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Volume 2, Issue 18
September 9, 2008

Professor Joe Martin: The Educator Motivator
Teachers Must Earn Students' Respect
Warning: If you are a new teacher, please do not sabotage your career by making the biggest mistake most teachers make when they first start teaching. What mistake is that, you ask? It’s being a hypocrite.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/columnists/martin/martin011.shtml

Dr. Ken Shore
Adjusting to Kindergarten
My five-year-old daughter is starting kindergarten this year. What can I do to make the transition as easy as possible?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/shore/shore104.shtml

Dr. Fred Jones: Tools for Teaching
Bell Work
"Bell Work" is the work students are doing when the opening bell rings. It's the work that separates the world of the classroom from the world of play. It's the work that provides purpose to the process of "settling in."
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/columnists/jones/jones020.shtml

Max Fischer
Learning to Cope With Larger Classes
When class size increases, acting as the “sage on stage" is a default strategy many educators fall back on. It takes a conscious effort to remember that being a "guide on the side" has a very powerful impact on learning.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/voice/voice138.shtml

Cathy Puett Miller: The Reading Coach
Turning Reading into an Active Experience
Centering reading around student interest, motivation, and self-concept is how we give every student a reason to read.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/reading/ReadingCoach/ReadingCoach007.shtml

Sustained Silent Reading in the Classroom
Independent silent reading has been a time-honored educational tool. Yet today, many teachers argue that direct instruction, is a more effective way to spend students’ time. What do the experts say?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/reading/ReadingCoach/ReadingCoach005.shtml

Angela Powell: Getting It Together
Organize Papers for Meetings
Use a portfolio/organizer notebook to organize papers for committees and meetings.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/organization/organization004.shtml

Pockets of Real-World Reading Material
Storing a wide variety of authentic, real-world reading materials in a way that is both attractive and child-friendly can be challenging.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/organization/organization005.shtml

Each week, Education World spotlights books of interest to educators. This week, read a brief summary of two more of our "top 50 books for educators."

The Morning Meeting Book
A very practical book -- step-by-step guidelines for implementing a morning meeting in any K-8 classroom; 45 greetings; 66 group activities; and ideas for adapting the morning meeting idea to classes with a lot of second-language learners. The essential concept is to make everyone feel that it matters that he or she is in school -- including the teacher! This books comes from the folks behind the Responsive Classroom approach to teaching.
Click to learn more or to purchase this book.

Horace's Compromise: The Dilemma of the American High School
First published in 1984, this is Theodore Sizer's eloquent call to arms for school reform. In a new preface, Sizer addresses encouraging movements to create better schools, reduce class size, and improve assessment and teaching, but also points out that many of the problems that plague the American high school have remained the same over the last quarter century. This is one of the field's modern classics, and no education library is complete without it.
Click to learn more or to purchase this book.

Click the icon to the right to see more books and many other products that are available in the Education World MarketPlace.

Reader's Theater
Ace Spelling, Spelling Ace
When a fifth grader has an unusual event with alphabet soup, he becomes a "spelling ace." But is his "spelling spell" a blessing or a curse?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/reading/ReadersTheater/ReadersTheater002.shtml
Writer's Block
When his teacher assigns what seems like a simple writing exercise, John discovers he’s out of ideas -- until characters from his imagination help him overcome "writer's block."
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/reading/ReadersTheater/ReadersTheater017.shtml

Reading Features
Literature Circles Build Excitement for Books
Two experts in the field offer insights and advice about using literature circles.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr259.shtml
Sustained Silent Reading Develops Independent Readers
SSR can be one more element in a reading program aimed at demonstrating the joy that reading can bring and developing lifelong readers and learners.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr038.shtmll

Total Reader
How Cool Is That!
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev149.shtml

From the Writing Center
Students Put Together a Book of Their Best Writing
Glori Chaika provides complete instructions for developing and creating your own "Best of…" collection.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr014.shtml

Meet the Authors
Drive home the importance of the writing process with real words from real authors.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr039.shtml#resource

The Anne Frank Wall
Jim DeLong’s "Anne Frank Wall" celebrates the written word.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/teacher_feature/teacher_feature047.shtml

The Writer's Notebook
Laura Nardi’s third graders get the “write" idea.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/teacher_feature/teacher_feature030.shtml

Writing Lessons
A Typical Day Then and Now
Celebrate Grandparents Day with this fun comparison writing activity. (Grades K-8)
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/dailylp/dailylp/dailylp002.shtml
Report on a Reporter
Invite a news reporter to visit class; write a news report about the visit. (Grades 3-12)
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/00-2/lp2171.shtml
Goldilocks: The Sequel
Write a sequel to the classic story "Goldilocks and the Three Bears." (Grades 3-8)
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/00-2/lp2221.shtml
How the Kangaroo Got Its Pouch
Create a play based on an Australian kangaroo legend. (Grades 3-5)
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/00-2/lp2133.shtml

Writing Bugs
The Best Advice
What is the best advice you have ever received?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/writing_bug/writingbug086.shtml
The Best Day of the Week
The best day of the week is…
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/writing_bug/writingbug046.shtml
Fame, Money, or Power?
Fame, money, or power -- which is most important to you?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/writing_bug/writingbug083.shtml
A Really Bad Day
When was someone upset by something you did -- or did not – do?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/writing_bug/writingbug085.shtml

