Month: April 2020

Teaching Strategies to Involve Parents

One of the best time-tested ways to build up the academic abilities of students is by creating teaching strategies that engage parents. When mom or dad (or both) gets actively involved in the classroom setting, it almost always leads to report card success. The publication School Community Journal even acknowledges, \”There is a sizable body of research literature supporting the involvement of parents in educational settings and activities.\”
Of course, getting parents involved in your class is no easy task. But today on TeachHUB.com, frequent contributing writer Jacqui Murray, who is also a technology teacher, outlines several ways that educators can engage parents in their classroom goings-on, including:
  • Create a family-friendly environment
  • Hold parent classes
  • Communicate with parents
  • And more!

Overall, Jacqui notes that in addition to their classroom roles and teaching strategies, teachers need to be parent resources and that they need to be accessible to them.
How do you involve parents in your classes? How successful is this effort?
Learn more teaching strategies that will engage parents>>
Top 12 Things You Learned In School That Your Students Won’t
One of the most-commented upon articles we’ve ever published has been a rundown of the top 12 things that “older” folks learned in school that are now viewed as practically academically obsolete.
Some of these endangered classroom species include:
  • Cursive writing
  • Typing
  • Paper-based reference materials
  • And more

Are you fighting to keep these lessons alive in your classroom? What did we miss on the list?
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCzOJDJZHoBttdHAjJsnN9w?sub_confirmation=1

One of the best time-tested ways to build up the academic abilities of students is by creating teaching strategies that engage parents. When mom or dad (or both) gets actively involved in the classroom setting, it almost always leads to report card success. The publication School Community Journal even acknowledges, "There is a sizable body of research literature supporting the involvement of parents in educational settings and activities." Of course, getting parents involved in your class is no easy task. But today on TeachHUB.com, frequent contributing writer Jacqui Murray, who is also a technology teacher, outlines several ways that educators can engage parents in their classroom goings-on, including: Create a family-friendly environment Hold parent classes Communicate with parents And more! Overall, Jacqui notes that in addition to their classroom roles and teaching strategies, teachers need to be parent resources and that they need to be accessible to them. How do you involve parents in your classes? How successful is this effort? Learn more teaching strategies that will engage parents>> Top 12 Things You Learned In School That Your Students Won’t One of the most-commented upon articles we’ve ever published has been a rundown of the top 12 things that “older” folks learned in school that are now viewed as practically academically obsolete. Some of these endangered classroom species include: Cursive writing Typing Paper-based reference materials And more Are you fighting to keep these lessons alive in your classroom? What did we miss on the list?

Back in the day, multitasking was a badge of honor amongst educators. The more things a teacher could handle at once—grading papers, creating a curriculum, disciplining students – the better he or she was at the educational profession.
But that mindset has been eroded over time. These days, studies have shown that concentrating on one task at a time makes humans much more effective in any working environment, not just the classroom.
Today on TeachHUB.com, frequent contributor Jordan Catapano  spells out the downfalls of multitasking. Jordan notes several common multitasking pitfalls, including:
  • You’re more likely to produce errors
  • Your creativity is diminished
  • Your IQ actually decreases
  • And more!

All in all, Jordan notes that teachers (and all other professions) should stop honoring multitasking, and quit pretending that it works: “Technically speaking, it’s impossible for our brains to do two major tasks at once. What we’re really doing when we think we’re multitasking is “task switching,” which means we alternate between tasks,” Jordan notes.
What are your tricks to increase focus and limit multitasking with yourself and your students?
Learn about the problems with multitasking>>
Yoga Pants & the School Dress Code
Dress code debates and figuring out acceptable attire have been around since the invention of school. Today, fashionable female students are donning Yoga pants, those tight, form-fitting-yet-comfy piece of apparel that pushes the boundaries of the school dress code in many districts.
In many circles, Yoga pants, spaghetti straps, bare midriffs, and the like are viewed as being distracting to male students, a point that is well-taken by many in the education field.
Still others argue that “dictating that young women change their appearance because they are ‘distracting’ men inherently objectifies them, and it teaches girls to be ashamed of their bodies.”
So the debate rages on. Today on TeachHUB.com, frequent contributor Jordan Catapano (also a high school English teacher) points out the arguments on both sides of the pantleg (his joke) in a great think piece that will get you to respect both debate teams. Check it out – it’s an excellent school dress code op-ed article.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCzOJDJZHoBttdHAjJsnN9w?sub_confirmation=1

