Posts by techsupport
Waiting for a Response
Class discussion is a valuable teaching and learning technique. One of the most vexing problems that can occur when using this technique is the failure of students to respond. It takes resolve to accept periods of silence. Most experts recommend waiting for about 10 seconds before jumping in yourself. However, research shows that teachers typically wait just…
Read MoreGrading
One thing that has not changed through the years is students` concern about grades. If anything, it seems that students are more concerned about grades than ever. Teachers report that students` complaints about grades is one of the negatives about teaching. Here are some ideas for minimizing students` complaints about their grades. Clearly state the basis for…
Read MoreRule Cards
Rule cards can be a very useful study aid for students in any grade. They can be used in any subject. A rule card simply consists of a rule on the front side and one or two examples of the rule on the back. Students can add examples throughout the school year. By carrying the…
Read MoreUsing Teacher Aides
A competent teacher’s aide can be of great benefit to you and your students. However, even the most qualified teacher’s aide is of minimal value if not utilized effectively. Here are some important ways in which a teacher’s aide can be of full value in the classroom. An aide can help you keep up with…
Read MoreQuotes From the Arts
Your students can have fun matching quotes from the arts with the people who issued the quotes. Here are the people who issued the quotes: Harriet Beecher Stowe – author of Uncle Tom`s Cabin Stephen King – horror writer Duke Ellington – jazz musician Walt Disney – film producer Bruce Springsteen – singer Ernest Hemmingway…
Read MoreWhy College?
If you are a high school teacher, you likely have a difficult time convincing some of your students that they should plan to go on to college. Reluctant students may say that going to college is not worth the cost. Wrong! Data shows that going to college is a good investment. One thing you can point out to…
Read MoreFourth of July Food Quiz
If you are teaching summer school, use this fun and educational Fourth of July food quiz with your students. Directions: You probably had a Fourth of July barbecue. Let`s see how much you know about where the food for your barbecue came from. Which two states produce about half of the potatoes used in potato salad, potato…
Read MoreIdentifying Similarities
A good way to improve the thinking skills of your students is to have them identify the ways in which things are the same. You can start by having students identify the reason that two things are the same. You can then have them identify the reason that three things are the same. Vary the complexity of the things to be…
Read MoreSilent-Letter Words
Spelling is a difficult skill for many students. Many words in English are not spelled the way they sound. Further, even when rules apply, the number of rules governing correct governing correct spelling is very large. One of the vexing problems when attempting to spell words is that some words contain silent letters. Having your students…
Read MoreRealities of Teaching
Like any profession, teaching has its share of joys and frustrations. Here are some of the frustrating realities all teachers face. Don`t let them get you down; accept them as part of the job and keep doing your best. Not all of your students will like you. Nor will you like all of your students. Not all…
Read MoreWhat Students Want
You look for certain characteristics when you buy a product. Students don`t "buy" their teachers. But there are certain characteristics they would like their teachers to have. Students would like their teachers to: listen to them treat everyone fairly respect them be enthusiastic be understanding Most importantly, students would like their teachers to: know their…
Read MoreForms of Writing
The more your students write, the more they will learn. Many students resist writing. Try to vary the types of writing you have your students do to break down their resistance. Here are some types of writing you can have your students do. Narrative Writing. Have your students write a story or a personal account…
Read MoreCritical Thinking
It is important for your students to be good critical thinkers. Critical thinking can help your students to avoid making bad decisions, focus on what is most important, and generate new ideas. You can help your students be good critical thinkers by encouraging them to: rely more on reason than emotion. recognize their own assumptions…
Read MoreCold Calling
Cold Calling is a simple technique in which you call on specific students regardless of whether they have raised their hands to answer a question you ask. It is not unusual to find that it is the same small group of students who raise their hands while the rest of the students disengage. The cold…
Read MoreMaking Lectures Effective
A variety of instructional techniques are available to teachers, but the traditional lecture remains a widely used technique. This is particularly true in high school and college classes. Here are some ideas for making your lectures as effective as possible: Present ideas in a logical order. It helps to prepare an outline in advance. Stay…
Read MoreDescriptive Writing
Students are often reluctant to write because they find writing to be a boring task. One way you can counter this is to give your students descriptive writing assignments. Descriptive writing requires a student to “paint” a word picture so that the reader “sees,” “feels,” and “hears” something the student has seen, felt, and heard.…
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