Classroom Methods Help to Engage Students in the Material “How do you have so much control in your classroom?” “How do you get 100% student participation?” “How do you activate the whole brain when teaching students?” These are some questions that can be answered by Whole Brain Teaching. Whole Brain Teaching is a high energy, highly […]
Resources and Practices
Differentiated Instruction with the Jedi Academy
Structured Program Assists Students in Completing Online Work As more classrooms are becoming 1-to-1 with students and technology, two high school teachers chose to differentiate through tiering processes with the Canvas LMS system. The beginning of the year was the first time students at our school experienced Canvas LMS. The first few units were done […]
Science and Robotics Clubs
Afterschool Science Club Gives Students the Ability for More Hands-On Activities I started this program to get kids excited about science and learning. I send permission slips home with the fourth graders near the beginning of the school year. I make sure they know I will allow the first 30 students, that return their permission […]
Minecraft Camp Invites “Struggling” Students into School-Based Literacy Activities
Program Designed to Help Struggling Students with Literacy What: This activity took place in a Title I school in which over 90% of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch and about 25% are identified as English learners. Because we receive federal and state money, we also have numerous government mandates to fulfill. Some […]
Fostering Academic Accountability in High School Students While Improving Communication with Parents and Teachers
Weekly Plan Implemented to Help Keep Students Accountable For Their Academic Commitments This Best Practice was implemented to help students improve failing or low grades from the mid-term grading period to the end of the semester. A Grade Improvement Plan (GIP) template was designed to aid students and teachers in tailoring strategies for improvement to […]
Collaboration with Dry Erase Boards
Dry Erase Boards Creates a Culture of Conversation While Encouraging Small Group Interactions In the realm of education and instruction, collaboration is a hot topic. The mathematics classroom thrives on collaboration among students, fostering deeper thinking. Use of dry erase boards can enhance problem solving, boost self-confidence, and assist in the practice of mathematics. This […]
Linking Theory to Practice to Support Authentic Learning for Preservice Teachers
Seminars Created for Student Teachers For decades research polls have identified school discipline and classroom management as among the top challenges most teachers at some point face during their professional careers. New teachers as well as some veteran teachers frequently cite classroom management as a primary concern in their teaching practice, and preservice teachers often […]
Use of “The Recovery Process” for Disruptive Classroom Students
The “Recovery Process” Allows the Teacher to Preserve the Classroom Learning Environment The “Recovery Process” is one of the nine-skills found in the multimedia training program, 9 Essential Skills for the Love and Logic Classroom. This process allows the teacher to preserve the learning environment when nothing seems to be working with the student. We […]
Transitioning Toddlers
Elicited Transitioning Strategies Help Toddlers Throughout the Day When you look at a typical toddler schedule, it might go like this: Drop-off, breakfast, free-play, potty, snack, circle time, outside, potty, lunch, nap, potty, free-play, pick-up. It may seem like a full day but consider this: between each activity the children must transition. Transitioning can be […]
Camping and Hiking Trip
Spring Break Trip Allows Urban Students to Learn About the Wildnerness Being a school focused toward at-risk youth who have grown up in an urban centered environment we wanted to design a program that would allow students to experience a meaningful lesson outside of the typical classroom structure. A program director was able to contact […]
The Egg Drop Project
Hands-On Activity Helps Students Integrate STEM Concepts with Content Writing 7th grade science, math, and English honors teachers at Southside Middle School developed a cross-curricular egg drop project to integrate STEM concepts with content writing. Student were challenged to design, create, test, and analyze a BESS (Better Egg Shipping System) that would protect a dropped […]
Student Led
Students Transform Into Leaders of Their Own Learning Through a Variety of Student Led Activities and Student Engaged Assessments As an EL Education school, we are constantly looking for ways to better serve our students and to learn and grow as educators just as we would ask our students to do. One way to create […]
