Are your students truly engaged during your instruction? Getting, and keeping, students academically engaged may be one of the most difficult aspects of teaching. Classroom technology can help.
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) says the number one way to increase student engagement is to reach them through technology. “By integrating technology in the classroom, educators can take learning experiences to the next level and significantly improve student performance.”
Increase student engagement in your classroom using some of these simple, online engagement tools in your next lesson.
EDPuzzle – the easiest way to engage your students with video. Pick a video, add your magical touch and track your students’ understanding
Flippity – allows users to easily turn a Google Spreadsheet into a set of online flashcards, MadLibs, game show, and other cool stuff.
Kahoot! – a free game-based learning platform that makes it fun to learn – any subject, in any language, on any device, for all ages!
Safe YouTube – Watch, crop and share safe YouTube videos without comments, ads, or other distractions. Videos can be integrated with Google Classroom or downloaded as an .MP4 file.
QuotesCover– Create beautiful visual quotes as images. Download and share on your favorite social network.
ClipGrab – ClipGrab is a free downloader and converter for YouTube, Vimeo, Metacafe and many other online video sites. Save the video file to your drive and upload to your classroom site to share with students.
Dotstorming – Dotstorming allows users to create a space for people to post digital sticky notes. Those notes can contain text and or images. Dotstorming takes the process of dot voting online to allow groups of people to collaborate on a topic.
Plickers – Plickers is a powerfully simple tool that lets teachers collect real-time formative assessment data without the need for student devices.
Do you have any web tools you use to enhance student engagement in your classroom? We’d love to hear about them! Please share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments below.
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A recent study conducted by Stanford University “shows a dismaying inability by students to reason about information they see on the Internet.” Plain and simple, our students cannot determine fact from fiction when it comes to online content. When conducting research for assignments and projects, it’s important that students learn to separate what is fabricated from what is credible.
Educators should be at the forefront of this “battle” against false information. We must teach our students to be critical of everything they read online and encourage them to take the time to verify what they find. It’s not as hard as it sounds. The following ideas, tips, and resources may help you teach your students how to be informed, discriminating consumers of online media.
Questions to ask when consuming a piece of media:
Who made this? Did a well-known or common source create it?
Does it make sense?
Does the information match with other reliable sources?
Who wrote it?
When was it written?
Who is the intended audience?
Who paid for it? If you click on it, does someone get paid?
look for unusual URLs or site names, including those that end with “.co” — these are often trying to appear like legitimate news sites, but they aren’t.
Look for signs of low quality, such as words in all caps, headlines with glaring grammatical errors, bold claims with no sources, and sensationalist images (women in bikinis are popular clickbait on fake news sites). These are clues that you should be skeptical of the source.
Check a site’s “About Us” section. Find out who supports the site or who is associated with it. If this information doesn’t exist — and if the site requires that you register before you can learn anything about its backers — you have to wonder why they aren’t being transparent.
Check Snopes, Wikipedia, and Google before trusting or sharing news that seems too good (or bad) to be true.
Consider whether other credible, mainstream news outlets are reporting the same news. If they’re not, it doesn’t mean it’s not true, but it does mean you should dig deeper.
Check your emotions. Clickbait and fake news strive for extreme reactions. If the news you’re reading makes you really angry or super smug, it could be a sign that you’re being played. Check multiple sources before trusting.
Lesson Plans Channel One News – A lesson plan explores the problem of fake news sites, featuring a Channel One News video about the issue.
PBS Newshour – Fake news is making news, and it’s a problem. This lesson gives students media literacy skills they need to navigate the media, including how to spot fake news.
Corwin Connect – Guide students through meaningful discussions on the concepts of truth, media manipulation, falsification, public opinion, and more. (PDF Version)
TED-Ed – Damon Brown gives the inside scoop on how the opinions and facts (and sometimes non-facts) make their way into the news and how the smart reader can tell them apart.
ReadWriteThink – Hoax or No Hoax? Strategies for Online Comprehension and Evaluation.
The Tree Octopus – An internet hoax created in 1998, the website fabricates information about the endangered Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus and what you can do to save it. The website is now used to teach students about internet literacy.
All About Explorers – All About Explorers has a series of lessons for elementary age students in which they can learn that just because it is out there for the searching does not mean it is worthwhile.
Our Education Blogger is a public school teacher with over a decade of experience. She’s an active NEA member and enjoys writing about her experiences in the classroom.
Organize your classroom on a budget. From labeling to sorting supplies, this list of must-have, inexpensive classroom organization hacks will help get your school year off to a great start and keep it tidy all year:
Colorful Plastic Caddies
Plastic caddies have multiple uses in the classroom. Place materials in them for easy science experiment or art station set up. If your students sit in groups, use the caddies to store necessary, daily utensils and supplies. Use them for art supply storage, math manipulative storage, or to simply organize your desk. I purchased my caddies from Target in the dollar bins ($3 each). I have also seen them at various dollar stores.
