Monday, July 30, 2012

Helping Developmental Adult Learners Become Successful

by Beth Hammett   


Related Teachers Pay Teachers Storefront: Beth Hammett's Education Helper 


The shift for adult students to take responsibility of their learning process and to apply concepts learned in classrooms to real life scenarios can be overwhelming. In grades kindergarten through twelve, if assignments were missed, supplies were needed, or work was unsatisfactory, students were reminded constantly by parents and teachers. Suddenly, after senior year, students show up on campuses for their first day of college. Many students, especially developmental adult learners, thumb through their syllabus and wonder if they can survive the first week classes.    


Who are developmental adult learners? Students who need extra coursework to enhance their skills to become college-level ready. Most colleges require all first-time students to enroll in orientation courses. Then, students are placed by college advisers into developmental or college level courses based upon previous coursework or test scores. Developmental adult learners’ skills can range from beginning, lower-level English language learners to almost college level ready.  


How can teachers help developmental adult learners be successful in their coursework? First, use icebreaker activities so students get to know others in their classes. Try Find Someone Who, which includes optional information, such as school emails, phone numbers… The activity helps students build buddy lists, learn names, and get acquainted. Also, try a meet-and-greet the first day of class. Have four or more colors of notecards handy to hand out. On the cards, ask students to write their: names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and two hobbies, plus anything extra they want to share with their instructors. When finished, have students find others in the room with the same colors of notecards. Ask students to share their hobbies with group members. As students exit at the end of class, stand at the door, collect the cards, and repeat first names. Hang onto the notecards for future contact use. In addition, try Comprehension Postcards to reinforce skills once the semester is underway.  


Another strategy is to introduce students to learning styles activities. Try an online assessment at Vark or use a learning styles handout test. Have students get into groups according to learning styles. Ask the groups to make a “Top Ten List of Study Strategies for ________ Learning Style”.  Share with the whole class. Also, be sure to model the first in-class note-taking assignment and help students understand that concepts are needed for future assignments.   


Whether audio, kinesthetic, or visual, developmental adult learners learn best through approximately twenty-minutes or less of lecture followed by an activity then hands-on practice. What does this look like in the classroom? A twenty-minute lecture on end punctuation marks results in students turning to partners to share one rule learned. Next, in small groups, students peer workshop their essays to check proper end punctuation marks. Developmental research reiterates that students learn best through interaction with peers.  


The National Association of Developmental Education provides a list of best practices for use with developmental adult learners. Researchers from the National AcademicAdvising Association (NACADA)  state the more peer connections developmental adult learners make while they are in college the more likely they are to become successful.  

Visit the Author's Blogspot at Education Helper

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Saturday, July 28, 2012

Featured Teacher: Mel D


1.     How long have you been on Teachers Pay Teachers?  What made you decide to be a part of it?
I started in July 2011. My main reason is wanting to share my creations with teachers all over the world, make a little money on the side. My husband and I really want a child, so the money goes towards fertility procedures since our insurance doesn't cover it. If we are not successful by this summer the money will go towards adoption.

2.     When did you know that you wanted to be in education?
When I was in 1st grade. Every summer I would make up homework and actually do it. I also would be the "teacher" every time I played school with my cousins or neighbors.

3.     How are you currently involved in education?
Currently I write for 5 different blogs and participate in any PD I can afford. I am a first grade teacher who has been teaching for 8 years, I love it!

4.     What would be your advice to people who are considering joining Teachers Pay Teachers?
It takes money to make money. Invest in quality, attractive graphics and licenses. Have someone proof any product you download to TPT and find a way to promote it through a blog. Child tested materials with photos really help sell the product.

5.     What has been a highlight, thus far, about being on Teachers Pay Teachers?
I was a featured author in December, I believe. I have made a really good amount of money and it's become a hobby of mine now. I really enjoy making products. It's therapeutic for me.

6.     What is something fun about you that other teachers don’t know?
I am obsessed with my 3 furry babies named Olive, Java & Bentley. I enjoy spending time with my husband and family. Teaching is a 2nd career for me. I used to be an Advertising Executive for the Chicago Tribune.

7.     Do you participate in education outside of the classroom?  In what type of role?
Not presently.

8.     What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?
I would like to do professional development presentations.

9.     What profession would you not like to do?
       Anything labor intensive.

10. Who is your favorite author?  Favorite educational author?  And why?
Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games). Gail Boushey and Joan Moser (Daily 5).
I just stared reading the Hunger Games after my husband talked me into it and I'm hooked.
We started a required 90 minute literacy block this year, so I decided to implement the Daily 5. It has been wonderful! Daily 5 is genius. 



Mel D 

Mel D


Mel's Prized Products

I have created over 50 games on look alike Candy Land cards. I use this during Daily 5 and Daily 5 Math. All you need is a Candy Land board and my cards! The kids LOVE it!





Monday, July 23, 2012

Parent Communication Classroom Forms

By: Heidi Raki

Teachers Pay Teachers Storefront: 

The Resourceful Teacher 

One of the keys to successful teaching is mastering parent communications. There are many ways to communicate with parents: conferences, emails, phone calls... Teachers often communicate with parents by sending notes home with students. Yet, another option is to use communication classroom forms listed below: 
 1. Daily Classroom Behavior: Whether good or bad,  parents need to know how well their child behaved in class. 