Flocabulary
Online Music Videos Help Keep Students Engaged in the Classroom Flocabulary is a website that can be found at www.flocabulary.com and the free videos can be accessed from any classroom or home. Flocabulary music videos are aligned with the Common Core State Standards and can be incorporated in multiple subjects such as reading, math, language arts, science, […]
Social Media in the Classroom
Social Media Connects Students with Others at All Times After becoming a connected educator myself, I began to understand the possibilities of connecting my students through social media. After checking our Responsible Use Policy and lengthy discussions with district administration, I began slowly incorporating social media, specifically Twitter, into my lessons. We started slowly, with positive […]
PBIS Initiatives
Students Rewarded for Doing the Right Thing Our PBIS team has created a positive set of school wide expectations for all areas of the school. We have put into place many incentives for students who do the right thing. We have a student of the month breakfast for those students selected in the different curriculum […]
Grissom & Southside: Working Together
Students Encouraged to Give Back to Their Community Southside Middle School 7th and 8th grade teachers have implemented a collaborative and cross-curricular program to encourage students to contribute to the growth and development of their community and begin life-long habits of philanthropy. Once each month, students from the 7th and 8th grade honors program at […]
Assessment: A Window Into Students’ Thinking. Look, Listen, and Learn!
Professional Development Workshop Created to Help Teachers Meet Student Needs In May 2015, Southside Middle School, participated in an AdvanceED diagnostic review. One of the findings and identified improvement priorities was to hold Professional Development regarding topics including best practices, classroom management, team building, and formal/ informal assessment. This workshop will highlight certain formal and […]
Workplace training through JEL
Students are Given the Opportunity to Complete Work Training JEL (J.Everett Light) is a workplace training program offered to our Junior and Seniors. As an alternative charter school, Options High School has a very diverse population of students. Many of these students don’t plan on attending a traditional 4 year college. To help prepare these […]
Game Based Learning in Science Classes
In-Class Games Help Students Apply Key Concepts In my high school science classes I attempt to keep lecture time down per each one hour class. The remainder of the time is spent applying the class concepts to various content related problems. I break students into groups every class for collaborative learning. In an effort to […]
S.W.A.G.G.E.R. Wall
Students Rewarded for Good Grades The goal at Southside Middle School is to promote responsibility and a strong work ethic with students. In order to achieve a positive academic atmosphere, we reward students for good grades. Students who receive a good grade on an assignment, test, or project are identified by their teacher. The teacher […]
Classroom Economy
Classroom Jobs Teach Students About Economics This best practice was developed to meet the second grade economic standards. It begins by teaching the content and introducing vocabulary words: needs, wants, producers, consumers, goods, services, opportunity cost, save, spend, and donate. After the majority of the content has been addressed the students begin the interview and […]
Jigsaw Activity in the World Language Classroom
Interactive Activity Helps Students Create Their Own Learning During our unit on travel and transportation, I wanted to design an activity that was more interactive than simply finding information from an authentic French website. I know that the “jigsaw” technique is a cooperative learning strategy that allows students to create their own learning. I found […]
Math Thinkers – Math Talkers
Students Learn to Try Multiple Strategies to Solve Math Problems Young students learn how to explain their math reasoning and thinking using math strategies. Students can verbalize how they solve math problems and share their thinking process. Multiple strategies are taught and students have choices and voice in what strategy they use. Students are encouraged […]
Let’s Get Visual
Visual Cue Cards Enhance Classroom Management This summer, I attended a conference on appealing to special needs students. There were many strategies presented about adding more visual elements to your classroom. I felt like I wasn’t doing enough to appeal to the visual learners in my classroom. This year, I have tried out visual cue […]
Alternatives to saying “Good Job!”
