Using Social Media in the Classroom
If you teach young people ages ten and up (and often younger), it is a given that they are attached to their phones at every opportunity. Why not take advantage of social media in and out of the classroom to engage your students in a different and exciting way? Many educators view social media as a nightmare to be tolerated, but it can be useful -…
Professional Development for Teachers – COVID Edition
Not only has the pandemic affected instructors, students, and families around the world profoundly and unexpectedly over these last 12 months, it has created a multitude of other educational concerns. From computer access and proficiency to lack of socialization to innovations in teaching safely in-person, online, and in a hybrid setting, many issues must necessarily be addressed sooner rather than later. One problem directly involving teachers…
Yes, there are Advantages to Online Classrooms
After about six months' worth of online, in-person, or hybrid classes, what do you think about virtual learning? Has teaching gone the way you had hoped and planned? Your answer is probably no. However, there are advantages to the online learning platform, whether you are teaching in that format or are taking professional development or advanced degree classes yourself. Since the spring of 2020, millions of…
The #1 Way to Thrive – Not Just Survive – This School Year
Whether you are a brand-new teacher or a veteran who has had some challenging school experiences over the years, there is one thing you can count on. This year will be different. Whatever you anticipate – it will likely exceed all your expectations – good and bad. Covid-19 has changed the “face” of education, quite literally. You may be required to teach in-person classes, a combination…
Inclusive Learning in the Online Classroom
There are a variety of challenges that face students in the online classroom environment, not the least of which are reliable internet access and a decent computer. Teachers can create the best lesson plans ever but if the children do not have these important implements, then both teachers and students are often wasting their time. Another critical issue in our currently ever-changing school scenario is reaching…
Yays and Nays for Elementary Virtual Learning
For some young students, it does not matter what the educational platform is, they will succeed. Others will struggle, whether they are taught in a traditional classroom, in a virtual synchronous situation, where class meets “together” and works at the same time or asynchronously, where self-directed independent work is required. Many elementary classrooms across the country are using a combination of these types of learning scenarios…