Featured Articles
Twenty-Five Back-to-School Resources
There’s no better time than now to look back at some of the best back-to-school articles from the Education World archives.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr356.shtml

Regina Barecca on Coping With Parental (Over)Involvement
“I’m hearing from teachers that it’s as if kids today come to school with home strapped to their backs -- or, perhaps more accurately, strapped to their ankles like house arrest bands.“
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/columnists/barreca/barreca031.shtml

Goal Setting: Understanding the Process
We never were taught how to set goals for ourselves, and we only discovered the power of goal setting later in life. But with a little creativity, we can adapt the strategies used by successful adults and share them with our students.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev151.shtml

Thirty Ways to Show Students You Care
When a child feels good, he or she learns much more easily. Caring teachers help children improve social and academic skills in a way that allows them to use those skills on their own in the future.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr286.shtml

Wendy Petti's "Math Cats Math Chat"
A Math Toolbox in Every Home
As teachers, we know the value of hands-on exploration with math manipulatives. Extend that sense of discovery into students’ homes by helping them assemble math toolboxes to be enjoyed by the whole family.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/mathchat/mathchat001.shtml

Math Competitions for Students
Discover a dozen math competitions, including problem-solving and stock market competitions -- and the world's largest math event.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr145.shtml

Math Mnemonics
Roman Numerals for 1, 5, and 10
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/mnemonics/mnemonics004.shtml
Roman Numerals for 50, 100, 500, and 1000
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/mnemonics/mnemonics005.shtml

Strategies of the Week
Designer Homework
One teacher discovered a unique way to add interest to homework assignments and get parents involved. Kids say the technique allows them to be creative and teaches them responsibility.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/strategy/strategy010.shtml
Electronic Portfolios
Electronic portfolios allow students to save and display sound and video files as well as text and graphics.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/strategy/strategy055.shtml

Tips Library
Classroom Management: Sit There!
Behavior Management: Seating Chart, Classical Music, Class Auction
Motivating Kids: Morning Meeting
Book Report Makeover: Dear Author
Homework Tips: Blue Ribbon Homework
Best Idea: Writing Memory Books
Testing Tips: You Are What You Eat
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/management_tips/management_tips004.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/behaviortips/behaviortips004.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/motivation/motivation004.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/bookreport/bookreport004.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/homeworktips/homeworktips004.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/bestidea/bestidea004.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/testing/testing004.shtml

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The Principal Poet
Mr. Ivan, Education World's Principal Poet, presents this week’s poem, "Recipe for Trouble."
Eighteen boys in a classroom
Is "trouble served on toast."
Or, if you were a doctor,
It'd be bad news to diagnose…
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/columnists/ivan/ivan033.shtml

Alma Row's Gadget of the Week
Blabberize
Want to have some fun making a picture "talk?" Upload a photo, add sound, animate the mouth, and create your own talking picture.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/gadget/gadget004.shtml

Doug Johnson's Tech Proof
Five For Fun
Lots of image "generators" are available on the Web. Most are free and easy to use -- so easy even a technology director can manage them. Here are five of my favorites.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/columnists/johnson/johnson029.shtml

Pete Hall's Always Strive To Be a Better You!
Why I Wear Red Socks to School
The earliest known socks were discovered in Egyptian tombs. In subsequent years, socks have taken many turns on the paths of style and function. Principal Pete Hall's socks, for instance, are red. Every day, red socks.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/columnists/hall/hall012.shtml

Bernie Poole
Creating Your Own Web Site
Eleven easy-to-read handouts designed to lead you and/or your students step-by-step through the process of creating a content-rich education-oriented Web site.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/columnists/poole/poole002.shtml

Starr Points
The Best Laid Plans...
You've spent the last few weeks decorating bulletin boards, planning activities, collecting supplies, writing letters to students and parents, and practicing personal relaxation techniques. You are ready, able, and full of anticipation. It's going to be a wonderful year! But is it going to be the year you planned?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/issues334.shtml

Template of the Week
Icebreakers
Use these templates with icebreaker activities (included) and other classroom activities.
http://www.educationworld.com/tools_templates/index.shtml#icebreakers

Techtorial of the Week
Back-to-School Tech Checklist
Complete this checklist to ensure that you, your students, and the technology are ready for the new school year.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/techtorial/techtorial081.shtml

Behavior and Grades Improve After Fred Jones Training
Granite Hills High School freshmen describe behavior and grades improvement after their teacher adopted Fred Jones's Tools for Teaching.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/archives/videooftheweek.shtml

Do you have a comment about this video -- or a favorite online video you'd like to recommend to other educators? Click here to let us know about it.

Wire Side Chat
Fantasy Game Helps Students "Pass" Math
Many youngsters crunch sports statistics, yet never think of that as doing math. But a curriculum developed by a former middle school math teacher that combines math with Fantasy Football is scoring big with students.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/chat/chat162.shtml

School Doodle
The Amazing Disappearing Trick: Education Funding
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/school_doodles/images/schooldoodlesmal034.gif

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