Teachers Work to Change Their Daily Language This presentation will include 10 main tips for changing our teaching language from general to detailed, expressive and meaningful. Suggestions: 1. Use sentence starters: Example: “I see you…” or “I heard you…” Use thought openers: Example: “Show me how you….”, “Tell me more about…” 2. Notice and provide […]
A Great Way to Integrate: Language Arts and Social Studies Combined
Two Departmentalized Teachers Integrate Lessons to Help Students Become More Engaged Two departmentalized teachers share how they integrate their subject matter to make lessons meaningful for their students. There are strategies, lessons, and tips on how they easily manage their cross-curricular planning. Challenges or Obstacles: Challenges can occur if you are sharing the subjects mentioned […]
Kennedy Assassination: Crime Scene Investigation
Unique Class Assignment Encourages Students to Use Problem Solving and Communication Skills Students travel back in history to 1960 to the presidential election between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy. We spend a week acquiring biographical information while comparing and contrasting the influence of media then and now. Once students have a good understanding of […]
Learning Centers: Not Just for Elementary Students
Learning Centers Enable Teachers to Cover More Content and Increase Student Participation When secondary teachers struggle to keep students engaged learning decreases. The use of active learning centers increases student engagement, participation, and therefore learning. There are some tangible advantages to including learning centers in the classroom. Experience has shown that students actually tend to be […]
Ultimate Frisbee as Civic Engagement
Playing Ultimate Frisbee Helps Enhance Communication Skills The Ultimate Frisbee Club at Northside Middle School was created after students showed an interest in playing the sport. However, it was selected because many of our students struggle to communicate effectively with peers, as well as adults. They are capable of stating opinions, and willing to argue […]
“Why I Teach” Video #2
“Why I Teach” Video #1
Student Led Conferences
Student Led Parent-Teacher Conferences Increase Student Confidence Student Led Conferences facilitate student articulation of learning, student-engaged assessment through review and reflection, and parent engagement. As parent-teacher conferences transition to parent-teacher-student conferences, students become a part of the conversation and become involved in the process of reflecting on their progress. After parents and students understand that both […]
Sensory Circuits
Bringing a School Together to Increase Motor Ability in Students Upon a new assignment to this elementary building, the Occupational Therapist quickly became aware that there were options to help the teachers. The Occupational Therapy strategies needed to be developed and planned with administration support and teacher input. A program was developed for the […]
Golden Beads: A Golden Ticket for Teaching Math
Use of Beads Helps to Introduce Mathematical Concepts The Golden Beads are used to give a concrete introduction to the decimal system. The Golden Beads, like all Montessori materials, are very tactile, attractive, and easy to understand. The material consists of: “unit” beads, which are just individual bead “tens” bars, which are made of 10“unit” […]
Student Led Book Clubs
Book Club Allows Students to Take Ownership for Their Reading Book Club was originally created through collaboration with a third grade teacher(me) and fifth grade teacher who were seeking a way to empower students to have meaningful discussions on complex texts that were being read in class. When Book Club was first created, the whole […]
Intervention for All: Encouraging Growth of Language Arts Mastery
English Enrichment Program Allows Students the Opportunity to Experience in Depth Exploration of Class Standards At Northside Middle School, we knew a key component to achieving success in the mastery of language arts would be to encourage growth from all of our students. While many intervention programs are aimed at only the bottom or top […]
7th Grade Honors Capstone Project
Students are Given a Chance to Make the Community Better An inquiry-based investigation based on the idea, “Any community has the potential to grow, to serve better its members, become safer, or present a more enjoyable environment. How can you make your community better?” The project included the four stages of proposal, research, presentation, and […]
Co-Teaching
