July teachforever.com Book Club Kickoff!

A couple of weeks ago, I floated the idea of a summer book club for teachforever.com readers. Here are the results:

Would you participate in a teaching/education themed online book club this summer organized by Mr. D?

Depends on the books (48%, 34 votes)
Yes (32%, 23 votes)
No (12%, 9 votes)
Not sure, I have questions (5%, 4 votes)

I'm so excited to see these positive results and announce that we will indeed kickoff our book club for this month right now!

Our first book is the same one I mentioned in my post last month: Hope and Despair in the American City: Why There Are No Bad Schools in Raleigh by Gerald Grant. I picked this particular title because it deals with the big picture, so it's something that will get those of us who focus so intently on our own classrooms to take a step back and gain some perspective.

As far as discussions and activities, we will keep things as simple and stress-free as possible:

First, get a copy of the book. It is new and available only in hardcover--I recommend checking your local library before purchasing a new or used copy. Amazon has some discounted copies available, and your purchases through my links to the book do help support this blog. You can of course find other online sellers via Google, or visit your local independent bookstore.

Secondly, start reading! I won't give you any leading questions; let's let those develop organically. As you read, I encourage you to share whatever ideas and questions pop up along the way in the comments section of this post. In the interest of quality over quantity, I would like to give you a full three weeks to read the book; try to finish reading by Friday, July 24th.

Finally, we will "meet" and discuss the book over several days instead of one. I will open the floor up for guest posts, links to reviews and reactions on your own blogs, and solicit your thoughts starting on Saturday, July 25th. You can participate in as much or as little of the various forms of discussion, as long as your participate in something! I am leaving this part intentionally vague so we can get the most out of reading the book by engaging each of you the way that's most beneficial and interesting to you. I will be drawing from years of being on both the giving and receiving end of professional development, but I am very open to ideas and suggestions about what you'd like the book club to look like in the end.

You might also consider telling us that you're participating and a little about yourself in the comments below (completely optional). I can't wait to get started! Get the book today:

Hope and Despair in the American City: Why There Are No Bad Schools in Raleigh by Gerald Grant

Five for Friday: Independence Day Edition

For those wondering, I arrived safely in the Rio Grande Valley on Tuesday and have been trying to settle in over the past few days. It's going to take some time to get everything in order. Despite the craziness, I still have five great links for you to check out:

1. Study: Bigger Class Sizes = Less Motivated Students [via Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day] - I'd like to see a companion study about the effects on teachers.
2. Math Teachers At Play #10 - The leading question in the latest edition of this blog carnival is one I've been thinking about myself: "What's a math teacher going to do with Wolfram|Alpha?"
3. Teacher Burnout: 20 Insights From a 17-Year Veteran Teacher on the Brink of Burnout [from So You Want To Teach?] - Joel shares some advice on another topic that's been on my mind recently in response to this earlier post.
   
4. Scientists Use Sudoku Logic to Improve DNA Sequencing [from Be Aware Math is Everywhere!] - This reminds me of the important scientific progress being made through the game Foldit, which uses human's superior problem solving skills to make breakthroughs at a pace even the most powerful computers can't keep up with.
5. Stay Away From The Nigerian Tutoring Scam [from Consumerist] - If you're a teacher or college student looking for summer or part-time work as a tutor, especially on a site like Craigslist, be wary of scams like this one. If you're supicious, you can often type in a phrase or name from the post or email in question into Google with an additional term like scam, ripoff or fraud to see if there are any warnings out there already.

As always, share your thoughts on these five links and any must-reads of your own in the comments.

How Do I Keep Kids Engaged and Learning? The Short Answer

Recently I received this one-sentence email (with the subject line "Quick question!!"):

How do you ensure that your students are engaged and actively learning while in your classroom??

At first I was wondering why this person had come to me with this question, or what kind of answer they were looking for. I decided a quick question deserved an equally quick answer, so I boiled down my response to this:

I'll give you the short version: First, design a student-centered lesson that meets different learning styles. Second, set out clear expectations, systems and procedures from day one. Third, make what you're doing relevant to their lives and interests. Finally, make sure you yourself are circulating around the room, asking lots of questions and recognizing good work. I think that if you have those basics down, you should have pretty engaged students that are invested in their work.

