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Volume 2, Issue 21
October 20, 2008

Professor Joe Martin: The Educator Motivator
Go for Your Teaching Goals
Persuade yourself to buy what you’re selling by overexposing yourself to your own commercial. And what are you trying to sell yourself? Your teaching goals.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/columnists/martin/martin012.shtml

Eric Baylin's Songs to Brighten a Teacher's Day
Parent-Teacher Conferences
It's not that most parents aren't supportive. But there's always that one conference... Perhaps a song would help?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/columnists/baylin/baylin019.shtml

Dr. Fred Jones: Tools for Teaching
Incentives Teach Lessons
If you want students to cooperate, you must first answer the question, "Why should I?"
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/columnists/jones/jones014.shtml

Tools for Teaching Implements PBIS
Both Tools for Teaching and PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) seek to develop and implement effective discipline practices.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/columnists/jones/jones037.shtml

Lunchroom Behavior
Does cafeteria duty spoil your appetite? Make it more palatable with these fourteen tips for improving students' lunchroom behavior.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/shore/shore024.shtml

Class Participation
Class participation is an important aspect of student learning. Eight tips to encourage students who are reluctant to share their thoughts.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/shore/shore056.shtml

Ruth Sidney Charney: The Responsive Classroom
Hopes and Dreams
The process of developing hopes and dreams is a process of reviving hope -- and hope is one of our most critical community resources. How do we teach or learn without it?"
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/columnists/charney/charney001.shtml
From Hopes and Dreams Come the Rules
The quest for rules helps us achieve our hopes. “If we are going to learn math, what rules do we need?" “If we are going to make friends, what rules do we need?" The rules help the good things happen.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/columnists/charney/charney002.shtml

Cathy Puett Miller: The Reading Coach
Layering Instruction
The pace of instruction seems our first enemy -- making it imperative that we create multiple opportunities to enforce what we most want children to learn.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/reading/ReadingCoach/ReadingCoach003.shtml

Improving Fluency in Struggling Readers
Fluency is critically connected with how readers gain meaning from print. We need to look at teaching and assessing fluency as a triangle with three important sides...
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/reading/ReadingCoach/ReadingCoach004.shtml

Angela Powell: Getting It Together
Using Individual Math Manipulative Kits
Help students be responsible for their own materials by labeling items with a number corresponding to a number assigned each student.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/organization/organization010.shtml

I See You Have It
Create a visual reminder to track permissions slips, signed report cards, and other required forms.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/organization/organization011.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."

What Great Teachers Do Differently:
Fourteen Things That Matter Most
Todd Whitaker is one of the prolific education writers who continually remind us that teaching is primariliy an art, though it is surrounded by a lot of science (and pseudo-science). As such, Whitaker looks at great practitioners and focuses on what they do that distinguishes them from less-than-great teachers. Among the intriguing chapter headings are: "Restoring Trust," "The Angry Parent," "Handling the High Achievers," and "Treat Everyone As If They Were Good."
Click to learn more or to purchase this book.

The Elementary Math Teacher's Book of Lists
Subtitled, "with Ready-to-Use Patterns Worksheets," this book brings list-mania to math. We often forget, in thinking about math as driven by the familiar symbols for operations, that learning math is as much about learning the meaning of a universe of concepts as it is about learning specific operational skills. This approach offers the practicality of worksheets and activities along with the more conceptual value of covering the major groups of concept words in elementary math.
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
Hen-Picked
Little Red Hen has a thriving pastry business and needs an apprentice. Who should it be?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/reading/ReadersTheater/ReadersTheater009.shtml
The Other Cinderella Story
When Cinderella's stepmother and stepsisters release a new book, their press conference reveals shocking "truths" about the would-be queen.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/reading/ReadersTheater/ReadersTheater001.shtml

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

Best Books for Teaching About…
Each week, Education World presents our Editors’ Choices for the best books for teaching about popular classroom themes. Check out our choices and add your own.
Best Books for Teaching About...
The Life Cycle
Math Concepts
The Alphabet
Games
http://www.educationworld.com/a_bestbooks/archives/students.shtml

Strategies of the Week
Student-Led Conferences
Student-led conferences help students take responsibility for their own learning, reflect on what they have learned, and set goals for themselves.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/strategy/strategy011.shtml
Parent-Teacher Conferences
When it comes to parent-teacher conferences, the most important survival strategy is to be prepared.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/strategy/strategy046.shtml

Go Figure
Count the Monkeys
In this amazing "vanishing" puzzle, students look for an elusive monkey.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/math/go_figure/go_figure001.shtml
What Color Is Your Balloon?
How many balloons of each color does Jeremy have to sell?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/math/go_figure/go_figure002.shtml

Math Features
A Puzzle a Day
Puzzles exercise students' critical thinking skills while providing needed practice in math, spelling, and other areas of the curriculum. Why not introduce a puzzle a day?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson336.shtml

Math and Literature
If you’re looking for a new way to add relevancy to your classroom math activities, the answer may be right in your school library.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr249.shtml

Math Mnemonics
Borrowing in Subtraction
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/mnemonics/mnemonics010.shtml
The Measure of an Angle
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/mnemonics/mnemonics011.shtml

From the Writing Center
Kickball, Calisthenics, and Composition? How Writing Fits in with Phys Ed
See how students in your school can exercise their bodies and their writing skills in phys ed.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev118.shtml
Ten Tips for Young Writers
Write regularly, write about what you know, imitate writers you admire, don't be afraid of rejection… --- tips from an editor of fiction for young readers.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr172.shtml

