Books for Teachers Focused on Improving Student Learning

Looking for a good read that may affect the way you teach and how your students learn? Try one or more of the following:

5 Books for Teachers Focused on Improving Student Learning (and the future of learning!):

1. The World is Open (Curtis Bonk, 2009) - http://worldisopen.com/
2. Generation We (Eric Greenberg & Karl Weber, 2009) - http://www.gen-we.com/
3. A Whole New Mind (Dan Pink, 2005) - http://www.danpink.com/whole-new-mind
4. Brain Rules (John Medina, 2009) - http://www.brainrulesbook.com
5. The World is Flat (Thomas Friedman, 2005) - http://www.thomaslfriedman.com/bookshelf/the-world-is-flat

Do you have other suggestions? Add them to the COMMENTS below...

Take 5 - Vol. 1, Issue 1

Here is your first installment of the Take 5! Integration Update. Take just 5 minutes (or less) to look over these resources and see what might be helpful for your and/or your students.

Better yet, set aside at least 15 minutes a week to focus on finding resources and ideas that will improve student learning and prepare them for their future world!

The focus of these updates will be:

• TIPS & TOOLS - Strategies and tools that help classroom teachers, administrators, and staff... In turn, helping students!
• PONDERINGS - Brief articles, news, or issues that affect teaching and learning today
• OPPORTUNITIES – Learning, professional development, etc.  -- including ours! See our calendar....

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3 Tips and Tools for Teachers

1) Remember Jing? (on your computer screen recordings – up to 5 min. for FREE)
Here’s a Jing recording about how to download then use Jing!
    http://video.techsmith.com/jing/2.1/overview/default.html

    To download Jing - http://www.jingproject.com/

2) SMART Board/Notebook Software Tips
LISTING of MANY SMART Board lessons — LOTS! ;-)
    http://technology.usd259.org/resources/whiteboards/smartlessons.htm

Video – How to update to Lesson Activity Toolkit 2.0... made with Jing! ;-)
    http://www.teacheronlinetraining.com/library/mod/resource/view.php?id=639

3) Create/Synthesize/Design with Online Tools
Here is a listing of a few tools you or your students can use (including examples):
http://ed-tech-integration.pbworks.com/CreateTools

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Ponderings

Short Read:  “How to Keep Kids Engaged in Class” by Tristan de Frondeville
http://www.edutopia.org/classroom-student-participation-tips

Here’s a short list from the article:

10 Rules of Engagement

1. Start Class with a Mind Warm-Up
2. Use Movement to Get Kids Focused
3. Teach Students How to Collaborate Before Expecting Success
4. Use Quickwrites When You Want Quiet Time and Student Reflection
5. Run a Tight Ship When Giving Instructions
6. Use a Fairness Cup to Keep Students Thinking
7. Use Signaling to Allow Everyone to Answer Your Question
8. Use Minimal-Supervision Tasks to Squeeze Dead Time out of Regular Routines
9. Mix up Your Teaching Styles
10. Create Teamwork Tactics That Emphasize Accountability


Point to Ponder...
>> How do you challenge your students to design, create, or build something each week?

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Learning Opportunities

Rossford School District tech offerings calendar - http://ed-tech-integration.pbworks.com/Workshops

Technology in the Classroom Webinars (archives) - http://www.techlearning.com/section/UpcomingWebinars

Upcoming FREE webinar -
Engaging Students in Video Production and Movie Making in the Classroom
Wednesday, December 9, 2009 |  4 pm EST
To register: http://www.techlearning.com/article/25500