Use of Two Teachers in the Classroom Creates a Calm Environment for Children to Learn Co-Teaching is not easy and for some can be uncomfortable. Once you have the right two individuals come together, they form a bond that is beneficial to the learning and development of young children. Co-Teaching is a practice that has […]
Growing a STEM program with Rube Goldberg Machines
After School Program Allows Students to Excel in an International Event to Promote the STEM Field The Rube Goldberg Machine Contest originally began as a competition against Purdue engineering organization. Today, it has grown into an international event that inspires all students to design, build, problem solve, and present. In recent years, Science, Technology, Engineering, […]
Brain Breaks with GoNoodle
Implementation of Break Breaks Develops Students Memory and Fluency in Common Core Subjects GoNoodle is a free website that can be found at www.GoNoodle.com and can be accessed from any classroom or home. GoNoodle works with Common Core subject experts to create brain breaks that develop memory and fluency in math, spelling, and vocabulary in the form of […]
Co-Teaching
Implementation of a Co-teaching Model Enhances Small Group and Individualized Instruction for Students From 2013-2015 the first grade team at Burris Laboratory School implemented a co-teaching model. All first grade students are taught together using differentiated teaching methods. Teachers use whole group, flexible small group, and one-on-one instruction. Groups are identified through the use of […]
Study Buddy Time
Older Students Help Younger Students Succeed in a Dual Credit Math Class This is a technique that we used in a dual credit math class that had 4 eighth grade students. It was used to ensure that the underclassmen enrolled in this Dual credit College Algebra class would succeed. Each eighth grader was assigned to […]
Best “Cs” in the Classroom
Use of the 5 C’s in the Classroom Helps to Engage Students Project Based Learning: In choosing rubric design and criteria to guide students as they research, analyze, and present topics, remembering the best “Cs” in the classroom leads to learning, interesting discussion, and creative and affective product development. The Best “Cs”: Choice; Collaboration; Communication; […]
Engaging At-Risk Students for Complex Learning
Training Staff to Respond to the Mental States of At-Risk Students Leads to Increased Academic Performance At-Risk students have faced challenges in education over time, but with the progression into college and career readiness skills and more complex learning, the challenges are even greater. By training staff to understand and respond to the mental states […]
Using the Spanish Subjunctive Mood in the Real World
Students Get the Opportunity to See the Spanish Subjunctive Mood Applied to the Realities of Their World After a thorough introduction to and MANY practice activities with the uses of the Spanish Subjunctive Mood in Noun Clauses, students then read a cultural unit on Central America and watch a video about the growth of tourism in […]
The Heart of Alternative Education: Understanding the Individualized Service Plan
Ways to Help Students Who Have an Individualized Service Plan (ISP) Options Charter Schools currently run two full-school alternative programs in Hamilton County. In order for our schools to qualify for alternative education funding we must service students that fall under one of the five categories of eligible students: (1) Intend to withdraw or have withdrawn from […]
WIDA English Learner Standards and School-wide Professional Development
Staff Meetings Increased Teachers’ Knowledge of the WIDA English Language Development (ELD) Standards Rhoades Elementary, in the MSD of Wayne Township, Indianapolis, is a Title I building with approximately 25% of our students identified as English learners. With Indiana’s adoption of the College & Career Ready and WIDA ELD* Standards, it became increasingly important to build […]
Results with Readers Workshop in First Grade
Reading Workshop Helps Develop Life-Long Passionate Readers Readers Workshop in our classroom is an extended period of time during our Language Arts Block devoted to reading and responding to literature. A mini lesson begins the workshop everyday. Children are then released to their “book nook” to read literary and informational text at their level and […]
The Roots of Rap
Students Learn About Slavery and How its Effects are Still Present Today in Rap Music This project is intended to help students draw connections between the history of oppression (slavery) in the American south and contemporary issues that plague the African-American community today. Students begin researching the oppressive nature of colonization and subjugation and then […]
Have You TITHED?…Taught In The Hallway Every Day?