I also asked what this was for, and it turns out that he is a successful, experienced substitute teacher who is transitioning to full-time. He was getting questions like the one he posed to me during job interviews, and wanted a little help to make sure that he was giving the best possible answer. As it turns out, it seems he was already doing the things I told him. Sometimes the hardest part about this job is identifying exactly why something works or not.

The Best of I Want To Teach Forever: June 2009

For whatever reason, I found a lot of inspiration to write again this month after a couple of months where I struggled. I hope that you find my best work useful and/or helpful:

• 3 Ideas to Prepare Students for College Placement Exams [6/9]
• Top 7 Ways To Use A Document Camera In The Classroom [6/14]
• Replace Make Up Day With "GPA Day" [6/23]
• Sample End of Year Survey [6/25]

I've also shared lots of great articles, ideas and resources via my weekly Five for Friday series. Finally, catch up on the 52 Teachers, 52 Lessons community project (weeks 19-22).

If you like this site, the best ways to support it are to subscribe to my RSS feed, become a Follower (click Follow on the sidebar), and to share links on your blog or favorite social bookmarking site (click the Share button below for some quick and easy options). You could also pick up a copy of my book, Ten Cheap Lessons: Easy, Engaging Ideas for Every Secondary Classroom, for $12 paperback/$6 digital.

52 Teachers, 52 Lessons: Week 22

Our contributor this week is an expert in English as a Second Language. After four years teaching English Language Learners in Texas, Shelly Terrell moved on to teach children, teenagers and adults who are ELLs in Germany! She blogs at Teacher Boot Camp. Her wise advice comes in three parts:

Teach in a dynamic environment!

When students walk into my classroom, I want them to be motivated to learn. Sitting in desks that face you is boring! Create a dynamic environment full of rich sayings, learning stations, and student expression. In my high school classroom, we would sometimes go outside for lessons or sit on pillows on the floor for discussions. Students learn in different ways! Moreover, environment impacts mood and behavior. I now set my classroom up for cooperative learning and to cater to different learning styles. The workforce is dynamic and students will have to be prepared to work in a variety of settings. Students will probably never work in an environment with a desk facing the boss all day!

Pause!

I have taught what many would term "trouble" students. I learned quickly that getting angry only spurs the situation. What works best is allowing "cool-off time" for the student and teacher. If you have stations set-up, the student can find some alone time. When you feel the student has calmed down, then speak with the student in an area away from the other students. Find out what is the real problem behind the outburst. Most of the time you find out that your students are juggling some serious issues and your talk with them can help them more than the punishment.

Continually self-reflect!

My students offer me feedback through dialogue journals, surveys, and conversations. Critiques are opportunities for growth. Along with the criticisms are incredible heartfelt messages of what a difference I have made. Therefore, I am never afraid to hear my students' opinions. Teachers should constantly self-reflect to ensure their teaching strategies and lessons are evolving and purpose-driven.

Read more about this project here or add the 52 teachers 52 lessons tag to your favorites. Email your entries to teachforeverATgmailDOTcom. Week 23 is scheduled for next Monday, July 6th.

25 Free Summer Reading and Writing Resources for Teachers

If you're looking for materials for summer school courses or if you just want to get a head start on next year's lessons, the Internet is a great place to begin. Sites like the Online Books Page can provide you with reading materials and help you choose reading lists. Other, such as SparkNotes and Pink Monkey, can help you develop a greater understanding of the books you are about to teach. Whatever you are looking for, you are sure to find at least one useful site in this list of reading and writing resources for teachers.

Free Books

The Online Books Page - This site is one of the best places to find free unabridged books online. There are currently more than 35,000 listings, with new books being added regularly.

Project Gutenberg - Project Gutenberg was the first site to offer free e-books and is still one of the best spots to get free unabridged books online. The site has nearly 30,000 books in its collection and links to thousands of other books that can be read or downloaded for free.

Bibliomania - Thousands of free books can be found at Bibliomania. The site also offers free study guides to the most read books and other helpful resources for teachers.

