The teacher and me

itssnix:

If there’s one practical thing I’ve learned in two years of teaching, it’s to be less scared to use sick days.

I only used 2 sick days my first year, and they were because I had to. I forced myself to go in when I was not feeling well, mainly because I hated making sub plans and leaving busy…

adventuresinlearning:

9 Ways to Assess Students without Standardized Tests

1. Look at student’s school work -Students are doing work across the year. Let’s assess that, rather than a bubbletest. For instance, we can look at a piece of writing and use a standardized rubric to measure that. We can listen to a recording of a student’s reading and retelling and use a standardized measure to assess their readIng and comprehension level. The great thing is that teachers already do this. No need to fork over millions to a publisher and grading staff.
2. Games -More and more games are being created that allow us to determine a student’s level mastery by their ability to progress in a game. Simulation games/contests and games like Tabula Digita, Manga High are examples.  
3. Challenges -In real life we’re assessed by how well we do, not how well we fill in bubbles. Instead of bubble tests, support young people in in tackling real challenges to demonstrate their capabilities and get scouted for awesome apprenticeship/internship/career opportunities.  This is exactly what companies like Rad Matter (life is rad, make it matter) do.  
4. Badges and Points -Folks like Tom Vander Ark (Author, Getting Smart) predict badges will be big in education and I agree. A badge (think boy/girl scouts) is an award for demonstrated mastery of a skill that has become popular as a reward mechanism in games and social networks like foursquare.com.In education a badge could be awarded for successful completion of an activity. An example of this is Code Academy co-founded by Columbia U dropout (school got in the way of learning) Zach Sims. Code Academy is a site where you learn to program by actually coding and as you do you receive points and badges as you complete each exercise. I’m a newbie learning Java and html. I have 22 points and 2 badges.
5. Real World Work -Encourage students to get out of the classroom and into the world doing work in an area of interest. The iSchool is an example of a school that does this well with their Areas of focus Program. Staff supports students in figuring out what it is that interest them and them helps them go out into the world and do it via an internship, apprenticeship, job. Just like in the real world, their work is assessed by their supervisor.
6. Real World Projects -I talk to so many students who are doing amazing work…just not in school. They’re making viral videos, writing for publications or publishing their own blogs, engaging in public speaking, etc. The problem is, in today’s paradigm of school, when we do work worthy of the world, this just doesn’t matter. Let’s change that! When kids are doing amazing things in the world, let’s give them credit for it.
7. Real World Accomplishments Why is it that in most cases, school will only provide credit for that which is done during their hours on their terms. Why can’t students get credit for accomplishments achieved outside of school if they provide evidence. For example, complete a marathon, win a dance contest or volleyball tournament, get physical education credit. Compete in a pig competition, get science credit. Write a travel review, get social studies credit. Perform in a recital, get music credit. In these cases, the assessment doesn’t come from the school, it comes from the real world, and that’s a good thing.
8. Personal Success Plans -Assessment should be customized to the student, not standardized to the system. This is exactly what happens with a personalized success plan with measurable goals. Teachers work with students to help them identify their goals then develop a real plan to achieve them. This involves input from teachers, mentors, family, friends, and community. The teacher, students, family. mentors, etc. can see at any time the student’s progress at anytime and provide scaffolded support as necessary.
9. ePortfolios -ePortfolios provide a great way to capture, document, make meaning, and share with others what we learn. They are a wonderful assessment tool that tells much more about a child than a letter or number on a piece of paper.  Not only that, they form the basis of what can lead to academic and career success.  There are numerous ways to create free, student-owned ePortfolios. Knowit App is a new site that is helping students do this work, but as ePortfolio guru Helen Barrett explains, Google Sites and Wikispaces are also great resources.
   

coolcatteacher:

This is Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy, an important read on how to move your technology-infused assignments up the taxonomy to promote higher order thinking. I have this on my ipad. A colleague asked me to print this out because I had mentioned it in Chapter 7 of the Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds book I co wrote. It is one of my favorite chapters because it relates current education theory to practice in the classroom. It is dear to me.

revolutionizeed:

Cellphones can be one of the most controversial topics when it comes to education. Often times, classrooms shun the use of cellphones and teacher confiscate them if they see a glimpse of them. They can also be a useful tool to enhance teaching and learning inside and outside of the classroom.

toseealambatschool:

By  Dana Truby, Megan Kaesshaefer

“What’s the secret to avoiding art messes? How can you make your room orderly without emptying out Office Depot?” Here is a selection from 100 teacher tips for creating a beautiful, organized environment (click the link to see all 100). 

1. Address Stickers
Brand anything as yours—classroom library books, rulers, staplers—with a return-address sticker, and they just may stick around.

2. Download It!
From field trip forms to IEP progress reports to “No Homework!” reward coupons, you can find dozens of free downloadable templates at toolsforteachers.org. Better yet, each form can be customized for your needs. 

3. Number Line
Assign each of your  students a number. Then have them write their name and number on every paper. It makes assignments easy to keep track of and grades quick to enter.

4. Label Everything
Place labels and photos on shelves and containers. It will make cleanup quicker and you won’t have to field a thousand questions a day about where things go! 

5. Hide It Away
Ugly storage area? Hit the fabric store and look for a bright fabric or remnant. Use safety pins to hang kids’ work or to make it into a word wall.

6. Reduce Clutter
Weed out all unnecessary clutter. Use crates and baskets for those things you want out of sight but handy when needed.

7. Start at the End
I have a calendar for the entire year. I take notes on major themes, brainstorm books, then I break down each book into themes and skills. I count the days and work backwards to fit it all in.

8. Tangles of Wires
Slip wires through two or more empty paper towel tubes to contain them. For an even better look, have kids cover them with colored paper first.

9. Too Much Art
So much artwork, so little wall space. When kids’ work piles up, take photographs of their masterpieces and post them on your website, or make them into an inexpensive photo book. (Try shutterfly.com or snapfish.com.)

10. A five-minute daily clean routine can help keep the germs at bay and your classroom gleaming. Have your helpers of the day use disinfectant wipes to scrub down these hot spots:

- Desktops
- Countertops
- Light switches
- Doorknobs
- Keyboards
- Cabinet handles
- Drawer pulls
- Faucets
- Water fountains

11. Brain Break
Between activities, have kids take turns acting out a fun or silly thing (e.g., catch and reel in a fish, hit a home run and then cheer for yourself)

12. Style Code
I place a letter (A=Auditory, V=Visual, K=Kinesthetic) by each lesson plan idea to keep track of learning styles.

13. Math on Monday
Try to plan one subject’s lessons for the next week each day. On Tuesdays, plan social studies, etc.

14. Kitchen Timer
Multipurpose tool of the gods. Use it for transitions, group time, journaling, cleanup time.

15. Teach Study Skills
Never assume kids know how to study. Teach them how to review a chapter.

16. Library Cards
When students borrow a book, have them write the name of the book on an index card and place it in a pocket chart. Later they can write about the book on the back on the card.

17. Match Up
Place stickers (yellow stars, blue circles) on your baskets and the books inside and they’ll be easy to return to the right place.

18. Student Information Sheets
I send home student information forms the first week. On the back of the sheet is a contact log I use all year long.

(via revolutionizeed)