Math Students More Successful as Teacher Utilizes Instructional Activities During Transitional Times Throughout the School Day My students deserve the best education opportunities they can get. A lot of my students have been in need of more instructional time to practice and master math skills so that they can be successful in the classroom, on state […]
Black History Month Essay Contest
Essay Contest Brings Local Students and Their Community Together Anderson High School actively sought community participation in sponsoring a Black History Month Essay Contest taking place during the month of February. This was a school-wide initiative implemented during our 8-Step Process Success Period. Writing skills are constantly practiced and reinforced across all content areas at […]
Use of Quarter Courses to Increase Curriculum Diversity for High Ability High School Students
Quarter Length Courses Allow Students the Choice Between Multiple Narrowly Focused Subject Matters Throughout the Semester Quarter courses were developed to increase the diversity of courses available to high ability students. Courses last for half a semester and are usually developed in pairs taught by the same instructor. Topics for quarter courses are usually more narrowly […]
Integrating Science into Physical Education
Teaching Students About the Connections Between Physical Education and Science Helps Them to be Actively Engaged I focused on integrating science into our physical education program throughout the year. My goal is for students to be actively engaged in physical activity while learning about science. This year, the students had a chance to learn how […]
Turning Caps/Lids into Tables
Children’s Involvement in Collecting Plastic Caps and Creating Tables Enhances Environmental Awareness We first became aware of Green Tree Plastics, Inc. and their ABC Partnership program when two former CUMNS Kids students asked for help in gathering plastic caps and lids for their elementary school’s bench project. As we got involved in helping them, our […]
Authentic Assessment in Early Childhood Education
Gathering Information About Children Through a Variety of Ways Latin derivative of the word “assessment” is “to sit beside and get to know”…Let’s get to know our children by using an ongoing process of gathering information through observation & regular documentation then sharing & requesting input from a variety of professionals. We will look at […]
The 10 Day Push
Last Minute Review Helps More Students Pass the English 10 ECA Kay Winter, former AHS instructional/ data coach, heard about The 10 Day Push used at another high school with incredible results. They reported that 60% of their students who participated in The Push passed the English 10 ECA. Kay brought the idea to AHS, […]
The Shot Heard Round the Town: Engaging Young Children in the Work of Social Justice
Students Concerns Spark Community Involvement When students became concerned with gunshots they were hearing in their neighborhood, we were called into action. Leaving this teachable moment as just a classroom discussion left us feeling unsatisfied. As early childhood educators, we were not able to give our students the answers they desired on gun violence. We sought […]
Classroom Engagement
Professional Development Session Helps Teachers to Improve Student Engagement After thoroughly reading Dr. Robert Marzano’s “The Art and Science of Teaching,” Storer staff members conducted a professional development session where we analyzed each chapter and provided each other with examples on how we can use this information throughout the school building. After this session, each staff […]
Cultural Literacy in English Enrichment
Enrichment Course Enhances Students Knowledge of Cultural Experiences The English Enrichment courses at Muncie Community Schools were designed to provide students with extra exposure and practice in key English/Language Arts skills. As an entirely new class, this meant developing a course from nothing. I hired on to teach this course last year, and decided immediately to turn […]
Making Science A Priority In Today’s Classroom
Activities Help Students Learn to Foster an Appreciation for Science Using STEM activities; along with detailed lab manuals, will help you to foster an appreciation for science with your students. Students need the opportunity to manipulate materials, trial and error, and use verbal and written communication to describe how things work. STEM activities are great […]
Community Inclusion: Bringing a Novel to Life
Using Classic Literature to Inspire Student Success Through Inclusion So many great works of literature connect to universal themes experienced by our students. Students in high school with functional reading levels significantly below their peers need assistance in accessing the literature their peers study in general education high school English classes. Finding time to collaborate […]
Making the Reading and Writing Connection
After School Program Helps Students with Reading and Writing Wes-Del Elementary Comp Camp was begun several years ago by Shirley Thacker. Comp Camp is held in the spring, fall, and in the summer as an after school program. Mrs. Thacker is a certified presenter with the Indiana Writing Project and has presented her information in Washington […]
Hands-On Projects in AP Physics
Students Apply Concepts Learned in Class to a Real World Environment Each project was implemented to provide students opportunities to directly test physics concepts in a real world environment. Egg-Drop Ships – This is a first semester project given to students after a discussion on kinematics and forces. Students are given a specific material list […]
