How to Make Social Networking Work

I’ve had mixed results using social networking media for class discussions. Because of that I haven’t even tried to have students use it for backchanneling. It’s hard enough to get them to listen as I give instructions and I don’t lecture all that much anyway. I’ve had this vision of engaging more students in class …

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Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2012/05/08/how-to-make-social-networking-work/

The Scaffolding vs. Struggling Debate

Ronnie Burt wrote a blog post about a debate he’s been having with Sue Waters, Edublogger Debate: Scaffolding vs. Struggling – Can You Be Too Helpful? I found the topic quite intriguing as it fits perfectly into what I spend a majority of my time worrying about, Student Engagement and Student Discipline. So the question …

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Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2012/05/07/the-scaffolding-vs-struggling-debate/

Reading Ability

I struggle with reading. It’s not that I can’t decode or that I am dyslexic or anything like that. It’s not even that my first language was Spanish and now I’m fluent in English (I can barely get out a complete thought in Spanish without having to switch to English, so English is my dominant …

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Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2012/05/02/reading-ability/

iPads vs Netbooks

It’s not like I have the money to buy any more iPads or any more Netbooks but I’ve been thinking about which one to recommend if the question comes up at our district tech meetings. I’m basing this pro and con comparison on my classroom. I have 14 first generation iPads and I’m borrowing five …

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Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2012/05/01/ipads-vs-netbooks/

Student Discipline

Classroom management is not an easy thing. If something works one day it won’t necessarily work the next day. Sometimes blowing the beginning of the year sets the stage for a difficult year. Sometimes no matter how bad things get there are still good times. In 21 years of working with kids ages 9 to …

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Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2012/04/30/student-discipline/

Time Spent on Test Prep

Online testing can look like this.

Last year our middle school standardized tests went online. The test changed from being called the WASL (Washington Assessment of Student Learning) to the MSP (Measure of Student Progress). A huge change from the WASL to the MSP was cutting out the four point extended response questions. They were actually pretty good questions asking our …

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Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2012/04/29/time-spent-on-test-prep/

Two Sides to Testing

It’s testing time. That one time each year that should not be a big deal. I mean, really, it’s just a test. Well, that’s the way it should be. It should just be a test. One more, little bit of data added to the data we collect all year to determine how our students are …

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Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2012/04/16/two-sides-to-testing/

Beyond the Textbook?

Textbooks

Students, teachers, and schools can have access to cell phones, smart phones, iPods, tablets, netbooks, or even laptops to learn. Any of the aforementioned devices allow for learning on the move, which means anytime, anywhere learning. The technologies have the power to expand the classroom and transform learning and education to something it has never …

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Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2012/04/04/beyond-the-textbook/

A Plea for Education

As the Washington State Legislature continues to meet to decide the fate of our state many educators are writing emails and making phone calls urging legislators to make the best decisions for our kids. Maren Johnson, a high school Science teacher in my district, has been taking the lead in communicating with our legislature to …

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Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2012/04/02/plea-for-education/

The End of a Great Streak

I wrote two grant proposals this year and did NOT get either of them. With that came an end to an incredible 13 year streak of getting at least one grant per year. I have been very fortunate. But with failing and broken equipment and the threat of losing the 1:1 environment that I have …

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Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2012/04/01/the-end-of-a-great-streak/

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