The Literature Network - In addition to an excellent database of free electronic books, the Literature Network also provides forums and quotations for students and teachers.

Librivox - Unlike the other free book sites on this list, Librivox focuses on audio books. The site's volunteers have recorded thousands of the best-loved books in the public domain.

Literature Summaries and Study Guides

Schmoop - Schmoop is a relatively new site dedicated to making reading, writing, and history fun for both teachers and students. The site offers a wide range of study guides and teacher resources as well as tips on using Schmoop in the classroom.

Litsum - LitSum is one of the best places online to get free study guides and literature summaries. The site offers more guides than anyone else and also provides topics for discussion, character analysis, and other helpful teaching resources.

CyberGuides - CyberGuides are standards-based literature study guides that are delivered as web-based instruction. Each guide has a student and teacher edition. CyberGuides are available for k thru 12 teachers.

Pink Monkey - This site offers a wide range of student friendly book summaries, chapter notes, and study guides that can be viewed for free online or printed for a small fee.

SparkNotes - SparkNotes have always been among the most popular literature study guides. You can find thousands of free SparkNotes guides online. Other resources include a searchable grammar guide and SparkCharts for teachers.

Educational Materials, Lesson Plans, and Classroom Activities

Learn Out Loud - Learn Out Loud is the Internet's largest directory of free learning resources. The site focuses more on audio and video, but lists some free text-based resources as well.

ReadWriteThink - A partnership between the International Reading Association (IRA), the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), and the Verizon Foundation, the ReadWriteThink site is an excellent source of literature lesson plans for grades k thru 12.

LitPlans - This site offers literature lesson plans and other helpful materials. Most of the lesson plans are geared for middle school and high school teachers, but elementary and college-level teachers may also find useful resources on the LitPlans site.

Harcourt - This trade publisher provides teachers with free books, classroom activities, lesson plans, and other materials. Most of Harcourt's free materials are designed for elementary school students.

Scholastic - Scholastic offers a summer reading challenge, lesson plans, story starters, and many other useful materials. The Scholastic site also features a "Back-to-School Planning" section that's perfect for teachers who are working on next year's reading and language arts lessons.

Writing Prompts and Instruction

The Teacher's Corner - The Teacher's Corner has an excellent selection of daily writing prompts for every month of the year. Prompts can be printed or displayed on an LCD projector.

WritingFix - This site offers interactive writing prompts, lesson plans, and resources for the writing classroom. Other special features include a daily prompt generator, columns and advice from teachers, and student samples by grade level.

The Teaching Portal - The Teaching Portal is a Lightning Bug resource specifically designed for teachers of all levels. The site offers writing prompts, advice, and useful programs to help educators teach writing in the classroom.

MIT OCW - The Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers several free online writing courses at the college level that would be of interest to teachers. Most of the courses include lecture notes, reading lists, writing assignments, and other learning materials.

Purdue Online Writing Lab - Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (OWL) offers more than 200 free resources for writers and people who teach writing. The site also provides style guides and special help for ESL teachers.

Magazines, Blogs, and Other Reading Materials

Yes - Teachers can get a free, one-year subscription to Yes! Magazine when they visit the Yes site. This ad-free quarterly magazine publishes articles about education, the economy, communities, art, and other topics.

Teacher Lingo - This online community for teachers is a great place to start your own blog or read blogs written by other teachers.

TeacherVision - This site lists a selection of popular teacher blogs with frequent updates.

Books 4 Teachers - Known as the site "where teachers come to read," Books 4 Teachers is a good place to find book recommendations, lesson plans, and other useful resources.

The Free Library - The Free Library offers unabridged literary works from classic authors. The site also features free articles and scholarly papers--more than five million entries in all.


Guest post from Karen Schweitzer who writes about online colleges for OnlineColleges.net.

Goodbye, Boston!

Today I will be loading up the moving truck and cleaning up the last remnants of my life in Boston. While I'm very excited about returning to what really feels like home (the Rio Grande Valley), there were so many great things about Boston that I will absolutely miss. Here are my goodbyes and thanks:

To the students who were willing to fight for me to stay and protest on my behalf: I sincerely appreciate the thought and I will miss you. I'll do my best to get back to see so many of you graduate next year!

