tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22243107462053645872024-02-06T19:35:05.908-08:00Secondary Farm Good teachers helping each other become better teachers. Join us.mqzoellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05503768840453768042noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224310746205364587.post-51181930566213993912014-08-27T18:17:00.001-07:002014-08-27T18:17:07.969-07:002:25 Always Comes (End of the Year Thoughts From a First Year Teacher)
"Relationships are your sword in the good days and your shield against the bad days."
You have a story to tell. Lots of people told me not to smile until Christmas. I'd imagine if you've done any teaching yourself (or told anybody you want to teach), that you've been told that too. Smile and nod and say "absolutely, that's what I've been told" and then throw it out the window. mqzoellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05503768840453768042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224310746205364587.post-84052642639478535912014-05-05T19:08:00.000-07:002014-05-05T19:08:10.917-07:00Entrance is a Privilege!
The exit ticket is a tool I use on occasion in order to get
a quick assessment at the end of the class period. Each student is challenged to perform under
the condition that he or she is not finished with class until having answered
correctly. Every time I use this tool I
am surprised at the intensity with which students attempt to complete the given
task. The incentive to bedanvhydehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04784005155132766124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224310746205364587.post-78551190494822400922014-04-27T20:20:00.001-07:002014-04-27T20:21:26.910-07:00What Does Your Classroom Say About You?
This week's guest post is by Jessica Raba, the executive director of the Lutheran Schools Association in New York.
When I started teaching a little over a decade ago, I had visions of a functioning classroom that were akin to my own experience. Colorful walls displaying student work, lots of books, nooks and corners in which my students could get lost in said books, small desks with name Mr. Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16277757796601317749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224310746205364587.post-68979669153290693222014-04-21T21:16:00.000-07:002014-04-21T21:16:15.684-07:00When You Think You Can't...You CanMake a list of all of the hurdles you encounter on a daily basis. List out all of the reasons that you can't do what you were hoping to do. Read through your list and then watch this.
Hurdles do not have to be hurdles if you really believe in what you're doing.chris.loeselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12503540026890621967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224310746205364587.post-41866793665851370582014-04-07T20:03:00.000-07:002014-04-07T20:03:09.380-07:00Seat Signals
Seat Signals - In the Classroom
Once again, a simple piece of practical classroom advice taken from the essential Teach Like Champion, this strategy is called "seat signals".
The rationale is this: a student asking to go to the bathroom, or to get out of their seat for any reason can be very disruptive. A student arguing with a teacher who answers "no" to their request to leave can also be mqzoellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05503768840453768042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224310746205364587.post-66610249340185720282014-03-31T20:03:00.001-07:002014-04-01T05:46:26.529-07:00A Radical Endeavor For the Common Idealist - Overworking and Oversizing..
It was my hope that time travel would be been invented before writing this post so we could have accurately complete the survey that I will not approximate through pure speculation. However, it is my belief that if you were to go back in time and ask high school students the question: "How to you feel about AP tests?", it would look like this:
15 years ago: What is an AP test?
10 years ago: mqzoellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05503768840453768042noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224310746205364587.post-82967542212927537392014-03-18T09:48:00.003-07:002014-03-31T19:19:32.751-07:00<!--[if gte mso 9]>
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE
<![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]>
Alicia Oateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02574530250720656127noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224310746205364587.post-90777006463934065192014-03-10T18:55:00.000-07:002014-03-31T19:18:50.744-07:00Build a Google Site
Today I would like to challenge you to explore Google Sites, a tool that saves me time
and energy in the following ways:
- organizes my courses
- makes notes and other materials immediately accessible to
any absent students
- provides a framework for employing the “flip” through
videos and other media
- easily integrates my Google Calendar to display lesson
plans
- gives me a way to danvhydehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04784005155132766124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224310746205364587.post-54078817445564803382014-03-03T20:41:00.003-08:002014-03-03T21:00:24.367-08:00Teaching with the Golden Ratio
The information contained in this post is a compilation of research and lectures delivered over the past year. Special thanks to Karen Kennedy for delivering the bulk of the information.
