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If you have questions or are interested in contributing, please contact me at acondron@teachhub.com.

Monday, January 31, 2011

Top 12 Ways to Snap Out of a Teaching Slump


It’s that time of year again. The months between winter break and spring break can feel like the longest days of a teacher’s life. But don’t despair! Here are some ways to snap yourself – or your students – out of that slump.

Read Top 12 Ways to Snap out of a Teaching Slump

Friday, January 28, 2011

Classroom Chuckles with Teacher Toons

As a teacher-of-the-year and cartoonist, Ramon Ramirez uses classroom challenges and teachers lounge fodder as inspiration for his art.

Ramon's Teacher Toons spreads laughter outside his Texas high school to fellow humor-seeking educators around the country, including the nearly 1,000 fans on facebook. Ramon gave TeachHUB the inside scoop on how humor and positivity are the keys to his classroom success.

Read Classroom Chuckles with Teacher Toons

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Why Gender Matters in the Classroom

As educators or parents or just as adults, we all acknowledge that there are differences between boys and girls as well as differences between women and men.

It is imperative that we acknowledge gender differences in the students in our classrooms and take actions to meet the needs of boys and girls or you men and women.

Read Why Gender Matters in the Classroom

Announcing February Freebie Fridays

TeachHUB would like to show our appreciation to all you teachers out there with giveaways and prizes in our February Freebie Fridays on Facebook!

During February, we will be hosting a weekly giveaways filled with fun prizes through our TeachHUB Facebook fan page.

Don't miss out on your chance to win!

Like TeachHUB on Facebook to Win Free Stuff

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Peer Editing: Musical Chairs Edition

Based on the game of musical chairs, I have incorporated an activity that adds some much needed energy to the revision process, and will help them become better editors.

Here’s how I do it:

Read Peer Editing: Musical Chairs Edition

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Effective Assessment: 4 Questions Every Teacher Should Ask

Classroom assessment may be challenging given the current expectations placed on you. You may be one of the many teachers who reports feeling increased pressures from school administrators, students’ families, your students, as well as society-at-large.

Here are four vital questions that will help you become more effective with your classroom assessments - increasing students' achievement, student test scores and your job security.

Read Effective Assessment: 4 Questions Every Teacher Should Ask

Announcing the iPad Giveaway

Trade Your Lesson Plans for Chances to Win an iPad!

For every lesson you submit, you'll earn one entry in the TeachHUB iPad Giveaway. The more lessons you share, the better your odds of winning!

Prize: Apple iPad

To Enter: Submit a single classroom lessons for a single entry. You are welcome to submit as many lessons you've got to improve your chances of winning.

Enter early, enter often!

Deadline: A winner will be chosen at random on Monday, May 16 at 12 p.m. CST

Enter to win an iPad

Monday, January 24, 2011

10 Things Your Students Won't Tell You

If your students are like mine, they will tell you many things you’d rather not hear, but there are some things they are likely thinking about you and your teaching abilities that they won’t say to your face.

Here are the Top 10 Things Your Students Are Thinking But Won't Tell You that really inspire self-reflection…or picking up a pair of tweezers.

Read 10 Things Your Students Won't Tell You

Friday, January 21, 2011

Learn Me Good: Flip Flopping & Simple Science Lessons

Ever think your work emails or teacher stories are so awesomely entertaining, ridiculous or endearing that the whole world needs to read them? Well, John Pearson did and he was right!

Written as a series of emails by "Jack Woodson" to a former engineering colleague, Pearson's Learn Me Good documents his "baptism by fire" of his first year in the classroom.

Enjoy this excerpt in which Jack shares a story of flip flopping student guesses and shows how Sprite and science factor into his daily classroom management.

Read this Learn Me Good excerpt

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Class Size Insanity

Two big news items about class size and “innovative” approaches to education have our very own Mrs. Mimi, Jennifer Scoggin, sounding off about how administrators are missing the mark and setting students AND teachers up for failure.

Oversized Experiment in Class Size
When I saw an article about a 60-student kindergarten class in the paper this morning, I thought it was a joke, a tongue in cheek commentary on education innovation. After I had another sip of my coffee, I realized this is no joke... some “innovative” administrator thought it was a great idea to stick 60 small children in one classroom with four teachers.

Not only does the idea of 60 first graders running rampant in a 2,000 square foot classroom make me want to poke myself in the eye, it kind of makes me angry.

Read Class Size Insanity

Camcorder Giveaway: Deadline Monday!!

This is the last week to enter TeachHUB's Classroom Camcorder Giveaway, so get your name in to win while you still can!

Be sure to tell your co-workers, friends or blog/twitter followers to up that your chances of being part of the winning team :)

Prize: Aiptek HD 720p Camcorder with 3x Optical Zoom

This easy-to-use camcorder is perfect for classroom projects and saving your school memories. You and your students will be able to easily capture impressive HD pictures or videos using the swivel, reversible LCD display & zoom features.

Deadline: A winner will be chosen at random on Monday, January 24 at 12 p.m. CST

Enter Classroom Camcorder Giveaway now!!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Women's History Lesson: Your Place in the Race

As educators, we often try to teach our students more than just facts and formulas. Being an avid female runner, there is a certain historical story which holds great meaning to me and teaches a lesson that cannot be graded through any test or quiz.