To the Boston Public Library system: I never thought I would actually love the library. Your collections, services and great people were amazing. Thank you especially to everyone at the Main Branch at Copley and the Honan-Allston Branch. The library was one of the first parts of the city where I really felt at home.

To everyone at the Dunkin' Donuts on Washington Ave & Sagamore Ave in Chelsea: Thank you for keeping me caffeinated and well fed! I enjoyed stopping by frequently (sometimes twice a day), and I know my students feel the same way.

To whomever made Boston so walkable, you've made me healthier, less stressed and more active.

To the guy who stands outside Haymarket Station at the Congress St. entrance every morning: Thank you for brightening my day. Maybe I'm crazy, but there's something to be said for somebody wishing you a good day and singing show tunes to themselves.

To the MBTA: Even with all the limitations and problems of the T, I never felt like I needed a car in Boston. I appreciated not having to drive, and being able to sit back and relax on my way to and from work (with the occasional hoping off one train and onto another, of course). I read as many books in my first few months of commuting on mass transit as I had read over the last couple of years in south Texas! I just hope you can get the Green Line moving a little bit more efficiently in the future.

To everyone and everything responsible for Boston's exorbitant cost of living: Thank you for making me appreciate everything I have a little better. I was forced to think about what was really important in life, and "stuff" was not on the list. I have simplified my life in so many ways out of necessity, but it's made me a better person as well. I will carry these lessons with me for a long time.

Thank you, Boston. And goodbye.

Five for Friday: Everything All At Once Edition

This has been a crazy week: it's the last week of school, packing up to move tomorrow, and thinking about major life issues like housing, transportation, and employment. This week's links deal with a little bit of everything as well (there I go again, subconsciously assembling themes for these weekly links).

1. FASFA To Get Dramatically Shorter, Less Painful [from Consumerist] - Good news for your future HS graduates!
2. Doodling Increases Focus and Recall [from Lifehacker] - I know I've been quick to judge the daydreamers in my classes... maybe I was wrong!
3. New Math [via Freakonomics] - If you've never heard of it, New Math is part art project, part mathematical equations. I like to think of it as the equations of everyday things. I'd love to have my students create their own "new math" equations as a beginning (or end) of year assignment.
4. Book Review: How to Survive (And Perhaps Thrive) On a Teacher's Salary [from Wise Bread] - Have any of you read this? I read an article with a similar title in Instructor magazine that wasn't very helpful, but I think this is a different author.
5. Never Have an Argument w/ a Student Ever Again - Sup Teach? reminds us of perhaps the two most important words in a teacher's vocabulary.

Share your best links in the comments below.

Sample End of Year Survey

I realized after posting my senior end of year survey that I wouldn't need to change much to make an end of year survey for all of my students. Indeed, I only had to change a few words here and there to make it suitable for everyone. The survey is available on Google Docs:

Sample End of Year Survey

Math in the Real World: Erasing Debt Activity

I always like to do as much real world math as I can throughout the year, but it's much easier to focus on it when summer vacation is looming. It's not busy work, nor is it completely unrelated to what you're teaching in any middle school math class up to Algebra I. It will keep students more engaged in a time where it's easy to disengage, and demonstrate to them clearly how many of the skills and problem solving strategies you've work on all year could actually be useful in their lives.

This activity came to me in the mail, quite literally: banks and credit card companies were sending me offers for big loans to pay off my debts (or just to spend frivolously--they couldn't seem to make up their minds in their sales pitch letters). The monthly payments always seem reasonable, until you look at how many months you'll be paying. If you do the math, you start to see just how much you're actually spending to have cash right now.

I've used newspaper ads for rent-to-own stores for similar lessons in the past, but this was different. The mailings I was getting contained concise applications that I shrunk down and copied; for the purposes of sharing without being sued, I created a sample application (complete with loan offers, payback options, and a form asking for a lot of personal info). Feel free to use it as-is, or replace the first part with an offer you receive in the mail. The document is hosted on Google Docs:

Erasing Debt Activity