Day: April 18, 2020

Technology in the Classroom: 22 Must-Have Tools

You all know by now: technology in the classroom is taking over your classrooms. The kids in your class likely love technology in the classroom: they can’t get enough of it at home and at school.
But how do you know which technology in the classroom tools to choose from? There are literally hundreds of apps, pieces of software, and other tools you can pick out, all of which are designed to you make your classroom hum at the speed of a T1 line.
Today on TeachHUB.com, frequent contributing writer Jacqui Murray, herself a technology teacher in Northern California, takes a look at the 22 classroom tools you need to use in class this year.
Jacqui’s recommendations include:
  • E-mail
  • Flipped classroom
  • Google Apps
  • Journaling
  • Maps
  • Online quizzes
  • Screenshots and screencasts
  • Video channel
  • Virtual meetings
Jacqui expounds on each tech recommendation, and rates it as well.  She sums up her findings: “This is my list, culled from dozens of conversation with my ed-tech colleagues.”
What do you use that I didn’t mention? Why is it important to your class’s workflow?
Get our list of the technology in the classroom tools you need this year>>

Classroom Management: Handling Sensitive Topics
 Classroom discussions (and the curriculum that incites them) often revolve around issues like race, gender, sexuality, politics, and class.
However, many teachers have been trained to leave those sorts of topics out of the classroom, to let the students make up their own minds about such sensitive issues.
Today, frequent TeachHUB.com contributor Jordan Catapano, also an English teacher in a Chicago suburb, intones that there is an inevitable intersection between those hot-button issues and the way they pervade subjects like literature and history.
Jordan also offers up some useful advice for teachers to approach such issues, including:
•    Offering no teacher opinions
•    Creating class guidelines
•    Keep parents informed
•    And more!
Remember, the value in approaching such subjects lies in creating an informed student perspective.

5 Ways School Counselors Support You & Your Students

As every teacher knows, standing in front of the classroom can feel like an insane one-man-show (or one-woman-show) in which you\’re juggling far too many concerns and standards for your students. Don\’t fear, there is help out there!

School couselors are an often under-utilized division of the staff. They are there to support the academic achievement, career development, and personal and social well-being of students.

By outlining the five main ways that school counselors support teachers and students, I hope to help you make the most of the services and staff available to you and reach students on every level.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCzOJDJZHoBttdHAjJsnN9w?sub_confirmation=1

3 WAYS TO MAKE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION INITIATIVES STICK

Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) is no longer about filling a quota. Today, D&I is recognized as a key way to boost profits and increase innovation. It simply makes business sense.
McKinsey’s 2015 Diversity Matters report revealed a strong correlation between diversity and financial performance. According to the findings, companies in the top quartile for ethnic and racial diversity are 35 percent more likely to perform above the industry median compared to those in the bottom quartile, while gender-heterogeneous companies outperform by 15 percent.
And, in the U.S., every 10 percent increase in racial and ethnic diversity among senior executives leads to a 0.8 percent increase in EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes).

Top of the Priority List

Given this potential to impact business, it’s not surprising that CEOs are taking notice. The 2017 Deloitte Human Capital Trends survey found that the number of executives citing diversity as a top priority had jumped by 32 percent since 2014. This is crucial because although HR plays a key role in implementing D&I changes, long term success requires a cultural and strategic shift.
Like any company-wide push, prioritizing diversity means securing senior buy-in, pinpointing clear objectives, setting targets and measuring results. But in addition to jumping through standard management hoops, there are some specific ways to build successful D&I programs:

Banish Brain Bias

While overt bias against individuals or groups is generally easy to spot, people are sometimes unaware of their own unconscious bias, for example, unwittingly hiring people who are like themselves.
While educating people about unconscious bias and helping them identify it is an obvious first step, it’s not enough.
To overcome bias, organizations must move away from what psychologists call System 1 thinking, where decisions are emotional, instinctive, subconscious and based on gut feelings. Instead, what’s required is System 2 thinking, which is rational, deliberate, rules-based and takes more work.
From a recruitment standpoint, this means having a structured format for interviews during which all candidates are asked similar questions, followed by a an analysis process.