Celebrating Me, Celebrating You: We Are Alike and Different
Students Learn About Culture and Diversity This unit is literacy based, integrating culture and diversity. A center-based, hands-on approach is used to facilitate instruction and differentiation, while promoting tolerance, diversity, and acceptance. Children move from center to center in heterogonous groups. A class library is also available for self-selected reading of fiction and nonfiction texts […]
Online Professional Development
Ways to Enhance Teacher Development Sustained professional development time has been curtailed due to changes in school scheduling. In addition, there is an online course management tool (MBC) that was underutilized. Some professional development materials and discussion topics were presented via MBC. Teachers responded to pertinent topics such as cultural competency, engaging children from poverty, […]
Reducing Office Referrals for Targeted Students
Creation of a Progressive Discipline Plan Helps Keep Students in the Classroom Assistant Principals have reduced the number of referrals for targeted students who had 5 or more referrals during the previous school year. Students who have consistently violated school rules have missed instructional time due to office referrals, suspensions and parent meetings to address […]
Student Literacy Projects in the Virtual Setting
Literacy Projects Helps Virtual Learning Students The virtual learning world is still a new one. Many projects, and project ideas, begin in the brick and mortar setting. Teachers in the virtual world are always looking for ways to translate those projects into the virtual setting, especially when thinking of literacy projects for our elementary students. […]
Interactive Science Notebooks
Use of Interactive Science Notebooks Enhance Students Organizational Skills A study source to enable you to be a creative, independent thinker and learner! Your Interactive Science Notebook (INB) will increase your understanding of science by: Using writing as a process for discovery and synthesis of inquiry; Modeling many enduring functions of scientists- recording information, data, […]
Simple & Compound Machines
Using Science in Daily Life Through our unit on simple & compound machines students will “explore the significance of science in their lives”, have “hands-on inquiry that involves a series of steps with Questioning, Observation, Organizing Data, Explanation, Reflection, Taking Action,” and they will “integrate reading, writing, speaking, and math.” These objectives are listed as […]
Directions in Disney World
Creating Disney World Directions in Spanish Helps Students Learn Second year Spanish students have a unit on giving formal commands. Giving directions to a stranger at Disney World makes the exercise more realistic, so I collected maps in Spanish at Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, Animal Kingdom & Hollywood Studios. I created 4 stations, one for each […]
Article of the Week
News Articles Help Students Develop Reading Skills The Article of the Week is based on a concept developed by educator Kelly Gallagher. Gallagher recognized that the chief reason his students were struggling with reading comprehension was due to their lack of prior knowledge. His solution was “Article of the Week.” Students are assigned a current […]
Literature Circles
Students Read Novels and Look at a Variety of Literary Elements Students pick a novel based on a variety of characteristics. The students are then separated into groups and read the novel with this group of peers. Each night the students are given a task to complete in order to help the group see the novel through […]
Interactive Notebooks In Middle School Language Arts
Interactive Notebooks Help Students Organize and Synthesize Information The purpose of the interactive notebook is to enable students to be creative, independent thinkers and writers. Interactive notebooks are used for class notes as well as for other activities where the student will be asked to express his/her own ideas and process the information presented in class. The purpose behind […]
Community Support at Wes-Del Elementary
Partnering with Community Organizations Shafer and Smith have partnered with numerous community organizations in an effort to meet the continuing needs of their students. They believe that through this partnership, their students will not only be supported academically, but will have both physical and emotional needs met as well. Submitted by: Tracy Shafer and Rachel […]
The Community in the School
Students and School Staff Give Back to Their Community The school relies on active parental involvement, supported by the people, places and things of the community. The whole community is a component of the school’s programming with place-based learning activities. The students and school staff give back to their community. Submitted by: Susie Pierce, Rural […]
All Pro Dad’s Breakfast Program
Fathers Join Children for a Monthly Breakfast at School This practice is encouraging and increasing parental involvement by creating a forum for fathers to connect with their children. During this time, fathers and children set monthly goals for spending time together and sharing their feelings for each other. Fathers are given strategies for becoming the […]
Academic Field Trips: Gettysburg, Mt. Vernon and Washington, D.C.
