This month we’ll look at the importance of vocabulary. Dictionary and Thesaurus investigation adds to helping the words ‘stick’ in kids’ brains. Locating definitions, synonyms and antonyms makes a great partner activity. Ask students to write the definition(s) and add their frame of reference, their schema, to make the word relate to their lives in… Read More »
Definition: Scaffolding- breaking up learning into chunks Teachers as well a classroom assistants and parents use scaffolding whenever they break apart skills. Those pieces, or chunks, allow students to learn parts and then put the pieces together to understand the whole. Here are a few ideas on how to break learning into manageable pieces. Model/Demonstrate/Show… Read More »
The more meaningful the activity, the more engage the students. Connections to their lives and their background of information helps. Allow students to control as much of their learning as possible. That doesn’t mean to make it easy. It means to make it meaning-filled so they use skills they have developed or are in the… Read More »
Student skills develop over several years. Here is a common set of skills for each K-12 year. Kids vary in their personal abilities, but these are standard skills and standard grades where students gain specific thinking skills. Specific Skill K-3 3-6 6-9 9-12 Observation X X X X Communication X … Read More »
Bloom’s Taxonomy has ordered 6 levels of critical thinking; they build on each other from basic remembering to creating ideas based on learnings. Here are nutshell versions of the skills they introduce and attempt to develop through repeated use. (For more details google Blooom’s Taxonomy and you’ll find more information that you might use in… Read More »
Just a reminder: You can read or download my Educating America newsletters and the accompanying downloads for free from this very site. Look to the top of this blog. Scan across and click on: Return to Educating America. Whether you are an educator, a para educator, a parent, or a community volunteer, you will find… Read More »
For most teachers and educational assistants it’s time for a summer break; a time to kick back and relax after a busy year. Now’s the time to checkout summer reading related to schools and education. Here are a couple of interesting ones I’ve found. How to Teach Thinking Skills Within the Common Core: 7 Key… Read More »
As summer approaches, students need to work on skills to propel them through life toward success. Consider how you might help them work through these 6 R’s every day, all year, for as many years as possible. They’ll provide a fantastic payoff!! Resiliency Help students cope with stress and to develop empathy. Suggestions: work on… Read More »
Search-Institute.org is a great site for ideas on working with kids. In their latest article they mentioned what they call HOT and COLD thinking. They call thinking ‘hot’ when it is energized and enthusiastic. ‘Cold’ thinking includes reflective notions such as analyzing and integrating ideas. As teachers, assistants and parents, we can help students develop… Read More »
Search-Institute.org is a great site for ideas on working with kids. In their latest article they mentioned what they call HOT and COLD thinking. They call thinking ‘hot’ when it is energized and enthusiastic. ‘Cold’ thinking includes reflective notions such as analyzing and integrating ideas. As teachers, assistants and parents, we can help students develop… Read More »