Turn to Technology

To influence change, organizations need to be able assess where they are today and measure results. Earlier in November, for example, Apple shared an update on its efforts with the release of its Diversity and Inclusion Report, which revealed that between July 2016 and July 2017, half of all new hires at the company were from “historically underrepresented groups in tech.” People analytics are a vital tool for spotting these types of improvements, as well as identifying problem areas.
By analyzing data throughout the recruitment process, organizations can identify where people are underrepresented, and plug those holes with new hires. The same principle holds true for all areas of talent management—analytics can uncover patterns in gender or racial bias in performance reviews, compensation and rewards.

Lead From the Front

A diverse organization calls for leaders who are not only from diverse groups themselves, but who are also serious about creating a culture of inclusivity at work.
Deloitte identified six traits that epitomize inclusive leaders: courage, cognizance of bias, curiosity, cultural intelligence, collaboration and commitment. Still, it’s up to HR to recognize and foster these traits.
It’s important to recognize that diversity encompasses differences in cognitive and emotional make-up as well as race, color, sex and sexuality. When it comes to nurturing future leaders, today’s leaders need to resist looking for carbon-copies of themselves. For example, leaders need to be self-aware of their own work style, and accept that they need to collaborate with people that work differently to create a better team.
While D&I is increasingly getting acknowledged as a good business practice, even those making it a strategic priority have a long way to go. The key is ensuring that D&I becomes a standard part of leadership development, and is seen as a core leadership skill.

Effective Teaching Strategies that Employ Passion

Figuring out how to tap into your student’s various passions can go a long way toward motivating students to learn. But how can you adopt this student-centered effective teaching strategy?
Today on TeachHUB.com, frequent contributing writer Janelle Cox, also an East Coast-based educator, tells website visitors how to recognize students’ passions using a technique called Genius Hour.
Genius Hour is a time-honored classroom technique in which students explore their own passions, share them with their classmates, and therefore become that much more invested in the educational process.
Genius Hour does require that students brainstorm their own projects (and generally, there is no due date or deadline). Some sample projects include:
  • How to throw a football like a quarterback.
  • How to make a bow for your hair.
  • How to create a website.
  • What is makeup made of?
  • How does a plane fly?

These projects are worked on for approximately one hour per week, until completion (keep in mind the no deadline mandate).
What do you think of Genius Hour? Have you tried in your classroom?
Get our ideas on introducing Genius Hour to your class>>
Creative Literature Projects Students Love
Regardless of whether it’s the best of times or the worst of times, sometimes it’s hard to get students engaged in classic literature. Let’s face it: “The Great Gatsby” simply isn’t great to everyone: Some students will inevitably find the text boring and outdated.
So how does a good English teacher get kids engaged with a book like “The Catcher in the Rye”?
We recently listed out some time-honored tips for engaging kids with classic texts, including:
  • Throw a “Great Gatsby” party
  • Make a “Fahreneit 451” mug shot gallery
  • Have students make “Romeo and Juliet”-type masks to attend a Capulet party
  • And more!

What do you do to put an extra twist to your assignments and lesson plans?

Technology in the Classroom: 10 Ways to Use Thinglink

If you’re like us, the onslaught of technology in the classroom trends can be overwhelming, and it’s easy to forget about a time-honored technology in the classroom tool when bright, shiny new applications and tools are being unveiled every day.

So today on TeachHUB.com, frequent contributing writer Jacqui Murray, who is a veteran technology teacher in California, takes a look at Thinglink, which she describes thusly: “It is an interactive media platform that allows students to use multimedia content and links to share their knowledge and tell their story by tagging images or videos with hotspots that include additional information.”

