Teaching Tips
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Random Name Generator for Your Smartboard
This is a great way to pick students randomly. You can select the number of students you have in your class and then type out each name. When you click “Select,” the computer clicks through several names with a cool sound effect and then it selects just one. One of the best features of this…
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5 Ways To Set Long-Term Goals to Achieve Success
Self-help gurus can make their secrets to success as simple or as complicated as their audience requires. But before success truly sets-in, one must change his or her way of thinking to include a wide-angle view of life. Long-term goals are one of the strongest components of successful strategies, yet lots of work needs to…
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3 Tips for Using the Computer Lab Effectively
There are some cool teachers on Tumblr, Twitter, and Pinterest. I suggest signing up for these sites. You never know what inspiration you will find there. I know I come across great ideas on them all the time. Here are some great computer lab tips from Classroom Chaos. Scout Out the Computer Lab Before Taking…
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Arthur and the Dragon – Integrated Drama Unit
I absolutely love this drama unit. I have taught it several times and it is always a hit. It is based around the picture book Arthur and the Dragon by Pauline Cartwright. There is a 23 page Teacher Guide that is an incredible resource. It was developed by The Toronto District School Board back in…
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Short Term Self vs Long Term Self
I found this image on Tumblr and it really spoke to me. It would be a great discussion piece for the classroom about setting goals and working towards a bright future. We live in a day and age of instant everything. This can narrow our focus and keep us locked in the here-and-now. Why think about…
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3 Reasons Why Teachers Should Make Regular Calls Home
Sunshine calls a great idea, but one that I have never fully embraced over the dozen years that I have been teaching. It’s just so time-consuming to call the parents of every single child that I teach. I follow Chris Pearce on Tumblr because he has some great insights into teaching and he does so…
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5 April Fool’s Jokes to Play on Your Class
Today is April Fool’s Day and it’s a school day. I know that a lot of teachers out there are dreading what might happen today. On a normal day, we can have our share of jokers in the class. This day can push them over the edge. So here is a game plan – get…
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Lip Sync Battle
Radio DJ, Mastermind, shared this on Twitter the other day. Drop Everything And Watch This AMAZING Lip Sync Battle Between Paul Rudd And Jimmy Fallon http://t.co/3VgVcBJD3q — Mastermind (@MastermindLive) February 26, 2014 I clicked through because it seemed like such an interesting concept. A Lip Sync Battle? I’ve heard of dance battles, beatbox battles,…
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GPS – The Road to Musical Success
When I started teaching music, I was really disappointed with the method book. It didn’t seem like my students were learning much as we worked through the various lines of music. I searched for an alternative and found the excellent Band Fundamentals in Easy Steps. It was everything I was looking for in a method…
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How to Engage Students Who Only do the Bare Minimum to Get By
Academic success depends on a variety of factors such as the quality of teachers, textbooks, the ability and effort of students etc. to name just a few. Students have to be smart and hard- working in order to achieve academic success. But what would happen if middle school students are reluctant to study? Students who…