Posts by techsupport
Student Participation
Student participation brings a lively dimension to any class. Unfortunately, many students are reluctant to participate. Here are some ways to encourage student participation. Make your goals for the class session clear. Ask questions that require more than a simple “yes” or “no” response. Emphasize to students that any question they ask is a good…
Read MoreUsing Debates
A debate is a competition in which two opposing teams make speeches to support their arguments and disagree with those of the other team. A proposition is stated, with one team agreeing with the proposition and the other team disagreeing. Debates are an effective way to help your students develop critical thinking skills and oral…
Read MoreConfusing Headlines
The new term “crash blossom” refers to a newspaper headline that can be read in two ways. It derives from the following headline about a air crash in Japan: “Violinist Linked to JAL Crash Blossoms.” The article was about a violinist whose successful career took off shortly after his father had died in a JAL…
Read MoreLearning by Touch
Students are used to learning through their auditory and visual senses.They may be less familiar with how they can learn through their tactile sense. Here is a simple activity to familiarize or reinforce your students’ awareness of how they can learn by touch. Have a number of objects concealed in a box. Seat a student…
Read MoreNobel Peace Prize
With President Barack Obama having won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize, your students may be interested in some facts about the prize. Here are some facts you can convey about this prize. The first Nobel Peace Prize was awarded in 1901. The prize was shared by Henry Dunant, founder of the International Red Cross, and…
Read MoreAssessing ESL Students
Here are some criteria you can use to informally assess the progress of English mastery of students for whom English is a second language. Conversational skill Knowledge and use of vocabulary Grammar and sentence structure Reading Spelling Knowledge of culture Accent
Read MorePoetry in the Classroom
Poetry is underappreciated by most students. Yet, poetry is a wonderful tool for fostering imagination and creativity. Here are some ideas for bringing poetry into your classroom. Read poems aloud to your students. Introduce different poetic forms thoughout the year. Hold an original poetry contest. Have students recite poems from memory. Post illustrated poems and…
Read MoreApplying Math
Most State Standards require that students become competent in applying math to real-world settings. One way to accomplish this is to have your students identify the ways in which math is used in various occupations. Here are some occupations in which math applications are important: Salesperson Pharmacist Carpenter Engineer Chemist You can add many more…
Read MoreMaking Math Concrete
Some students have difficulty understanding abstract math concepts. You can help these students by making the concepts as concrete as possible. Here are some ways to do this. Have the students use actual objects from the environment to solve problems requiring computation skills. Teach regrouping using manipulatives arranged in columns as in math problems. Use…
Read MoreThinking About Weather
Always do whatever you can to strengthen your students’ critical thinking skills. For example, ask your students to think about how each of the following weather conditions on a weekend day would affect what they do that day, how they dress, what they might eat, and even their mood. Rainy Very cold Very hot Snowy…
Read MoreChecking Facts
In this age of expanding information, your students may very likely come across “facts” that in fact are not. Given that the Internet has no filter, students must learn to check “facts” before accepting them. Here are some seeming facts you can have your students use reference sources to check out. Each is not true.…
Read MoreConstructive Criticism
There are times when students should be criticized for poor work or misbehavior. But your criticism should be constructive. Constructive criticism can turn a negative occurrence into a motivational tool. Here are some suggestions for making your criticism constructive. Show the student how the negative occurrence could have been avoided. Allow the student a chance…
Read MoreUsing Demonstrations
Demonstrations are an effective way to teach skills. Here are some guidelines to follow when making a demonstration. Make sure you all have all necessary equipment and materials available. Explain the purpose of the demonstration. Be certain that all students have a clear view of the demonstration. Focus students’ attention on each step of the…
Read MoreUsing Numbers
Familiarize your students with the many ways we use numbers. Quantity: There are usually 8 slices in a pizza. Distance: Yesterday our boy scout troop hiked 15 miles. Height: The ceiling in my living room is 9 feet high. Weight: I am now able to lift 120 pounds. Cost: I had to pay $1.50 for…
Read MoreMaking History Interesting
It is surprising how many students find history boring. Here are some suggestions for increasing your students’ interest in this important subject. Supplement textbooks with books that provide personal accounts of historical events. Focus on important individuals in history. Biographies and autobiographies can help your students understand that is is people who make history. Have…
Read MoreMotivating Students
It is easy to recognize an unmotivated student. This is the student who seems to put more effort into avoiding work than doing work. Most students will be motivated if they find school to be interesting and relevant, and are given assignments at which they can succeed with reasonable effort. Here are some things you…
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