On April 19, 1967, Kathrine Switzer entered the all-male Boston Marathon. Since then, the sport of marathon racing has never been the same. I share Switzer's story with my students each year, as there are too many life lessons from it not to.

Read Women's History Lesson: Your Place in the Race

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

1:1 Classrooms: How to Develop Connected Learning Communities

In her international teaching blog, Kim shares how she and her colleagues are implementing a 1:1 environment in their schools by creating a supportive community with teachers, administrators, parents and students.

Here are her step-by-step plans to ensure that their 1:1 classrooms are successful.

Read 1:1 Classrooms: How to Develop Connected Learning Communities

Monday, January 17, 2011

Awards Show Inspired Video Writing Prompts

3-5: Acceptance Speech
Pretend you're winning an award for doing outstanding work at school. Write an acceptance speech thanking everyone who helped you be a good student. Bonus: Give you speech to the class!

9-12: Award Show Reporter
As a reporter, you're tasked with interviewing nominees after the awards. To prepare, write five questions you'll ask the winners. Then, write five questions you'll ask nominees who didn't win.

Watch & Read Awards Show-Inspired Video Writing Prompts

Friday, January 14, 2011

Spotlight Teacher: Denise Christianson

Sunset Middle School
Williamson County, Tennessee

If you could have any person (living, dead or fictional) as a principal, who would it be?
My dad. My dad is a great leader. He has always allowed freedom from his employees and trusted them implicitly. At the same time, he expects quality work to be done.

What profession other than your own would you most like to attempt?
If I were to do something other than teach, I would open a tea shop.

Read Denise's Teacher Spotlight feature

Libraries Vanishing from Schools

More and more schools have had to make the hard decision to either keep or cut out the schools library. The sad thing is, that’s the schools first thing they think of when making budget cuts.

While advances in eReaders and online research capabilities may seem to make libraries obsolete, it is important to recognize the valuable tools to students' learning being lost as libraries disappear.

Read Libraries Vanishing from Schools

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Using Rap, Rock & Pop Music to Teach

Did you know that rock, rap and pop music could be used as a teaching and learning tool? This doesn't mean you have to stand in front of your class belting out the rules of reading, writing and arithmetic either.

Educators, teachers, and school administrators could all use music as a way to reach students and make learning more fun, interactive, and memorable. Rock music can even be used very effectively as a tool in whole brain learning and multicultural learning. Here are a few fun, effective ways you can tap into rap, rock and pop music in your classroom.

Read Using Rap, Rock & Pop Music to Teach

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Navigating Cultural Competence in the Classroom

Are you capable of teaching your students about their cultures and the cultures of other students in the classroom and school? Do you feel confident that your content and teaching style meet the cultural needs and interests of your students? How comfortable are you in guiding your students to understand differences, accept one another, and behave appropriately?

These questions are some of the issues that teachers consider when determining their cultural competence in the classroom. Although you probably completed a course in multicultural education or valuing cultural diversity during your teacher education program, you may continue to grapple with issues of cultural competence during your teaching career.

This article presents a compass to help you navigate cultural competence.

Read Navigating Cultural Competence in the Classroom

Monday, January 10, 2011

Common Core Standards: My Hopeful vs. Cynical Reviews

After attending a few CCSS roll out sessions, I'm still far from an expert on the initiative but this change sparks debate between my optimism and cynicism in education.

Here are 3 things I learned about the Common Core Standards and conflicting reviews from my hopeful and cynical self.

Read Common Core Standards: My Hopeful vs. Cynical Reviews

Friday, January 7, 2011

Using Science News to Launch Learning

Research has repeatedly shown that one of the most powerful ways to get students excited about Science is to connect them with the excitement of breaking research news within the field.

Here are a few examples of great websites that you can use to transport your students to the cutting edge of scientific discovery.

Read Using Science News to Launch Learning

Why Are All the Good Teachers Crazy? (Book Excerpt)

Real teaching isn't all apples, honor students and cutely decorated bulletin boards. Frank Stepnowski's Why Are All the Good Teachers Crazy? shows just how real things can get in the classroom.

Stepnowski's honest, hilarious stories from his 20 years teaching will ring true for those educators who can understand the challenge, frustration, humor and humanity in teaching. This excerpt from Why Are All the Good Teachers Crazy? gives you a glimpse into one of Frank's riotously funny teaching experiences.

Read Why Are All the Good Teachers Crazy? excerpt

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Using Wii in the Classroom

Video games and educational lessons….seems like an oxymoron, right? Well not so much anymore. With the latest gaming technology, students can now use video games to improve their exercise, fitness, math, science, and cognitive skills.

The Wii system is one of those gaming systems that is providing digital fun activities to students. Here is a look at this system and games schools are using in their classrooms.

Read Wii in the Classroom

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

How the New Childhood Nutrition Act Will Affect Your School

President Obama signed a new childhood nutrition act that will provide $4.5 billion over 10 years.

Here’s a quick rundown of how this law will affect your school.

Read How the New Childhood Nutrition Act Will Affect Your School

Monday, January 3, 2011

Top 12 New Year’s Resolutions for Teachers

It's time for that yearly tradition of reflection and resolutions for the upcoming new year.

Get inspired with our list of the Top 12 New Year's Resolution for Teachers.

Read Top 12 New Year’s Resolutions for Teachers