Coffeechug Daily Education Links 08/17/2012

• Tee Up the New School Year with Tips from Connected Educators

  Awesome ideas to think about when it comes to planning, your classroom, and giving students ownership.

  tags: education

• How to Motivate Student Writers

  Example of writing where middle school students created an ABC book of organs to teach 3rd graders. Great idea

  tags: PBL science writing education

• Sundials For Learning

  tags: education math Project-Based

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Textbooks need to go and so does our current way of teaching

I just read this post that contained a letter from a former high school student about how textbooks are not the answer. It was weird reading this as I just had a conversation with a colleague about how we teach is the way we learn and how we were brought up. We talk about our frustrations with students acting unmotivated or not caring about what we are teaching. At what point do we as professionals look at our teaching methods and realize we are out of touch? It is time to realize that our students are wired differently than us. It is time to realize that they learn differently than us. Our fears in schools(blocking sites, cellphones, etc.) are the tools and daily life of our students(and our own). Funny how some of use are not ready to get on board with students using the cell phones, iPads, tablets, etc. to conduct their learning through their own means when during inservice and big faculty meetings you see those very some people on their phones checking Facebook, email, etc. It is time for us to catch up before we get too far behind(if we not too far behind already).

Here is a link to the letter from the former student


Weird how while composing this I came across this very video as I was sorting my emails that I send myself.

This just blew my mind about collaboration

One of my favorite education blogs is http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com

Today I watched this video posted on the site. It is a TED talk(my obsession that I cannot stay away from). This speech really brings up some great points about how and who we work with and how to improve our passions.

I need to absorb this some more and gather my thoughts. I keep thinking about the applications of her driving point to my school as we experiment with Project Based Learning this year. It is an essential piece to help PBL take off in the right direction.

Watch the video and I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas.

Don't Focus On Technology Because....

if you put all your marbles into the latest greatest technology tool and forget about the essential teaching one day your "latest greatest" technology will be old news like this electronic globe that speaks from 1996 where probably about 1/5 of the countries, cities, landlines don't exist anymore.

Hard to believe 1996 was 16 years ago. This was an amazing tool that kids loved at one point. When is the last time you saw a kid use a globe? It is no longer relevant to their lives when they can hit up Google Earth and see things in real time.

Lego Challenge Design #2: Eye-ffel Tower

Here is the Tuesday creation.

Moving To Middle Lego Challenge #1: Eye Slide

Before school starts my middle school offers a one week crash course for the soon to be 6th graders. This class allows them to get comfortable with the building, lockers, classes, etc. before 1000+ kids come rushing the halls in about a week.

In my small group I give one student each day a pack of Lego pieces to take home. Their job is to create something cool. My only rule is that they have to use all the pieces. I don't care how they use the pieces as that is the only rule.

These kids are still embarrassed to stand out so working with them to challenge themselves and use their brains. They will continue to get better and I plan on doing this during the school year with any student that is interested.

Here is Lego Design #1: Eye Slide


Idea #2 coming soon. This is a great two minute idea for students to share their work to start class. I look forward to watching the models change and improve. As always, being a teacher I would love to have you share more great ideas that I can use with my students. I hope you enjoy this new project of mine.

What Should I Read?

I know I have not book reviewed in quite some time, but I am back in the game of reading. I am currently reading Clash of the Kings (Book #2 in Game of Thrones).

I always like to have a plan on what I am going to read next.

I need some guidance.

Here is a link to my To Read List of Books on Good Reads. Take a look at let me know what I should read next.

http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2842300?shelf=to-read


If you have another suggestion, then please let me know by also leaving a comment. I look forward to my next read.

My book reviews are coming......