not my invention, I got them from a friend and I used them to help me sort my Students into Truth Teams. I set up Truth Teams with diverse strengths in mind. I want to use them again to create teams with weaknesses as well.

http://docs.google.com/?pli=1#folders/folder.0.9f4d46f8-eb9f-4d6d-a070-f1b1406bc7ef

Reading Comprehension Tool - SQ3R

I think our students believe that reading and skimming are the same things. With skimming too much is left out and the real message is lost in the jumble of unread words. It would be like reading every third word in a poem and trying to figure out what it meant. Vocabulary often frustrates them and they give up in disgust or replace the words with mental blanks. I overheard one young lady inserting “sompm, sompm (something, something)” instead of trying to sound out the words. So, of course, they don’t read. They can’t understand it. Our kids don’t comprehend the written word.

We assume that these kids already know how to read. Or we might accept the statement, "I don’t read” as truth without attempting to teach the student the best practice for reading a text. We could argue that "It isn't our job." In defense, a statement must be made that we are held accountable for certain standards to be met for the school year. It might appear that focus is removed from the core content, but that is not the case. Instead a deeper understanding of the lessons will be exhibited due to longer exposure using the right tools.

We need to give them good tools to assist them in the practice of Reading to Learn.

This site will explain SQ3R - the comprehension tool
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newISS_02.htm

SQ3R Comprehension Form for Reading
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=drqm7jt_12ffkb8ts9

Bloom's Taxonomy Assessment Design

I think that we as teachers need to inform our students of our methods and tactics that we practice to further their understanding. We should announce our intentions so that the student can see value in the methods we employ. Using Bloom’s Taxonomy in conjunction with the Core Content allows the student to use and understand the verbs that promote learning for them personally.
Bloom’s Taxonomy language while passing familiar to most teachers isn’t usually explained fully in the student’s classroom setting. This assessment design allows the teacher and the student to become more informed about the language and the intent of Bloom’s Taxonomy.
Student choice is important for the success of that student. It gives them a voice in how they are going to learn. When the student is given the choice for their assessment they are additionally empowered toward success.
I use reflection throughout my daily work. I change my tactics from minute to minute as a result of the thought processes that come to me naturally. My teaching improves, which means I am learning to teach as I teach. Student reflection is an area that we as teachers find difficult to employ with the current methods of teaching. It is an excellent tool for students to use to continue tracking their progress. Getting students to reflect on their work, effort, attention, etc., can be a challenge. I have worked reflection into a weekly exercise I call Friday WILT. This coupled with the reflective portion of the Bloom’s Taxonomy Assessment will help to arm students with the weapons they need to attack indifference to school and educational ignorance.

Bloom's Taxonomy Unit Assessments
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=drqm7jt_11d2qbb5cb
Bloom's Taxonomy & Core Content Assessment Log
Still under construction