Teaching Strategies: About Reader’s Theater

For the uninitiated, reader’s theater is a wonderful, creative way for teachers to bolster a sense of enthusiasm in students’ reading curriculum. Basically, reader’s theater involves students adapting a piece of literature to be “performed” in front of your class.
Frequent TeachHUB.com contributing writer Janelle Cox defines this teaching strategy as, “Reader’s theater is much more than just putting on a play. Remember that students are using the repeated reading strategy which enhances their reading fluency. It is also using cooperative learning, problem-solving skills, and not to mention the common core learning standards of speaking and listening.
At first, these types of teaching strategies might seem like they would involve a ton of classroom time. But in actuality, with just 20 minutes, a teacher can plan a beautifully engaging piece of reader’s theater.
The key is to fit your prep time into the normal part of your teaching day. Today, Janelle explains how educators can pull off some of these exciting classroom teaching strategies, including:
  • Use reader’s theater as part of your literacy center rotations.
  • Match your scripts to the learning standards of other subjects like social studies.
  • Have students put on their production first thing in the morning.
  • And more!

In closing, Janelle notes that reader’s theater is an excellent tactic to increase your kids’ listening, reading, and thinking skills in an engaging new way.
Do you do a reader’s theater in your classroom? What tips do you have that work well for your class?
Get our reader’s theater teaching strategies>>
Technology in the Classroom: 50 Ways to Use Twitter
We’re always on the lookout for new ways that technology in the classroom can be leverages to maximize student involvement, and Twitter continues to evolve as a worthwhile tool in a teacher’s arsenal to further engage kids.
At first glance, it might seem as though Twitter, with its 140-character limitation, is too shallow to be used by teachers in a meaningful way.
However, one of the consistently most popular articles on TeachHUB.com recently has been our rundown of 50 ways to successfully use Twitter in an academic setting. Some examples:
  • Track a hash tag
  • Write a story
  • Write a poem
  • Engage parents
  • And more!

Using technology in the classroom like Twitter can create a nurturing environment for students of all ages.

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

Holiday Gifts for Teachers

We all have received the clunker holiday gifts, the ones that don’t even survive the holiday season before they are banished to the refuse bin. We’ve all also received that perfect gift, the one that brings tears to our eyes and that we can use again and again, even through the years.
Today on TeachHUB.com, we look at holiday gifts for teachers, and how to gift the perfect item or act to make the season that much brighter. Frequent contributing writer Jacqui Murray, who is a longtime tech teacher based in Northern California, is the author today, and she notes that some of the most-popular gift items for teachers on your list can include:
  • A Helping Hand
  • Tech Help
  • A Thank-You Letter
  • Holiday Food
  • And More!

But that’s not all! Jacqui also points out some not-so-good holiday gift ideas (and why they are clunkers), including:
  1. Homemade food (lots of people worry about how well these are made. Me, I\’ve actually gotten food poisoning from homemade food).
  2. Intimate gifts (teachers just don\’t know you enough for this).
  3. Jewelry (what\’s beautiful to you might not be to the teacher).
Jacqui sums up her article in this manner: “Remember: You don\’t have to give gifts. Often, a heartfelt greeting or holiday card is as meaningful as a bar of expensive soap or a holiday ornament for the tree. One of my favorite gifts was a framed Thank You to me from a student. I displayed that for years, until I retired and now it has a place of honor in my home office. Whatever you give, make it from your heart, with your love, and carrying a personal meaning.”

What holiday gifts would you add to out list? Let us know in the comment section below the actual article on TeachHUB.com, we would enjoy reading your ideas!

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

WHAT IS A SOCIAL ATS?

If you’re thinking of changing your ATS from yesteryear for something more social what should you be looking out for?
So many of the older systems “claim” to be social but posting a job on Twitter is hardly leading edge and unlikely to close off your social recruiting strategy in one tweet.
If you think about the workplace 10 years ago when the ATS first appeared people were still getting used to using technology as part of their job; having a process seemed to be a good idea to make adoption easier. But fast forward to 2013 and everyone from delivery drivers to the CEO use some kind of desktop or hand held device to get some or all of their work done. With all the millions of users on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Xing, Viadeo, Qzone and many more, people are being “trained for free” on how to use technology to communicate, collaborate, share, like, comment etc.
With all of this free training going on, the social ATS needs to take note so if you are looking to buy one you need to consider:
  1. Outbound messages.
  2. Inbound candidate experience.
  3. Leveraging your network.
  4. Making the “process” social.