Jacqui points out 10 ways that educators can use Thinglink, including:
  1. Create infographics and graphic organizers to visually explain a complex topic.
  2. Design and share interactive digital posters.
  3. Write a digital storybook with a connect-the-dots Thinglink (replace with color-coded hotspots or numbers, which may require an upgrade).
  4. Curate resources for a topic or project and share with students.
Jacqui sums up her article like this: “Thinglink makes differentiation easy, as students select the tools that work best for their communication style.”
Get our ways to use Thinglink as part of your technology in the classroom repertoire>>

Teaching Strategies that Use Sticky Notes
Post-it notes – those square pieces of paper that stick to many surfaces and remind us of what we need to do next – can also be used as helpful classroom devices that can help us further connect with students!
Today on TeachHUB.com, frequent contributing writer Jordan Catapano,, himself an English teacher in the suburbs of Chicago, takes a look at some alternative ways that sticky notes can enhance your classroom experience. His ideas include:
•    Annotating books and articles
•    Brainstorming
•    And more!
Jordan sums up his ideas with this paragraph: “What I love about sticky-notes is that their size, colors, cost, and you-can-put-me-anywhere qualities provide limitless applications. Whether for myself, colleagues, or students, these sticky-notes offer a multitude of easy opportunities to improve thinking and collaboration.”
How do you use post-it notes?

The Teacher Spillover Effect

Great teaching is contagious, according to a new study.

A recent study from the National Bureau of Economic Research has shown that adding an accomplished teacher to a teaching team or department has a strong beneficial effect on student achievement. Many have reported this as “old news”, since most teachers could tell you that good teachers help students to do better work.

What is the Teacher Spillover Effect?

But, there is a more significant message in the paper–the effect on student performance was indirect. That is, the other teachers on the team became more effective due to the presence of a skilled colleague. The authors attribute this change to raised standards and opportunities to observe and learn from highly capable teachers nearby.

10 Fun Teaching Strategies for Current Events

For many children, the events of the world around us are foreign and of little interest. In a world where celebrity-driven “news” and meaningless cat videos are the norm, teaching current events via an old-school newspaper can still go a long way toward getting kids to pay attention to the happenings of the globe around us.
But teachers are still committed to illuminating their charges to at least have a passing knowledge of current events, hence that topic’s steadfast remaining at the top of classroom activities. So how do teachers make something as esoteric as current events exciting and relevant?
Today’s centerpiece article on TeachHUB.com addresses current events and making them interesting and relevant. Penned by Janelle Cox, a frequent contributor to TeachHUB.com (and a seasoned educator based on the East Coast), the article lays out 10 teaching strategies to create activities that utilize the newspaper.
Janelle’s articles include:
  • Current Events Scavenger Hunt
  • Is it Newsworthy?
  • Become an Editor
  • Opinion Page
  • And More!

Janelle ends today’s articles like this, in a paragraph with the subhead, “Captain This”:  “The newspaper is known for its amazing, catchy captions. Cut out a dozen photographs from your local newspaper and challenge students to come up with a caption as well as an article just by looking at one of the pictures. Encourage students to use their imaginations and remind them to address the 5 W’s: the who, what, when, where, and why for their article. Before sending students off to get creative, read a few captivating newspaper captions and taglines. This will help students come up with something that will really catch the reader’s eye.”

How do you teach current events in your classroom? Share your ideas with us!

And the Cheating Continues…

Caught another one red handed…

Every semester, I catch at least one student whose pulled nearly an entire paper from one or more websites. Typically, it’s not too hard to figure out when you’re reading work that didn’t come from the student. The funniest example was a few years ago when the girl failed to remove the Wikipedia hyperlinks… I mean, that’s just the epitome of laziness, right?

Say Goodbye to Grade Levels?

A Colorado district is taking differentiated instruction to a whole new level – little red school house style.

This year, Adams 50 in Denver shifted to this grade-free approach to learning. Children have more control over their lessons and do not move on until they’ve become proficient in the subject.

School Holiday Party Ideas

Is it just me or have school holiday parties transformed from fun, casual celebrations to PC-pressure cookers?

  • I’m questioning all my activities to make sure they don’t cross any lines:

~ Are games, crafts, movies or projects too religious (do Santa and reindeer cross a line; should I just stick with a winter theme? How many snow flakes can we really make).

