Day: April 18, 2020

Answering The Question of Common National Standards

While teachers and classrooms are doing everything they can to differentiate and personalize instruction for every student, policy-makers are focusing on creating uniform standards across the map. Are these seemingly divergent paths moving in the right direction?

As a trend or hot topic in education, common or “national” standards have always been one of those ideas that resurface every few years. This time, they seem to be gaining momentum.

TeachHUB 2.0

Since we launched the TeachHUB resource site for K-12 educators last April, we’ve made a lot of big changes to **hopefully** make TeachHUB as useful, fun and teacher-friendly as possible.
I wanted to let you know about theses changes and ask for your help and advice as we continue trying to make TeachHUB a valuable resource for you and your fellow teachers.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The revamped Teacher Recommendations page should make it a lot easier to find and share you favorite things.
You can now click through tons of the best Teacher sites with a brief description, recommendation from a teacher and a grade.
We’ve also added an on-site Amazon Teacher Store –
That way, you get Amazon’s low prices, but all front-page items are recommended by teachers and the categories will give you much smaller haystacks to find your needles!
  • Grade-level specific
  • Subject-specific
  • Ed Tech
  • Grade-level books
  • Teacher Organization
  • Coaching
Please check it out and send me your recommendations!
INSIDER DEALS
  • Discounted Masters programs – we’ve arranged through universities around the country that meet one-night-a-week at local schools,
  • Reduced Price on Pop Culture Lesson Plans – now only $9.95 from $29.95
  • Members-Only Deals Coming Soon: we’re also working with other education companies, authors and websites to get members exclusive deals.

My question to you is: what are you looking for deals on? We’ll track down your favorites and get you a discount. Just ask!

ON-SITE PD
With school and district budgets tightening, teachers have told us they aren’t being allowed to pick their own professional development days, schools won’t pay for it and sometimes, they don’t even have the budget for a sub if you pay for your own workshop.
This means that most professional development is moving to in-school PD, which takes the choice out of your hands and into administrators.
To get your voice heard, recommend topics and speakers to us AND to your administration. We post the top teacher-recommended topics on the Professional Development page. We can also help your principal find the best teacher to tackle that topic.
OLD GOODIES
We’ve still got all the TeachHUB staples –
  • daily featured article
  • latest teacher blogs
  • featured Pop Lesson Plans
  • YouTube video writing prompts
But now you find the latest on the homepage.
Don’t forget to visit these fun, but sometimes forgotten features:
Contests & Giveaways
The new contests and giveaways should be rolled out next week. One hint: you may want to get out your pom-poms and spirit stick!

Please share any recommendations you have in the comments section! Thanks for visiting the site and for your help 🙂

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

Classroom Management: Using Gaming Elements

Educators should take cues from video game designers and incorporate some of the bells and whistles that designers use to energize their classes, according to frequent TeachHUB.com contributor Janelle Cox.
Janelle’s article today outlines several ways that teachers can employ tactics of gamification, or using the principles of gaming to motivate and engage students.
Some ways that teachers can use gamification include:
  • Have a Clear Goal.
  • Recognize Achievement with Badges.
  • Scaffolding Progress.

What do you think about gamification? Do you use gamification elements in your classroom?
Learn How to Incorporate Elements of Gaming into Your Classroom Management Techniques>>
Classroom Activities for Novel Writing Month
November is National Novel Writing Mart, or NaNoWriMo. It’s a month when potential book authors are encouraged to pen an entire book (at least 50,000 words).
It’s the perfect time for English teachers to explore and encourage longer-form composition pieces, and today on TeachHUB.com, frequent contributor Jordan Catapano outlines several ways that teachers can increase their class’ interest in NaNoWriM, including:
  • Bring in juice and treats.
  • Encourage students to share their works-in-progress aloud.
  • Work in a computer lab or bring laptops into your classroom if possible; if not, have a safe way for students to store their paper copies so nothing is lost.
  • Create your own system of rewards and milestones. My suggestion would be to go with badges.

Discover More Ways to Celebrate National Novel Writing Month in Your Class>>
TeachHUB’s Anti-Bullying Resources

Meanwhile, remember that TeachHUB.com is a go-to resource when looking for anti-bullying material. Here are some evergreen resources we’ve compiled over the years:
•   Create a Culture of Anti-Bullying
•   Anti-Bullying Advice for Educators
•   Anti-Bullying Strategies, By Grade
•   Using Children’s Literature as Anti-Bullying Material
Did you know that TeachHUB’s in-service professional development program can include an anti-bullying focus?  
In a TeachHUB in-service day, teachers will participate in various anti-bullying activities and learn strategies they can use to help prevent and intervene with bullying behavior and participate in modeled exercises to create self-awareness within a child.
Teachers will learn how other educators are encouraging anti-bullying behavior in and outside of the classroom across the country.
Why book an in-service day through TeachHUB.com? 
TeachHUB.com professional educators can help you design original seminars to fit your school, district and teachers\’ needs
•   Established seminars can be brought to your school or district
•   Wide variety of speakers and topics
•   We work within your budget and schedule
•   Superior customer service and accessibility
But our expertise isn’t limited to just anti-bullying seminars. We’re also prepared to address differentiated instruction strategies, tiered activities, inclusive education and more!

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

Classroom Management for Noncompliant Students

Noncompliant students can sink even the best-made lesson plans. Oftentimes these kids are disruptive, lack motivation, and as a result, perform poorly.
However, with a little planning and knowledge, you can use some classroom management techniques to overcome those noncompliant students and bring about a more positive learning environment.
Janelle Cox, a TeachHUB.com contributing writer who also has moonlighted as an elementary teacher in Upstate New York, looks at classroom management strategies you can use to overcome noncompliant students in today’s centerpiece website article.
Janelle’s ideas include:
  • Model Positive Behaviors
  • Be an Active Listener
  • Ask Questions
  • And More!

