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•    Outdated Technology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>>
Subscribe to the TeachHUB.com Newsletter
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

10 Popular Teacher Interview Questions Answered

A perpetually popular article on TeachHUB.com has been “6 Common Teacher Interview Questions and How to Answer them.” It’s a great article for those seeking both new jobs and for those mid-career who might need a change of career scenery.

Today on TeachHUB.com, our centerpiece article is an update of sorts on that same topic. Frequent TeachHUB.com and TeachHUB Magazine scribe Janelle Cox, herself a seasoned educator, takes a look at some common questions you could very well be asked in the interviewee’s chair.

Janelle’s questions include:

  • Why do you want to work for our school district?
  • How will you keep the lines of communication open with parents?
  • What would you say are your top three weaknesses?
  • What is your educational philosophy?
  • And more!


Janelle closes out her article by giving suggestions for the ubiquitous “Do you have any questions for us?” query:
·      
What kinds of technology resources are available for teachers to use in their classroom?
·     
What professional development opportunities are available for teachers in your school district?
·      
What is the student-to-teacher ratio?

What advice do you have for going to a teaching interview?

Get our suggestions for how to answer 10 popular teacher interview questions>>

Minecraft in the Classroom Teaches Reading and More
Millions of people of all ages have been playing the video game Minecraft for ages now. But did you know that the game has man virtues that can enhance classroom experiences?
It’s true, and we recently took a look at the ways that Minecraft can help your students’ day-to-day academic trajectories.
Have you successfully utilized the video phenomenon Minecraft in class? If so, how have you used it?

    Online Learning Games Students Love

    With kids obsessed with video games and every other flashy technology, teachers and parents have a lot of competition when it comes to educational materials.

    Rather than fighting a losing battle with video games, it\’s time to start brining gaming into learning. There are a ton of free interactive gaming sites with serious educational value.

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

    Staying Sane Admidst School Insanity

    Lately it seems as if every time I turn around, someone (It doesn’t really matter who the someone is…although it always seems to be someone who has never taught before.) is pointing their finger at, blaming or ridiculing the work of teachers.

    Yet we still need to slap a smile on our faces, get up at the crack of dawn and troop into our classrooms to do actual, meaningful work. Despite the pervasive Debbie Downer spirit which seems to be all the rage right now. Here are some tips to stay sane admist the education world\’s insanity.

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

    Why Max Elliot Anderson Writes For Tween Boys

    Max Elliot Anderson grew up as a reluctant reader. After his own experience and surveying the market, he sense the need for action-adventures and mysteries for readers 8 – 13, especially boys.

    Using his extensive experience in the production of motion pictures, videos, and television commercials, Anderson brings the same visual excitement and heart-pounding action to his stories. Each book has completely different characters, setting, and plot.

    Anderson has published eight books so far with many more on the horizon. He shares how his distaste for reading as a boy led him to writing childrens books in this TeachHUB exclusive

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

    A Few of Your Favorite Things

    When the bell rings,
    When the grades sting,
    When they\’re being bad

    I simply remember my favorite (teacher) things and then I don\’t feel so sad.

    We\’re looking for more recommended websites and teaching tools to share, so please please please visit the recommedations page and share your favorite things.

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

    Nationalizing Standards?

    There are times when my political leanings–my voter registration cards reads \”Libertarian\”–come into disagreement with my educational philosophy, and it can be very difficult to reconcile the differences. It gets worse when my views are tinted by my experience as a scientist.

    This kind of perfect storm of personal dilemma has occurred recently on the issue of national education standards. read more

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

    Three Cheers for Teacher Appreciation

    Teacher Appreciation Week is being lauded throughout the web-o-sphere. Can you hear it?

    Share your favorite moments of being appreciated by students on the TeachHUB Discussion page.

    Also, check out a few other nice Teacher Appreciation features:

    Touching blog post on Edutopia
    Deals and Freebies on the Apple
    Remembering an Unbelievable NYC Educator
    Authors and Illustrators Remember Their Teachers (video)

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

    Poverty: The Elephant in the Classroom

    Even though in our current educational climate it might seem unpopular, I’m just going to say it —I am getting tired of hearing about Race and Ethnicity in Education.

    The reason for this could not be simpler: When we talk about the special needs of black and Latino students, the unsaid inference is that they are somehow deficient because they are black and Latino. I’m tired of ONLY talking about how different they are, and how we need to approach our minority students in a different way because of their culture or the color of their skin.

    Believe it or not, there is something more important we should be talking about: poverty.

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