Outbound messages

Job boards have been posting their jobs to free aggregator sites such as SimplyHired and Indeed for many years but they are also now using social channels to expand their reach to connect with candidates elsewhere (not posting jobs but “talking” to candidates – Corporate Recruiters take note!).
Corporate recruiters continue to post to the job boards AND post to the social channels which has driven the ATS vendors to add this into their systems to stake their social claim. Posting jobs is all well and good but unless supplemented with some conversation it won’t get you far.
The job boards still lead the way in online job advertising but can only continue if the corporate recruiter lets them. And if you have a big enough budget.

Inbound candidate experience

So you’ve got the candidate interested via a social channel but what happens when they land on your job advert? Is it words, words and more words or is it more social?
  • Can the candidate see who else they know at your company?
  • Can they watch a video about the job?
  • Can they easily share the job across their network if they want to?
  • Can they start the application process with their social profile of choice?
Recruiters need to start creating job adverts that their marketing department would be proud of. The Internet offers so much more than just text and bullet points yet recruitment is still relying on these simple methods to convert great candidates into hires.
Imagine Facebook without photos or videos; it would be pretty dull and boring!

Making the most out of your network

Social search is not a new concept but it has generally been a separate function offered by a very small number of vendors that are disconnected from the ATS. Today when a recruiter has a job to fill they need be able to market (post) their job and leverage their hard earned network all within a single system. Such as:
  • Search their ATS database AND their LinkedIn network.
  • Share a job across their LinkedIn connections; not just any old connections but those that actually match the job!
  • Match the job to internal employees and ask them to share across their network; hoping for like-minded people.
Having a social contact list is great but being able to leverage it from within a single system is where you really need to be.
Many contact lists + one system = social recruiting success.

Making the process social

Of course there is no process with social. People choose how they work and flit around without a care in the world. By removing any real process social has made it easier but also more complex. So it’s a double edged sword.
Drop off rates of candidates viewing jobs vs. applying are notoriously high but by making the experience from “job to hire” easier can only be a good thing. Assuming of course that everyone does their bit to ensure the right person is hired and the ATS can sift through and find the best applicants quickly and easily.
The Line Manager is critical so the easier it is for them to comment, like (or not), share with their team etc. the more likely the Recruiter will get a quick response and make that hire before the competition do.
The type of organisation that has an ATS is likely to use an internal social platform such as Salesforce Chatter or Yammer. If the ATS does not follow suit the Recruiter will find themselves struggling to get the Line Manager to jump through hoops to download a candidate CV that can’t be read on their mobile!

Talking social at iRecruit

So there are some of my views on the social ATS but if you have your own please come and see us at iRecruit on June 20 and 21 in Amsterdam.  We’d love to hear what you think.
You can also read my previous post on the Cornerstone Blog:  The Story of the Corporate Applicant Tracking System.

Interview Questions for Teachers: Preparing, Rethinking

One of TeachHUB.com’s most-popular topics through the years has been getting a teaching job – whether it’s interviewing, interview questions for teachers, or simply preparing a cover letter.
Most of us can still remember the horror that accompanies job interviews and their accompanying interview questions for teachers, and how we answered them. But those questions (and your answers) are worth revisiting, time and again, throughout the course of your teaching career.
With this revisionist mindset in place, today on TeachHUB.com, frequent contributing writer Jordan Catapano, a seasoned English teacher in the Chicago suburbs, takes a look at preparing for, and executing, that elusive job interview.
Jordan’s tips for preparation include:
·      Find top-notch examples of assignments, activities, student work, and contributions to the school community.
·      Describe our personality, style, accolades, and contributions via a résumé.
·      Create a physical or digital portfolio showcasing work.
His tips for the self-interview, also an important component of preparation, include:
·      Take one of your “best” methods and find one way you can incorporate this more.
·      Examine one weakness you had trouble talking about and do something that you’d be proud to talk about in an interview.
You should also take on a certain amount of self-reflection during the interview preparation process, including remembering success with certain assignments and/or curriculum additions.
In summation, Jordan notes: “Whether on your own or with colleagues, it’s important to continually reflect on who we are and who we’re becoming as educators. One way is to put yourself back in an interview situation, project who it is you’d be as the perfect teacher, and then take small steps towards realizing that vision. Try it out and have fun!”
What questions would you ask yourself if you were considering hiring you? What would you struggle or rejoice to answer?