I am a choir director and I am a choir director that teaches high school students. If you teach high school students, you know how much those students love getting their teacher off track. &chris.loeselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12503540026890621967noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224310746205364587.post-59147496277034513662014-02-24T20:46:00.000-08:002014-02-24T20:46:05.868-08:00Effective Living for Effective Teaching
Guest Post: Effective Living for Effective Teaching
Every professional adult these days seems to have a short supply of time. They tell me that the 24 hours per day ratio is still the accepted standard, but surely we have less time than we
did when we were 9 or 10. Between being a teacher, administrator, secretary, mom, dad, son, daughter, church member, coach, fan, hobbiest, etc.…there’s justmqzoellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05503768840453768042noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224310746205364587.post-73449806789917378402014-02-17T19:24:00.000-08:002014-02-17T19:34:27.643-08:00Re-Up: Wright's Law: A Unique Teacher Imparts Real Life Lessons
Wright's Law: A Unique Teacher Imparts Real Life Lessons
"As soon as you get the kid asking 'how' or 'why', I can rope him in."
This is the inspirational video of a teacher who goes the extra mile and is loved by his students because of it. As it goes on, you also see that he has a notable situation in his home life. This is a probably a must-see for teachers, students, and people everywheremqzoellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05503768840453768042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224310746205364587.post-8530527477495974462014-02-10T14:00:00.002-08:002014-02-17T19:33:44.669-08:00Tech Tip: YouTube Tools
I was not impressed with YouTube as a tool for student learning when the site first emerged. It seemed more like a platform for self-publishing quirky personal videos than a service to use in education. However, creative educators and dedicated content providers have turned the site into a vast storehouse of educational content. Rarely a day goes by when I do not use a YouTube video Mr. Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16277757796601317749noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224310746205364587.post-58577920778787115002014-02-03T21:06:00.000-08:002014-02-03T21:06:08.165-08:00What to Do
What to Do - In the Classroom
The emphasis here is on the word "to". I once found a motivational cat poster that said "don't tell me what not to do. Tell me what to do." Had I listened to that poster, rather than just hang it up ironically for my roommates to see, I could have avoided much professional stress.
Once again taking a strategy from the great, Doug Lemov, in his book that every mqzoellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05503768840453768042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224310746205364587.post-45404508802248614192014-01-27T20:55:00.000-08:002014-01-27T20:55:15.535-08:006 Things That Make a Cohesive Staff
Guest Post: 6 Things That Make a Cohesive Staff
Think of your favorite team you've ever been a part of. Got it?
Now think of the worst team you've worked on. Ick. Yeah. Bad memories.
What made the difference? What leaves us wanting to never leave a job vs. wanting to leave and erase the experience from our memories? Here I investigate the 6 traits ofmqzoellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05503768840453768042noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224310746205364587.post-20289094381550730572014-01-20T20:47:00.000-08:002014-01-20T20:47:03.172-08:00Re-up: Martin Luther King Jr.
"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education."
- Martin Luther King Jr.
mqzoellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05503768840453768042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224310746205364587.post-69640934320756304702014-01-13T10:24:00.002-08:002014-01-13T10:28:10.158-08:00Technological Tip: Twitter... no, seriously
Every teacher and pretty much every adult, and it's probably safe to say "every American" at this point understands social media - a bunch of people posting "selfies" in various places, thereby ruining any chance for future political stature.