~ Should I still try to knock out the next step in my curriculum even though the kids are totally checked out before break?

~ Can I include snacks? (With health food initiatives at a lot of schools, do parties have to be all fruits and veggies? Should we decorate apples like they’re snowman faces instead of doing cookies and other sugary fare?)

Holiday parties may be getting a little dicier, but luckily there are tons of resources and activities out there to knock your students’ candy-cane-striped socks off – whatever your grade level or school rules!

Best of 2009

Help! Looking for ideas for a “Best of 2009 – Teacher edition.”

What moments stood out this year? What major events happened in the news that effected students and teachers?

It could be fun or newsworthy or a personal story. Just looking for fun things to share as we look back at 09 and look ahead to 2010.

Final Grade Complaints

My grades were due this morning. They’re posted and done and I AM FREE (for a few weeks at least.)

Since reporting final grades online this weekend, suddenly students I haven’t heard from all term are coming out of the woodwork to contest their grades. I’m trying to find the balance between my tough teacher side that is annoyed at these 11th hour ploys and my softy side that wants to make sure students stay in college and keep their financial aid…

The Invisible Student:
I got a franctic email from one student who has completed exactly one post on the discussion board and zero assignments (I teach online, so blackboard is my classroom). Every semester, there are always a few students who sign up and never do anything. I can’t figure out why these students don’t drop, despite my annoying email reminders and updates, but there are always a few.

Anyway, this particular student claims that she’s been doing the work all term and doesn’t know why I didn’t get it. She also claims that she has not received the dozens of updates and reminders I send to students with missing work. Nor has she noticed that no one has ever replied to her phantom posts on the discussion board. As we email back and forth, she never actually sends me any of her work or explains how this is possible other than blaming weird internet service.

One word: BIZARRE. This may be some kind of blackboard black hole that I don’t understand, so I’m trying not too assume she’s full of it. Regardless, no dice.

If this was an in-class class, it’s like a student came up to me to say she’s been invisible all term and I should have noticed…

The Guilt-Tripper Student:
Student 2 completed all major assignments and showed some improvement through the term. If he had done the class work, he’d probably be at the B/C level… but he only ever did half the weekly participation requirement. (They have three posts per week. He usually did 1 or 2).

This resulted in a 50% participation grade at midterm which was posted two months ago. I make participation a big part of the grade because I’m a tough paper-grader, so I stress (to an annoying degree) the importance of participating in the online discussion.

So Sunday night, about 12 hours before I have to report final grades to the university, this student is emailing me begging to boost his grade by 3%, claiming he could lose his financial aid. Part of me feels bad and wants to help make sure he keeps going to school, the other part of me is furious that he’s pulling this at the 11th hour so there’s now way he can actually make up the missing work. He just wants me to give it to him because I feel bad and I just can’t do it.

The Model Student:
This last student story is kililng me because I want to help, but I can’t get in touch with her. My “model student” worked extremely hard all term, did all her class work and put effort into the writing assignments. At times, she struggled with the work, but she did her best.

Last week, she told me her final paper was late because she had a legit excuse, so I told her to make sure she got in everything by the end of last week. I’ve contacted her a few times, but never heard back. Without the missing finals (essay/exam) or discussing some kind of “incomplete” grade extension, there is nothing I can do.

I can’t give her a higher grade without getting her work in because that’s not fair to the other students. As a college student, she has to take responsibility, right? If that’s true, why do I still feel bad?

How do you deal with students (or parents) contesting grades? Share in the comments section!

Top 12 Most Popular Education Articles in 2009

It’s that time of year where countdowns are everywhere, so we’re here to share the most popular education articles that ran on TeachHUB this year.
Here are the top 12 TeachHUB Articles of 2009 based on your visits:
Thanks to advances in technology, we can now actually view the brain as it learns through neuroimaging and brain-mapping studies. This is one of the most exciting areas is brain-based memory research available today.