Anti-Bullying Strategies to Advocate for Students

Too frequently, bullied students are stuck battling their bullies and the ancillary issues related to it on their own.
So today on TeachHUB.com, frequent contributing writer Janelle Cox, using a cue for the National Education Association, takes a look at some ways that teachers can be passionate advocates for their bullied students.
Janelle’s ideas include:
  • Always be available
  • Let your voice be heard
  • Develop specific strategies
  • And more!

Janelle sums up her essay like this: “Remember, your job as an advocate for bullied students can make a huge impact on how schools deal with bullying. Don’t be afraid to take a stand for what you believe in, and know that you are making a difference.”
How do you advocate for bullied students in your school? Do you have any specific ways that you found work well?
Get our anti-bullying strategies that advocated for the bullied students>>
10 Teaching Strategies to Improve Writing
Written communication is perhaps the important cornerstone of contemporary education. Teachers cannot emphasize enough the importance of students being able to demonstrate what they have learned via the written word.
Yet oftentimes, teachers her the common refrain of, “I can’t think of anything to write!”
Writer, educator and frequent TeachHUB.com contributor Janelle Cox recently offered up some helpful teaching strategies to make writing interesting and fun for all ages of learners, including:
  • Peer talks
  • Audio transcription
  • Story starters
  • And more

How do you get your students writing? Do you have any tips or tricks that you would like to share?
Get our teaching strategies to improve writing>>
Laws, Policies for Using Social Media in the Classroom
Once upon a time, using social media like Twitter and Facebook in the classroom was a no-no. 
But now, the cultural landscape has been fundamentally altered, and districts that once banned social media are figuring out how to us it in a safe, effective, and even educational manner.
Today, we outline some uses and limits for teachers to abide by when utilizing social media in the classroom.

Technology in the Classroom: Complete Class Organizer App Review

Complete Class Organizer helps your students keep their hectic student life on track in handy and useful ways.

For more great educational reviews targeted for both teachers and students, download your free issues of TeachHUB Magazine. 

Get our review of the Complete Class Organizer>>

Teaching Strategies About Being Positive

Research has shown that positive thoughts can be conducive to brining about a positive outcome to many situations.So today on TeachHUB.com, frequent contributing writer Janelle Cox, herself a seasoned educator in upstate New York, outlines some positive teaching strategies that educators can use to demonstrate positivity, and to steer kids away from the myriads of ways that negativity can permeate lives and mindsets.Janelle’s ideas (all of which are classroom activities) include:

  • Turn the negative into a positive
  • Write down the name of a person that has a good, positive attitude all the time. After they write a name down ask them what makes them think that and discuss further.
  • What are a few things that you can do to help you keep a positive outlook on life? Have students name at least three things.
  • And more!

In summation, Janelle says: “By offering students opportunities to practice positivity, you are helping them develop a positive attitude which can make a world of difference in their lives. Be reshaping their negative attitudes into positive ones, you are giving them the tools that will help contribute to their overall well-being.”

How do you encourage your students to be a positive person? Do you incorporate positivity into your classroom community?
Get our teaching strategies on encouraging positivity>>
How to Create a Curriculum Map
A curriculum map is a catch-all tool (really a process) that collects and records curriculum-related data that spotlights skills taught, content taught, and methodology and assessments used for each subject and grade.
Whew, that’s a mouthful for even the wonkiest of educational enthusiasts! But recently, frequent TeachHUB.com contributor Jacqui Murray, herself a technology teacher on the West Coast, took the time to explain what a curriculum map is, and how to design and use one effectively.
Jacqui noted that a curriculum map generally includes:
•    Specific skills
•    Assessments
•    Essential questions
•    Big ideas
•    Accommodations
•    Materials required
She also laid out the basics of how to create a curriculum map, guidelines which teachers of all ranges of expertise will find extremely helpful.
Jacqui summmed up her guide to curriculum maps thusly: “In a nutshell, curriculum mapping aligns and sequences skills within grade levels and from one grade level to the next. When you’ve finished your first year, you’ll be amazed how much better you understand the part your teaching plays in the school’s mission and the student’s goal of becoming a lifelong learner.”
How do you create a curriculum map for your class?