Field Trips as a Learning Experience The world is your classroom. Learning can—and should—happen everywhere. But valuable learning experiences outside the classroom require planning, execution and follow up in addition to financial resources. Convincing a principal or superintendent that the experience is valuable is not always easy. But Despite these challenges, a carefully planned and […]
Reciprocal Reading
Group Reading Encourages Continual Engagement Based on the four fundamental comprehension skills (summarizing, questioning, clarifying and predicting), this research-based approach challenges all readers to think within, about and beyond the text. Students work together collaboratively within a group and assume roles to complete the task at hand. Participation of all group members is essential for […]
Renaissance 4th-8th Grade Reading
Students Read an Impressive Variety of Literature and Share Their Findings The Upper Elementary Reading Program is one of the great strengths at Renaissance Academy. Students read an impressive variety of literature which they discuss in small book groups. The reading program is coordinated with the social studies curriculum, and also tied to the science […]
Placement
Placement Testing We test new students with a 32-question placement test. This is combined with the student’s mathematics SAT score and adjusted based on the courses the student has already taken to determine the placement in junior-year mathematics courses. Developing the placement process included determining the weights for each input (placement test, SAT and previous […]
Responsive Instruction Plan
Changing School Diversity Creates a Need for Change At Orchard Park Elementary School in Carmel, Indiana, we are seeing increasing diversity in our school population. As the population changes, we are seeing more need for student services that help with academics, behavioral issues, social skills, and other areas related to issues of poverty, English as a […]
Solar House Activity
Construction of a Solar House Promotes Sustainability Education This is a Solar House construction activity originally from Wendy Van Norton developed for College Board AP Environmental Science but can be used at both Middle School and High School levels successfully. The activity engages teams of students in the design and construction of a passive solar […]
Brain Breaks: Energized for Learning
Giving Breaks Enhances the Brain Brain breaks introduce physical activity into the classrooms from the classroom teachers. It assists in transitioning students between classroom subjects and increases student engagement for further classroom functioning. With the guidance of the PE staff, teachers are given training modules and resources to assist with the brain break activities. These […]
High School Social Studies
Exercise to Encourage Students to Embrace Politics Teaching the American Presidential election of 1960 using the commercial simulation “1960: Making of the President” (Z-Man Games: 2007). This is a relatively sophisticated simulation that uses familiar board-game concepts (turns, cards, mapboard, marker cubes, etc.) to examine the classic — and close — Kennedy vs. Nixon electoral […]
Practice Leading to Student Achievement
Individualized Service Plan Helps Students Students who attend schools today are facing an array of challenges unlike any we have seen in previous generations. When they attend school many of these challenges significantly impact their ability to perform civically, socially, and academically. Students who enroll at Options Charter Schools enter the enrollment phase by filling […]
Data Drive Instruction
Data Team Summaries Drive Educational Instruction Grade level teams meet weekly to discuss both formative and summative data. For example, upper grades use daily math work to form small intervention groups at the end of each day. Primary grade levels often look at the depth of knowledge about a newly introduced concept. Decisions are made […]
Reading and Writing Across Subjects
Writing Enhances Student Achievement This is an assignment that would benefit most a high school level 3 French class. However, it can be altered to fit other levels and other languages. At the end of the first semester, for the final of their second year in French, students are to write a children’s story. Students […]
In-class Work Time
Mastery of School Material is Enhanced by In-class Work Time In order to ensure student mastery of the material, we provide our students with time in class after the lesson to help solidify the targeted skill set listed in the objectives for the day. Issues this Best Practice Addresses: Students can become confused when they […]
Smartboard Technology in the Classroom