Milk Crates
Milk crates are a perfect fit for folders and files. I use one of my crates to store Student Data Folders when we are not recording in them. When I need to lug around supplies, I tend to use a milk crate. When topped with a homemade cushion, milk crates make great seats and benches (see Pinterest for millk crate seat ideas and tutorials). Stack them for use a classroom library (ziptie each crate together for stability and don’t overfill). I found some durable milk crates on sale at Target when all of the college dorm items go on sale.
Binders
Binders are great way to organize just about anything paper-related. Use them to file away your master copies, one binder for each subject or hour you teach. A substitute binder makes preparing for your absences a cinch. Archive student work in student portfolio binders. Store absent work and extra copies in a classroom binder for students to access as needed. Binders also make tracking student data simple. Label your binders with these free, editable, printable binder covers and spines from Curriculum Corner.
Labels, Labels, and More Labels!
This will help you and your students locate supplies and materials around the classroom in a jiffy! In my experience, if it is labeled, I’m more likely to use it; I simply forget it’s there! I found several free, editable, printable labels on TeachersPayTeachers.
While plastic drawers aren’t inexpensive, you’ll see them as a savvy investment down the road. I purchased 4, 3-drawer units and will never go back to my previous method of organization. Label the drawers with each day of the week and place your lessons, materials, and other items for the day inside. Set aside drawers to label as “To Copy” and “To Grade” to help organize your piles of papers. I also use one drawer as the “Emergency” lesson plan drawer in case of an unexpected absence. Plastic drawers are helpful in storing and organizing manipulatives, art supplies, extra work, absent work, and copies for future lessons/units. Don’t forget to label your drawers!
Shoebox-sized Clear Bins
This one is a no-brainer. I never seem to have enough of these around. Small, plastic bins are one of the most versatile organization items in the classroom. Use them to store extra supplies, manipulatives, craft items, and games. Use labels to help identify what’s inside. They are easy to stack and easy for even the youngest of students to access. Dollar stores usually have these, but they aren’t great quality. I go for Sterilite and Rubbermaid brands when I can get them on sale. I also ask for these from parents in my Teacher Wish List at the beginning of the school year.
What are your favorite tricks to organize your classroom on a budget?
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Don’t have the hands-on materials you need to teach science? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many districts and schools lack the funding to furnish science textbooks, materials, and equipment. There is a solution. These websites can help you teach science interactively using games, videos, experiments, and other student-friendly activities for FREE. They are an engaging supplement to your classroom instruction. So, reserve that computer lab, sign up for those tablets, and get science-ing!
Science Kids – Enjoy free activities, experiments, games, facts, quizzes, projects, lessons, images, and videos. Students can learn about animals, biology, chemistry, physics, space, weather, and mcuh more.
SheppardSoftware – Free activities and games for younger students. Topics include life cycles, animals, the seasons, dinosaurs, elements, chemistry, cells, and many more.
PBSKids Science Games – For the youngest of our gradeschool students. PBSKids Science Games uses popular PBS characters, like Dinosaur Train, Sid the Science Kid, and the Cat in the Hat, to help teach young students about dinosaurs, nature, engineering, and animals.
Bozeman Science – This collection of videos and other NGSS resources helps teachers and students better understand the Next Generation Science Standards. Search by grade level, standard, or disciplinary core idea.
Coolmath-Games (Science) – Don’t let the website name deceive you. This small collection of free kids science games cover topics like space, electricity, light, physics, and magnets.
Kids.gov – In addition to a library of videos on many subjects, Kids.gov has an assortment of science games intended for a middle school level audience. Students, grades 6-8, can enjoy science games within the topics of animals, energy, earth, environment, invention, innovation, and space games.
Learning Games for Kids – At Learning Games for Kids, younger students can conduct science experiment games, sing science songs, amd play space and weather games.
NASA Space Place – Students of all ages will flip for these space-related games. Topics include Earth, Sun, Solar System, Universe, and Science and Tech.
Mystery Science – Free teacher memberships through June 2018! Mystery Science is aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards. No prep lessons with visuals and activities for K-5th grade.
NOVA Labs – Experience the science occurring in the Evolution, Cybersecurity, RNA, Cloud, Energy, and Sun labs that provide meaningful, interactive tasks for students to complete. Students can also watch video clips on each subject. NOVA Labs is geared toward students in grades 6-12.
PhET Interactive Simulations – Free, meaningful lab experiences for physics, chemistry, biology, Earth science, and math. PhET covers a wide range of topics and grade levels.