4th of July Jokes, Fun Facts & Classroom Games

To set off a little holiday fireworks of our own, today in TeachHUB.com we introduced some 4th of July jokes, fun facts, and classroom games for all ages!
Here’s a sample:

What would you get if you crossed a patriot with a small curly-haired dog?
Yankee Poodle

Make Room for the Hot Dogs!
More than 150 million hot dogs are consumed on the July 4. That’s roughly 1 dog for every two people in the U.S.

Share you favorite Independence Day jokes, fun facts, games or anything enjoyable for the season!

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?

Maintaining Healthy Children & Their Hygiene
Today on TeachHUB.com, we take a look at one of the aspects of teaching that isn’t necessarily emphasized in the collegiate educational curriculum: How to keep kids sanitary and maintain healthy children.
Indeed, by teaching kids about health and hygiene, we are empowering them to remain healthy children and we are teaching them how to prevent the spread of disease.
Janelle Cox, a frequent TeachHUB.com contributing writer with a strong educational background, today looks at some fun-yet-educational ways that teachers can use to emphasize the importance of cleanliness. These methods include a strong focus on hand-washing, which includes and experiment:
Challenge students to wash with only water, what happens? Does it do the job?
Then ask students to wash with only dry soap. Are their hands clean now?
Next instruct students to wet their hands and lather up. How clean are their hands now?
Janelle also notes that clean clothing can also lead to better hygiene, and she lays out a three-point, easily executable experiment that emphasizes the importance of sartorial cleanliness.
She wraps up her article thusly: “However you may feel about the topic, we can all agree that good habits means good health. By asking students to follow good hygiene habits in your classroom, you can keep your room free of infectious diseases and germs, and who wouldn’t want that?”
How do you teach your students the importance of health and hygiene? Do you think it should be taught in school or is it the parent’s job?

Multimedia Podcast: Coping with Stress

In this week’s multimedia podcast, we list out a few ideas that can go a long way toward removing stress from your teaching workday.
Learn more in this week’s podcast, from the always-free TeachHUB Magazine.
View the Podcast>>
Classroom Activities to Help Students Multiply

Any elementary educator knows that teaching multiplication is vnever easy. And recent research shows that even rote memorization, long since regarded as the holy grail of teaching multiplication tables, doesn’t always work for all students.

So today on TeachHUB.com, frequent contributing writer Janelle Cox, herself a seasoned educator on the East Coast, looks at some classroom activities that are designed to think outside the proverbial math box and make learning multiplication perhaps a little easier.

Janelle’s ideas include:

  • Multiplying by zero
  • Doubling facts
  • Seeing patterns
  • And more!

In summation, Janelle says: “Unfortunately, not all numbers fit into a pattern, or have a simple trick. These numbers will have to be memorized. The good news is that there are only about 10 of them, so all of the rest of the numbers will be quite easy for students to understand and remember using the tips and tricks from above.”

Do you have any multiplication tips or tricks that you teach your students?

Get our ideas on teaching multiplication>>


5 Summer Activities to Keep Students Learning
 
Students and teachers alike are anticipating the end of the school year, and the two-month break that then commences, giving all a chance to rest and recharge before the back-to-school process begins anew.

  • Go Geocaching (a scavenger hunt)
  • Play an instrument
  • Keep a Journal
  • And More!

Teacher Appreciation Ideas for Parents

Parents, when was the last time you showed some appreciation for your kids’ teachers? Not recently, we bet.

Well, a little bit of appreciation goes a long way. Today on TeachHUB.com, frequent contributing writer Janell Cox lays out some simple ways parents can show their appreciation for teachers. Her ideas include:
  • Give a Gift Card
  • Boast about Them
  • Show them Respect
  • And More!

Janelle notes in summation: “As teachers, we can appreciate this list. Most teachers are parents themselves and sometimes forget how important their job really is. At the end of day, the best way to keep a teacher happy is to let them do their job, show them they are valued with a simple thank you, and respect them for who they are and what they are doing for your child.”