However, if you are a person who likes to learn, and specifically a teacher, then you really should consider using Twitter, but for the right reasons (asmqzoellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05503768840453768042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224310746205364587.post-35120865646435768732014-01-07T21:34:00.000-08:002014-01-07T21:34:53.461-08:00Expectation of 100%
100% Participation - In the Classroom
The idea is simple to understand, but takes practice and patience to execute successfully. Coming from the must-own book of every teacher, Teach Like a Champion, by Doug Lemov, the rule of 100% is this:
The percentage of students following a direction in a classroom must be 100. If it is any less, your authority quickly deflates and classroom loses valuemqzoellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05503768840453768042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224310746205364587.post-38633082111169765712013-12-02T20:42:00.000-08:002013-12-02T20:42:43.671-08:00Five Unconventional Ways to Promote a Positive Classroom Environment
This is not a peer-reviewed article. This is not a book on educational theory. I bet I won't even be asked to write for this blog again in the future after this post. Don't expect to see me writing for educational journals because what I am about to share has nothing to do with educational psychology, theory, or method. In fact, I bet it goes against a lot of what is taught is these chris.loeselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12503540026890621967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224310746205364587.post-70137721372968125992013-11-11T08:18:00.000-08:002013-11-11T08:18:09.662-08:00Three Free Web Tools
In every teacher’s digital toolbox is a collection of online resources. Some sites become part of the everyday tool collection. Consider the ubiquitous Wikipedia. Previously shunned by educators as the villain of reliable information, now many publicly acknowledge their use of this popular site. However, many of the seemingly promising tools to be found online are bookmarked only to join Jessica Vanderhydehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05720576519522055308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224310746205364587.post-9677651494938236222013-11-04T19:21:00.000-08:002013-11-04T19:21:00.327-08:00Eliminate Guess-work with Intentional Routines and Procedures
In the midst of the confusion, drama, and social pressures
of the teenage world, students crave routine and procedure. One great piece of advice from Harry and
Rosemary Wong’s The First Days of School
is that shaping class culture by stating and practicing procedures is worth the
time.
Do your students know what the first five minutes of class
will look like as soon as they danvhydehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04784005155132766124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224310746205364587.post-51497232603781288252013-10-14T15:35:00.000-07:002013-10-14T15:35:30.682-07:00Creating Dynamic Online Discussions
I have used online discussions more regularly in my courses the past few years. There are several reasons for this. First, these discussions extend the learning outside of the traditional class period, sending students a message that learning is not for only certain times of the day, but rather is a continuous life experience. Second, most of our students will be taking multiple classes onlineMr. Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16277757796601317749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224310746205364587.post-44253713089829692482013-10-07T11:56:00.000-07:002013-10-07T11:56:05.192-07:00What's your Favorite Color?
After interviewing for a teaching position, at a school known for its college prep courses and commitment to excellence, I was told, "Your lesson was just too elementary." I thought to myself, how could that be? I did this activity as an undergrad education student. Students created leveled questions to represent comprehension, analysis, and application after finishing aUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224310746205364587.post-86602172367155616682013-09-30T21:07:00.000-07:002014-03-31T19:21:02.406-07:00A Radical Endeavor For the Common Idealist - Be a Student
Because today is the 5th Monday of the month, we are proposing a radical idea that every teacher is welcome to try. It is "radical" because of the time commitment, but the intention of it will of course be to improve your in-class skills.
I'll never forget my 9th grade math teacher, Ms. White. On the first day of class she told us about herself and how she loved and majored in English mqzoellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05503768840453768042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224310746205364587.post-35152726973035650672013-09-23T20:14:00.000-07:002013-09-23T20:18:03.653-07:00Potpourri - Letting Your Personal Side Teach the Lesson
One concept that was drilled into my head during my college years was establishing strong boundaries between your professional life and your personal life. Anything from online etiquette to desk placement to communication with parents and students outside of the classroom was covered. I am very thankful for these lessons that were shared with me. They have been extremely valuable for me chris.loeselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12503540026890621967noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224310746205364587.post-68679166399274794402013-09-16T15:57:00.002-07:002013-09-16T15:57:54.325-07:00Re-up: Inspirational video: Ken Robinson: How to escape education's death valley
Ken Robinson: How to escape education's death valley
In this installment we are looking at the second video of a Ted Talk by Sir Ken Robinson. His first Ted Talk is the number one most popular Ted Talk and happens to be about education. This second one is just as good, and just as about education.
He makes some great points about how "alternative schools" are personalized and mqzoellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05503768840453768042noreply@blogger.com0