Mr. Nussbaum – Mr. Nussbaum’s Science includes a large collection of science interactives, explanations, generators, and activities for students. The wide variety of topics is intended for students in elementary and middle school.
Turtle Diary – Turtle Diary’s science games are sure to spark the curiosity in students preschool through 5th grade. Students can explore early science concepts covering a wide range of topics while reinforcing skills through engaging activities.
Back to School Night can be a source of stress for many teachers. Make Back To School Night a little less stressful with these helpful tips:
Be Prepared Have everything ready to go the day before your Back To School Night. Make the most of your time by getting everything ready ahead of time so you can focus on having a successful evening. If you are giving a presentation, practice it several times so you appear confident and competent
Dress Professionally
You don’t want to make a bad first impression. Men should wear slacks, and a dress shirt and tie (a coat and tie is most professional). Ladies should wear a pant suit, a blouse with skirt or slacks, or a dress. Lay off the heavy perfume and cologne, but don’t hesitate to throw on more deodorant just before parents arrive.
Calendar
Provide a printed calendar and note important dates throughout the school year. Field trips, due dates of large projects, holidays, days off of school, parties, parent-teacher conferences, and testing dates are just some of the important events you should note on a parent calendar. Parents appreciate knowing this information in advance.
Curriculum and Programs Information
Your building or district may already have this information posted on a website, or available in printed form. However, it is always a good idea to let parents know what their child will be learning in your classroom. It can be as simple as making a bulleted list of concepts, or writing a short summary of what you will be teaching. Tell parents what programs/textbooks you use for core subjects. Don’t forget to include any tiered or RTI programs your school provides for students who need them.
Let Parents Know How They Can Help Create a list of things parents to do to help your classroom. You may need supplies or other materials for your classroom, and providing parents this list may get you what you need! It is also helpful to provide a list of volunteer opportunities, or a description of how a parent can help.
Communication
Don’t forget to provide your contact information. You may also want to be clear about your preferred method of communication. Explain to parents how you will get information to them throughout the year (email blast, newsletter, class website, etc.).
Make sure you have an easy-to-read schedule to give to parents.
Include the school day’s start and end times, along with any other times you may think parents will find helpful (lunch, specials, class periods, etc.).
Ways To Help Their Student
Create a list of ways parents can help their students to be successful in your classroom. This may look like a compilation of apps and websites that help strengthen skills, or it may be things parents can do with their children.
Tools
Will you be using online tools in your classroom that will need to be accessed at home? If so, provide a brief explanation of these tools.
Expectations
Describe your classroom management, class/building rules, and expectations. This includes student behavior, in-class assignments, homework, projects, policies for make-up work, etc.
Introduce Yourself
Tell a little about yourself. How many years have you taught? What grade levels and subjects? Where did you go to school? Including a few pictures may help parents view you as more personable.
Be Brief
It’s difficult to squeeze ALL of your vital classroom information into a 10-minute presentation, or onto a double-sided, 8.5 X 11 piece of paper. Stick to the items you feel will be most helpful for student success. Parents aren’t looking for a classroom manual, but rather some key points that will give them a sense of what the school year will be like for their student.
Have Fun Let your personality shine through. Incorporate a little humor, or even a little emotion, into the evening.
Students nowadays are becoming increasingly more stressed and anxious. Teaching mindfulness in the classroom can help students learn to cope with emotional and mental stresses. Students who are mindful demonstrate the ability to control their attention, remain calm, and manage stress. Student mindfulness has been shown to have profound benefits for students. Mindfulness allows students to learn by clearing their minds of the things out of their control.
There are several ways teachers can incorporate student mindfulness practices in the classroom.
Breathing Breathing exercises help to calm body and mind. Try some guided deep breathing with students to help them relax and release their worries.
Music Help students relax by listening to soothing music or other calming sounds, like ocean waves, nature sounds, or white noise.
Imagery In guided imagery, words and music can help students use their imaginations to create imaginary scenarios that may promote relaxation and reduce blood pressure and stress.
Meditation Daily meditation in schools has been linked to a reduction in suspensions and truancy and an increase in academic proficiency. It also helps relax students and promotes a sense of well-being.
Sensory Tactile items, like Silly Putty, stress balls, and Play-doh can help encourage young imaginations. Make “I Spy” jars by filling them with items that have strong, familiar smells (cinnamon, flowers, cereals, or popcorn) and have students guess the scent. Use tables covered with water, sand, or rice to focus on sense of touch.
Movement Students are movers. Incorporate movement into your daily routine as part of your mindfulness practice. Yoga is a preferred practice for mindfulness through movement. It is calming, gentle, and flowing.
GoNoodle.com – a brain break app that offers mindfulness videos
“Just Breathe” Original Film – a short film by Julie Bayer Salzman & Josh Salzman (Mindful Schools) in which young children describe their experiences with mindfulness