How do you make your child’s teacher happy? Did we leave anything out of this list?

Get our teacher appreciation ideas >>

Classroom Management: How to Regain Control of a Class
If you’re a brand-new teacher just starting out or you’re a seasoned veteran with years under your belt, you’ve certainly run into situations where you’ve lost control of your classroom.
It’s certainly a frightening situation, and it can come about via a variety of ways: Kids get distracted, they’re ready for the next period, or they are bored.
But don’t let them defeat you! Today on TeachHUB.com, frequent contributor Janelle Cox lists several different methods by which an educator can regain control of a lost class, including:
  • Rearrange the seating chart
  • Share your frustration
  • Be confident
  • Lead by example

Above all, Janelle suggests that teachers be confident in their abilities to reign in an out-of-control class.
Learn some time-honored classroom management tactics to gain back control of a wild class >>
Subscribe to the TeachHUB.com newsletter
The TeachHUB.com weekly e-newsletter is the best way for you to learn about what’s new on TeachHUB.com any given week. It’s a top-to-bottom rundown of the best articles we’ve published every week, and it’s delivered straight to your inbox every Friday – for FREE!
By subscribing, you’ll receive the latest, cutting-edge educational news, free lesson plans, and more!
Just go to TeachHUB.com, view the righthand side of the page, and enter your email address!

Technology in the Classroom: Touchable Earth App Review

Touchable Earth makes exploring the Earth interactive and fun.
For more great educational reviews targeted for both teachers and students, download your free issues of TeachHUB Magazine.
Get our review>>
Classroom Games that Incorporate Spelling
Spelling tests are almost universally despised by students, and there are doubts about the educational longevity of what students retain after the test is administered — many teachers contend that students forget how to spell the words soon after the test is over.
But with a little creativity – in the form of classroom games – educators can overcome the mundane nature of the time-honored spelling test.
Today, TeachHUB.com frequent contributor Janelle Cox introduces some classroom games involving spelling that are designed to engage as well as educate your students, including:
  • Spelling Word Relay
  • Sink and Spell
  • Spelling Boom!
  • And more!

Remember, classroom games are fun, beneficial for students and give  them something to look forward to. Employ them as often as you can!
What spelling games do you play in your classroom? Do you have fun ideas that you would like to share?
Get our ideas on classroom games involving spelling>>
Get a Teaching Job: Cover Letter Tips
When you’re seeking that new (or first) teaching position, you can never underestimate the power of the cover letter.
Recently we outlined several surefire cover letter tips that could possibly land you a teaching job, including:
  • Keep your cover letter on target
  • Keep your tone conversational
  • And more!

What cover letter tips have we missed? Do you have any surefire tips?
Get our teaching cover letter tips>>
Let Us Solve Your Professional Development Issues
Did you know that the K12 Teachers Alliance, the parent company of TeachHUB.com and TeachHUB magazine, can be the solution for your next in-service session?
We sure can! And our team of experts can address a variety of topics, from gifted education to Singapore math to bully prevention!
Our solutions are tailor-made, designed to fit any budget, and are 100 percent guaranteed!

Teaching Strategies: Learning Through Movement

We’ve all had that one student who just can’t sit still. For that student, it’s a daily struggle to sit still during a math lesson, a spelling test, or even a reading time. And for the teacher, it can be frustrating to constantly remind that student to sit still, pay attention, etc.
But recent research has shown that teachers that incorporate movement into their lesson plans are actually helping students to retain what they are supposed to be learning. Today on TeachHUB.com, frequent contributing writer Janelle Cox, herself an educator based on the East Coast, instructs us on how to incorporate movement.
Janelle’s ideas include:
  • Squirming to learn
  • Embodied learning
  • And more!

Janelle sums up her article in this manner: “Overall, research has shown that physical activity stimulates the mind. By working some kind of movement into your classroom, you will find students will have less anxiety. Too often are students cooped up in their classrooms, for most of the school day. By allowing children to get up and learn through movement you are giving them a powerful tool to use in the classroom.”
Do you practice embodied learning in your classroom? What do you think of allowing students to learn through the use of their bodies?
Get our ideas on incorporating movement into your daily curriculum>>
Classroom Management: The Modern “C’s” of Learning
Collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creativity – these four “C’s” of learning have guided and directed the curriculum trajectories of several generations of educators.
But as the teaching profession has evolved — especially with regards to technology and all the elements it brings to the classroom – it’s time to recognize a new set of “C’s” and how your classroom toolkit can morph with them.
Today, frequent TeachHUB.com contributor Jordan Catapano adds five more “C’s” to the table, including competition and character.