Janelle sums up her article thusly: “No one ever said that managing noncompliant students would be easy. You have to remember that like everything in life, it will take some time and patience. However, when you implement these teaching strategies (more than one at a time is recommended), then you can change a student’s unwanted behavior.”
Do you have any classroom management tips on how to deal with noncompliant students? Please share your thoughts on the topic in the comment section. We would love to hear your thoughts.
Get our classroom management ideas designed for noncompliant students>>
Download TeachHUB Magazine for FREE Today!
In a recent issue of TeachHUB magazine, we spelled out some GREAT gift ideas for your teaching colleagues for under $5 – but our ideas are NOT the typical coffee mug fare.
Likewise, we take a looked at three smart boards you may want to incorporate into your classroom, and offer up some tasty holiday treats guaranteed to bring a smile to the faces of your guests.
Did you know TeachHUB magazine is FREE? It is, and it’s a wonderful resource designed to help you become a better educator.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCzOJDJZHoBttdHAjJsnN9w?sub_confirmation=1

Classroom Management: Handling Sensitive TopicsClassroom 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.
How do you approach more sensitive topics in your classroom?
Learn some classroom management tips on how to handle sensitive topics in your classroom>>
Teacher Interview Questions and Answers
We have become a tremendous resource for job seekers looking for a teaching job. One of our consistently popular articles, 6 Common Interview Questions for Teachers and How to Answer Them, offers up the most popular teacher interview questions according to our educational experts, and gives suggestions on well-thought-out answers.
Other helpful employment-related articles we’ve published include How to Survive a Group Interview, 3 Proven Ways to Get a Teaching Job, and Interview Disasters and How to Avoid Them. Study these articles and ace your way through the hiring process!
Get our tips on how to survive a tough interview>>
Mistakes on School Websites You Must Avoid at All Costs
A school website acts a conduit between that institution and its students and their parents (even grandparents). Therefore, it’s imperative that a school have a living and breathing website that is easy to navigate, among other things.
Recentlyon TeachHUB.com, guest contributor Matt Harrell examined the five most-common school website mistakes, including:
•    Outdated Technology
•    No Testimonials
•    Too Much Text
What nervewracking things on school websites drive you crazy?
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCzOJDJZHoBttdHAjJsnN9w?sub_confirmation=1

Classroom Overcrowding: It’s Not Just a Numbers Game

In my nearly 20 years teaching in my district, we’ve had several occasions to protest, trying to make our board of education sit up and take notice. One button read “Grossmont Students Lose With Class Size of 34 to One.” It’s black printing on a bright yellow button. I have it pinned to my bulletin board.

Now, I’d give almost anything to have 34 students in my classroom. This year, I have 40 in every single section (that’s five sections…200 kids.) I’m sure one or two may drop eventually, but there’s no way to know.

When I tell colleagues that I have 40 students per section, the first reaction is disbelief. Surely I’ve counted wrong? No, afraid not.

In my son’s elementary school, things aren’t much better. He is in third grade, and has 30 little souls in his classroom. Two teachers share the contract for his classroom, and they do an outstanding job. Still, handling 30 8-year-olds is a feat, and trying to teach them something? Well, miracles happen every day. 

With this disturbing trend, schools, teachers and most importantly students are learning the devastating effects of overcrowded classrooms.

ELL Strategies that Work for the Whole Class

English-Language Learners are one of the fastest growing student populations in the United States: in fact, the percentage of ELL students grew 60% between 1995 and 2005, according to the New York Times.

Many teachers worry about effectively teaching English learners while still meeting the needs of their other students. Here are some classroom strategies are actually good for both types of students.

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

Top 12 Teaching Passions

As the new school year begins, there are plenty of rituals that teachers observe: the trips to office supply stores for those things that we “need” in the year ahead, the faculty meetings to welcome everyone back, and the inevitable classroom preparations that we look forward to every fall.

When that first bell rings, I want to be motivated, inspired, and contagiously happy. One ritual I\’m using to achieve that mindset is creating a list of twelve things that make me passionate for the profession: 

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

Classroom Management: Lesson Planning Made Easy

NOV
9

Classroom Management: Lesson Planning Made Easy

Lesson planning is the key to the castle, in terms of education: Every component of the educational process is dependent upon successful and well-executed lesson plans. It’s imperative, therefore, that educators be well-acclimated to the classroom management techniques required to create effective lessons.
A lot goes into lesson plans: Addressing students’ learning objectives, incorporating engaging activities, and checking for student understanding. Today on TeachHUB.com, frequent contributing writer Janelle Cox, who is a seasoned elementary school educator based on the East Coast, takes a look at some fresh ways to create your lesson plans, including:
  • Borrow Lessons
  • Buy Lessons
  • Download an App
  • And More!

Janelle sums up her article in this manner: “Whether you build, borrow, buy, or create your own lessons, the ultimate goal is to ensure that students are learning from the lessons. Whatever approach you choose is up to you. The lesson plan doesn’t have to be an exhaustive document of every single detail you plan to do with the students. Nor does it have to explain in detail what or how the students will respond. It just needs to provide you with a general outline of your goals and objectives.”
What are your go-to classroom management ways to make lesson planning easier on yourself? Feel free to share with us in the comment section of the article, we’d love to hear what works for you and your classroom.
A few ways to make the most out of lesson planning>>
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Each week, we send out an e-newsletter featuring the best articles and ideas from teachHUB.com. It’s the perfect way for you to keep up with what’s new each and every week – and it’s delivered straight to your inbox!
The TeachHUB.com newsletter also offers up an array of new lesson plans each week, and we spotlight the hottest trending articles from our website as well!

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