Using a Smartboard in the Classroom This Best Practice utilizes a Smart Board Projector to aid in classroom instruction. Using all the features of this technology provide great benefit to the teacher as well as the student in classroom teaching effectiveness. Issues this Best Practice Addresses: Working with whiteboards (or even chalkboards) present certain problems […]
REA2CH: Results of Effective Academics for ALL Children through High School
Collaboration Helps Prepare Special Education Students Burris Laboratory School practices a full inclusion model for the delivery of special education services for students identified with a disability in grades K-12. This contributes to a exceptionally high school graduation rate for students with disabilities. These students are prepared academically and socially for post secondary options of […]
Aluminum Can Recycling
Children Learning About Recycling as They Help the Ronald McDonald House Our 4/5s preschool class collects, crushes and recycles aluminum cans. Can crushing is an active center in our classroom each day. Our children learn to work together to achieve a common goal, and take pride in their accomplishments. Learning to recycle and care for their environment […]
Etiquette Counts
Professional Dinner Etiquette These events prepare students for professional dinner and reception-style events they may attend after high school graduation, such as: events for scholarships, job interviews, fundraisers, mix and mingle events for membership organizations, or even wedding receptions. Whatever the event, we want out students to be prepared—to be educated in proper social and […]
Utilizing Expeditionary Learning
Expeditionary Learning Creates Positive Changes Utilizing Expeditionary Learning as the structure of my teaching has achieved incredible results. In an Expeditionary Learning model, each semester, the teacher creates and executes an expedition. The expedition is standards-based, hands-on, and community focused. It is grounded in either science or social studies standards and acts as the integrated […]
Literacy Framework: Focus on LLI
Workshop Models Help Benefit LLI The Project School Literacy Model is based on the systematic coordination of curriculum and instruction best practices that we have researched and selected to work together in order to ensure the success of all readers and writers. At The Project School, the majority of the teaching of reading and writing occurs […]
Exhibition Night
Student Presentations Enhance Learning Experience Inspire Academy increases parental involvement each semester with a school-wide celebration of learning called “Exhibition Night.” The event features the culmination of a semester of student work a they unveil their final products. Students present their learning to a broader audience by giving informational speeches and substantive question and answer […]
Success Academy
Instructional Coaching Benefits Students in an Alternative Program The Success Academy is a new alternative program at Anderson High School. The 75+ students are educated by seven teachers throughout the day (focusing on core subjects and freshmen appropriate electives). All classrooms and lockers are located within the same hallway, to ensure maximum support. Research-based strategies […]
Vocabulary Call and Response
Transitional Practice Helps Students Learn Vocabulary Vocabulary Call and Response is a best practice that can be used during transitional times throughout the day. Students are introduced to a new vocabulary word that can be tied to any subject or course. We began by using Common Core vocabulary in Language Arts and Mathematics. When the […]
Success in Effectively Scheduling Success Periods
Remediation Period Helps Students Who Are Potentially Falling Behind The Success period is a significantly important component of the 8-Step Process designed to increase student achievement. This best practice represents our third iteration—and we believe the most effective—of how to conceptualize and implement ways in which to effectively schedule the Success period for all students […]
Success
Remediation, Maintenance, and Enrichment Period Helps Students Achieve Success We offer a Success period at the beginning of each day. Our periods are tiered into three levels for both math and ELA. We have remediation, maintenance, and enrichment. Our enrichment period is project and community-based learning with the current math and ELA standards wrapped into […]
Streamlined Fitness Infusion Heart Rate Technology PE Program
Instruction Used to Increase Heart Rate We developed a streamlined pattern skill development curriculum in order to improve our heart rate time on task with our heart rate technology in our daily physical education classes. With refined instruction we are able to provide students with 60-75% or In Zone or Above heart rate during our […]