Write Your Own Life
Sue Flaherty's students contemplate the future.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/teacher_feature/teacher_feature002.shtml
Letters to Home
Alicia Harman’s letter-writing lesson opens lines of communication.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/teacher_feature/teacher_feature132.shtml

Writing Lessons
Killing Overused Words
Create a “Dead Word Wall" to “kill" words overused in student writing. (Grades K-12)
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/02/lp249-02.shtml
Write a Caption
Write captions for amusing photos. (Grades 4-12)
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/01-1/lp224_02.shtml
What a Pair
Older and younger students team up in this cross-grade writing activity. (Grades K-12)
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/02/lp255-02.shtml
Guide Word Sentences
Students write sentences using guide words on a dictionary page. (Grades 3-8)
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/00-2/lp2185.shtml

A Halloween to Remember
As I ran scared, my Halloween candy flew in every direction…
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/writing_bug/writingbug053.shtml
Success and Failure
Is failure a better teacher than success?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/writing_bug/writingbug071.shtml

A Halloween Who, When, Where
Choose a word from each category and then write a scary story based on your choices.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/writing_bug/writingbug053.shtml
A Summer Away
What three special things will you take on a long, long trip?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/writing_bug/writingbug080.shtml

Featured Articles
Can We Talk? What Parents and Teachers Want Each Other to Know
Education World answers the question, "What do you want your child's teacher -- or your student's parent -- to know?"
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev103.shtml

Student-Led Conferences Hold Kids Accountable
Would you like to find a way to actively engage students in their learning process and increase parent attendance at conferences? Student-led conferences can accomplish those two objectives.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr323.shtml

Tips Library
Classroom Management: Get Parents Involved
Behavior Management: Supplies, Noise, Buddy Rooms
Motivating Kids: Celebrate Success
Book Report Makeover: Prove It!
Homework Tips: Countdown to Comprehension
Best Idea: Two "Sense" Worth
Testing Tips: There's a Problem!
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/management_tips/management_tips011.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/behaviortips/behaviortips011.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/motivation/motivation011.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/bookreport/bookreport011.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/homeworktips/homeworktips011.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/bestidea/bestidea011.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/testing/testing011.shtml

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The Principal Poet
Mr. Ivan, Education World's Principal Poet, presents this week’s poem, “Wearing Costumes to School.”
I'd like to wear my costume
For Halloween…to school.
But my teacher says to leave it home.
She said that is the rule…
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/columnists/ivan/ivan004.shtml

Education Humor With Regina Barreca
Why We All Need to Appreciate the Gravity of Transitions
When something terrifies you to the bottoms of your socks, it’s difficult to regard the experience as a privilege. One of the best kids I’ve ever met just recently started college and she’s scared.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/columnists/barreca/barreca033.shtml

Miguel Guhlin: The IT Crowd
Blogging Tools
In the second of a 3-part series on essential tools, we explore blogging. Of all the tools available, this one tool has the potential to bring about the most change in your learning and leading situation.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/columnists/guhlin/guhlin008.shtml

Doug Johnson's Tech Proof
The Importance of an Aggregator
It is only slowly that I am using GoogleReader to stay current on information sources -- to have the news find me instead of me having to find the news.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/columnists/johnson/johnson030.shtml

Nancy Willard: Cyber Savvy
Malware and Porn Traps: What Schools Can Do
Three essential strategies must be followed by schools to prevent accidental access to inappropriate material and to provide specific knowledge of what to do if it does happen.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/columnists/willard/willard005.shtml

Pete Hall's Always Strive To Be a Better You!
Reviving the American Dream
Pete Hall is wondering if the American Dream is dying. "As educators, we can teach -- through some direct instruction and intentional role-modeling -- what the American Dream means," he says. Will you be joining Pete in reviving the American Dream this year?
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/columnists/hall/hall018.shtml

Paul Young's Young @ Heart
The No-Hat Rule
Would you agree that manners and respect for decorum are values that are heading the way of the horse and buggy? Paul Young says a return to teaching manners in school must start at the top.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/columnists/young/young010.shtml

Alma Row's Gadgets of the Week
Dragnifier
Instantly magnify any portion of your computer screen with Dragnifier.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/gadget/gadget009.shtml
Stickies
Stickies allows you to create virtual sticky notes on your desktop.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/gadget/gadget010.shtml

Current Events in the Classroom
Studies have long pointed to the benefits of "current events" programs in shaping a nation of lifelong newsreaders. "Using the news" -- whether in the form of the daily newspaper, TV news reports, or classroom discussions of important events -- can go a long way toward developing an informed citizenry too. So why isn't "Current Events" a part of every classroom curriculum? Included: Activities to help bring current events alive.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_special/current_events.shtml

Friday Fun
"Wax museum biographies,” a great Halloween alternative.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/friday/friday007.shtml

Templates of the Week
Conference Notice and Questionnaire
http://www.educationworld.com/tools_templates/ConferenceNoticeQuestionnaire.doc
Pumpkin Worksheet
http://www.educationworld.com/tools_templates/october_halloween.doc

Wire Side Chat
The Importance Of Nurturing Resiliency in Children
Societal pressures on families and children make resiliency an important characteristic for children to have. Once thought to be an inborn trait, resiliency can be developed and cultivated with help from educators.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/chat/chat233.shtml

School Doodle
An Either "Oar" Question
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/school_doodles/school_doodles20.shtml

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