Multimedia Podcast: A Visual History of Pi Day

This week, we look at the colorful history of Pi Day, a yearly celebration of mathematics if there ever was one.
Learn more in this week’s podcast, from the always-free TeachHUB Magazine.
Get our look at Pi Day>>
Teaching Strategies for Facilitating Collaboration, Change
The constant state of change is indeed one of the constants in education. It’s no accident that one of these days, you’ll find yourself in a grouop setting with your esteemed colleagues, trying to conduct a productive and actionable discussion around change.
Today on TeachHUB.com, veteran writer and contributor Jordan Catapano, himself an English teacher in the Chicago suburbs, offers up ways to assist your teaching team to facilitate a productive, actionable discussion, using some discussion tools and teaching strategies that help teams visualize the elements they’re working with.
Jordan’s ideas include:
  • Force-field analysis
  • Go for the green
  • Decision matrix
  • And more!

Jordan sums up his article with the following paragraph: “So when it comes to collaborating with fellow professionals, consider how you might use any of these seven tools for visually depicting your conversation. Education is a complex topic with an often-overwhelming array of problems, consequences, root issues, objectives, techniques, and resources. Sometimes using one of these tools may help your team work together and better understand the multiple facets of your conversation.”
What are your favorite tools listed in this article? What others have you used that you could share with us, too!
Get our guide to teaching strategies that facilitate change>>
Teaching Strategies: How to Teach Social Skills
It’s not just about reading, writing and arithmetic these days. Now, educators are expected to instruct students on topics like how to interact with their peers, how to listen, and how to resolve conflicts, among other things.
Indeed, it can be a challenge to teach kids concepts such as encouraging others, following directions, and listening actively.
In today’s TeachHUB.com centerpiece article, author Janelle Cox outlines some teaching strategies that educators can use to alter their curriculum to address these fundamental skills.
Three key foundational elements Janelle lays out include teaching the social skill, practicing it, and reviewing it. She also gives distinct classroom examples on how to carry out each of those elements.
By following the teaching strategies mentioned, 21st-century educators will be better equipped to instruct their classes on the social skills they’ll need to succeed not just in the classroom, but in the workplace following graduation.

Teaching Strategies: 5 Exciting Ways to Use Pinterest

Social media offers up a variety of enlightening options for educators, but none offers up as much as that DIY social media show-and-tell forum named Pinterest.
For the uninitiated, Pinterest is a FREE, all-encompassing website containing thousands of educational ideas, including articles, teaching strategies, website links, blog links, Teacher Pay Teacher ideas, pictures, videos, and professional journals.
Today on TeachHUB.com, writer Jenny Starkmen, a library/media director in the Midwest, sings the praises of Pinterest in an informative article, in which she also points out various ways teachers can use Pinterest, including:
  • Apps/books
  • Blogs
  • Classroom activities
  • And more!

Jenny also offers up some concrete ways teachers can use Pinterest
How have you used Pinterest in the classroom? Share with us!
Get our tips on how to use Pinterest teaching strategies in your classroom>>
Homework and Parents: Purposes, Amounts, and Effects
No one can deny the positive benefits of parents being involved with homework. In addition to helping families bond with each other, parental involvement in homework also helps students develop good study habits, cultivates a positive attitude towards school, and helps parents and students realize that learning happens outside of school.
Today on TeachHUB.com, frequent contributing writer Janelle Cox, who is also an experienced educator based in upstate New York, examines parental involvement in homework. In it she answers the following questions:
  • What’s the Purpose of Homework?
  • What Role Should Parents Play in Helping their Children?
  • And More!

In summation, Janelle says: “It’s important that parents understand the importance of homework, its purpose, the amount that is assigned and the consequences for if their child does not complete their assignment. Teachers play a critical role in helping parents become actively and effectively involved in their child’s homework. By letting parents know their role you are maximizing the benefit of homework for your students.”
How do you feel about homework in your classroom? Do you give it to your students?