Based on my background as a neurologist and my experience as a classroom teacher, I’ve created this list of tips for any teacher to integrate brain-based learning strategies. Hopefully, you’ll find these connections between the research and strategies NEURO-LOGICAL. read more

Thanks to the ARRA Stimulus, the state of education spending is about to transform from widespread budget freezes to flash flood of funding. And you’re going to have to account for every last drop.

TeachHUB is here to help you navigate the waters. read more

(Mind you, this guide was published before the funds were released and represents how the stimulus was planned and meant to be spent, not what actually happned.)
Call it “active learning,” or “classroom participation” — every teacher wants more involved students and fewer apathetic ones. With a little extra planning, that is possible.
Below are four common reasons students don’t participate and techniques to solve those problems and spice up your lessons. read more
A third grade teacher once told me the mother of one of his students left twenty-minute messages on his voice mail every day and showed up in his classroom unannounced. A middle school teacher who gave an exam the day after Halloween said she received an e-mail from a parent containing a four-paragraph poem titled, “The Grinch That Stole Halloween.”

Adversarial parents can create frustration and impede your progress with their child. To foster positive relationships with your students’ parents and encourage their cooperation and support, try the following three-part approach: read more
Looking to liven up your centers? Let your students play games!

That’s right, games have educational value. They provide opportunities for students to develop both social and academic skills. Just like working on a project in cooperative groups, interactive games require that students communicate, stay on task, take turns, and rely on higher-level thinking skills.

Here are twelve classic games and reasons to incorporate them into your curriculum: read more
When you get a call from a school administrator inviting you to interview for a teaching job, how do you feel? Happy? Elated? Excited? Nervous? Scared stiff?

You don’t need to worry about the interview if you’re a well-prepared, qualified candidate. Preparing for a teaching interview is a lot like studying for a test. You can review commonly asked questions, think about what you’ll say beforehand, and go in to do your best.

Below is a list of six commonly asked teacher interview questions. How would you answer each question? read more
With inclusion on the rise, teachers are sharing classrooms more than ever and becoming an effective co-teaching partner is a teaching essential.
Several collaborative teaching approaches have proven to be successful to guide educators who work together in co-teaching partnerships to differentiate instruction. The approaches include: read more
If there is one thing we know about kids, it’s that they have short attention spans and prefer now to later.

Teachers, more than any district or schoolwide programs, have the most power to motivate students because they’re on the front lines. They can influence students in a way that kids can actually understand: here, now, today, in this room. read more
Does this sound familiar?

You labored all night creating a thoughtful, engaging lesson. You were confident that your students would enjoy it, only to have your excitement—and theirs—dashed by the antics of a handful of students. You spent all your time writing names on the board, calling out troublemakers’ names, and “ssshh-ing” them.

Instead of pulling your hair out in frustration, give these Classroom Management “Dos” and “Don’ts” a try: read more
After polling teachers, checking box office numbers, critical reviews and teacher forums, we’ve compiled a list of the Top 12 must see teacher movies.

They appear in no particular order. read more
Looking good does not come easily for those of us at the head of the class.

Teachers face some serious fashion challenges. Full days on your feet surrounded by dry erase markers, crowded hallways and dirty students’ hands don’t bode well for high-priced, high-concept style. Nor does a teacher salary or insanely busy schedules. It’s hard to find time to think much less plan the perfect outfit.

To help, we’ve collected the Top 12 Fall Fashion Tips just for teachers.
Break out of your wardrobe rut this fall and bring practical and affordable style back into the classroom! read more
It’s Google’s world, we’re just teaching in it.

Now, we can use it a little easier. With classes, homework, and projects–not to mention your social life–time is truly at a premium for all teachers, so why not take advantage of the wide world that Google has to offer?

From super-effective search tricks to Google tools specifically for education to tricks and tips for using Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Calendar, these tricks will surely save you some precious time. read more
Thanks to everyone who visited TeachHUB in 2009! We hope to keep bringing you the best in education news in 2010. Please email me with suggestions for articles or if you are interested in contributing at acondron@teachhub.com.
Please share your favorite education-related articles (whether they’re from TeachHUB or not) in the comments section.
Happy New Year!