Category: First Year Teachers

This refers to documents, ventures, and discussions that aid educators as they become familiar with their students. In learner profiles, one can find information on the individual’s following aspects: ·         Knowledge base, interests, and strengths ·         Ambitions and fierce desires ·         What the individual likes or dislikes ·         Life history ·         Major learning methods ·         Potential blockades to learning There’re also other factors considered important by either the student or teacher. Learner profiles aim to bridge …

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Teachers indeed gain more knowledge when working than they do while studying. However, if you’re starting in this field, there are a few essential books that you should read. Open an Amazon account, grab your highlighter, and curl up with a few of these treasures right away. Here are the top 10 books for brand-new educators: The First-Year Teacher’s Checklist: A Quick Reference for Classroom Success by Julia G. Thompson Few natural forces are as powerful as a committed instructor. You are correct, Julia G. Thompson. She questions how we manage to multitask while entertaining and nurturing others. She briefly reviews some of the …

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The life of a teacher can be incredibly fulfilling and joyous at sometimes and soul-crushing at others. The weight of extracurriculars, administrative pressures, standardized testing, parental pressure, student misbehavior, lack of support, IEP meetings, professional development, and countless other responsibilities can make teachers lose sight of their purpose and passion while crippling them with stress, anxiety, and depression. What can teachers do to tap back into why they began this career in the first place? The Importance Of Self-Care Just as airlines state to place an oxygen max on yourself before helping others, a similar approach should be taken by …

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Great teachers already know that incentives and rewards are critical in classroom management systems and the development of a culture of learning. However, do we understand the research that supports these practices? We’ll explore some of the key findings of motivation and incentive research, both inside and outside of the classroom. Certain vs. Uncertain Rewards In one study, students participated in a math quiz. They were provided two options for rewards: 1 point guaranteed (Mr. Certain), or 0-2 points awarded randomly (Mr. Uncertain). Students reported that they “felt a range of emotions in relation to Mr. Uncertain, including frustration, but …

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A reader from Seattle, Washington recently wrote in with the following question: What classroom jobs do you think will work best in the classroom, and why? I consider this to be a really good question, especially when you think about the ramifications of classroom jobs on classroom management and discipline. Instead of replying directly to her email, I informed her that I would be answering it in an upcoming post. Since I am true to my word, that is exactly what I am going to do. When it comes to classroom jobs, there are so many to choose from. I …

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Inquiry learning, or inquiry-based learning, is about triggering a student’s curiosity. With this model, classrooms tend to be more student-driven than teacher-focused. With inquiry learning, a student’s own curiosity propels her to investigate a concept and deepen her knowledge with little teacher intervention. This all sounds well and good, but how do we intrigue our students to such a degree that they are eager to investigate the topic on their own? Well, it all comes down to the types of questions we ask students- and how we ask these questions. Rather than a science, asking great inquiry questions is more …

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Recently there was a situation covered in USA Today that included the New York City ban on bias against black hair. All too frequently, policies have been put into place that penalizes black people based on the style and texture of their hair. These have been determined to violate their human rights and are therefore against the law. The policies have affected news anchors, professors, and even students. Why does this matter? Because when bias affects learning and living, it becomes a prevalent problem that needs to be addressed. Hair, signs, symbols, images, and overall aesthetics associated with hip-hop or …

Continue reading “Where Do Biases Start? A Challenge To Educators”