2. Major Incidents: When students have bad days, or if students from other homerooms engaged your student in something serious, this form can be filled out.

3. Thinking About Behavior Sheet: Students fill out this form at the end of the day if they misbehaved. It’s a chance for students to reflect on their behaviors, recognize improper actions, and make plans to change their reactions in the future.

4. Absences: When students are absent, and missed work needs to be completed, download this form.

5. Tardies: If students have numerous tardies, fill out this form and send it home.

6. Missing Assignments: Any missing assignments that you want parents to know about?

7. Missing Supplies: If students are in need of more classroom supplies, fill out the form and send it home with a due date on it.

8. Redo Assignmenta at Home: What if students did poorly on classroom assignments? If assignments need to be redone, download this form that communicates students' performances on in-class works.


9. Redo Assignments in Class: If students redo assignments in class, let parents know their children have been given second chances with this form.



Communication with parents should be effortless and encouraging, so being prepared and having forms copied and on-hand will make communication with parents easier. This, in turn, creates a positive environment for sharing news with parents--whether good or bad.  


Author's Blogspot: The Resourceful Teacher




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Saturday, July 21, 2012

Featured Teacher: Brian Hopkins



1.     How long have you been on Teachers Pay Teachers?  What made you decide to be a part of it?
       I started selling free items in January and  then paid items in February of 2012.

2.     When did you know that you wanted to be in education?
In college, I was going to be an accountant and didn't like the economics side of it so my mom reminded me of all the fun I had with my younger cousins and helping out at a summer recreational program so I decided to go for it.

3.     How are you currently involved in education?
I am currently a substitute teacher after teaching Kindergarten and 2nd grade for 8 years.  I wasn't happy at where I was at and decided to sub to try to find a new job.  I have had the best time in the world subbing and have made so many children smile and beg for me to come back! 

4.     What would be your advice to people who are considering joining Teachers Pay Teachers?
Don't expect to start selling everything right out of the box!  It takes time!

5.     What has been a highlight, thus far, about being on Teachers Pay Teachers?
Having made back my $60 membership fee in the first quarter!

6.     What is something fun about you that other teachers don’t know?
I am the biggest country music fan around!  I collect 8x10 pictures and have them all over my house in every single room.  I have at least 400 country music CDs and a couple hundred cassette tapes!  I have also met many country singers singing Miranda Lambert 5 times and she is my favorite!

7.     Do you participate in education outside of the classroom?  In what type of role?
Not really, other than volunteering when I can like when I did the dunk tank on March 31st of this year and helped out in the bounce house.

8.     What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?
Promoting country music singers!

9.     What profession would you not like to do?
Police or Firefighter, I'm not an adventure seeker!

10. Who is your favorite author?  Favorite educational author?  And why?
Gail Gibbons, I love her great nonfiction books and the pictures are spectacular!  Ron Clark, because he inspires teachers!



Brian Hopkins 

Brian's TPT store




Brian's Prized Products

My first one I am proud of is a freebie.  it is called Fishy Sight Word Blast and it has a twist to it.  After reading a word correctly children turn cards over for points.  They can turn over as many as they want in a turn, but the catch is if they get a 0 they lose all their points even from previous rounds.


My next one is a paid product for Bossy R - ar and -or word sort.  It is my best selling non-holiday item.  Children match the craps to the correct seaweed with the ar or the or on them.  Then there is also a cut and paste word sort!

Monday, July 16, 2012

A Passion for Science


By Amy Brown

My store on TpT: Science Stuff   

My blog:  Science Stuff by Amy  

My entire life has revolved around science. At a very early age, I peered into microscopes, collected insects, sprouted seeds, and just about anything else of a scientific nature that interested me. The reason I like science is very simple--my mom was a high school biology teacher. She never demanded that I love science, but,because she loved it so much her enthusiasm for all things biological was highly contagious and set me on fire early in my life.  

I have been doing science experiments for as long as I can remember.  Experiments can be done with little or no scientific equipment. In fact, simplicity is often best in the world of experiments. I can remember being fascinated by jello as a child. I just had to know how that liquid became a solid when it cooled! Soon, I learned "solid" is not exactly correct, but that's a topic for another article. My mom suggested I do experiments with jello to determine the minimum amount of powder required to make it "solid enough" so that it could be lifted with a fork. To this day, I think about jello whenever I teach my students about unsaturated and supersaturated solutions. My desire to learn more scientific information was influenced by that jello experiment. 

At this point, you may be wondering where I am going with these old memories. The answer is very simple and can be summed up best by a quote from Benjamin Franklin:  

                                        Tell me and I forget. 
                                    Teach me and I remember. 
                                      Involve me and I learn.

The quote is especially relevant in teaching science classes. Data, facts, statistics, and incredibly difficult vocabulary words are the norm in science classes. How is a student supposed to absorb and retain all this information? If science classes are setup where students write down facts, memorize them, and regurgitate answers on tests, don't be surprised when students remember none of that information on the end of course tests.  


Involving students in the learning process is easy in science classes since kids love hands-on experiments! During lab time, students get to get up from their desks, play with cool science equipment items, interact with lab partners and, most importantly, satisfy their natural curiosities about how things work. 


A good science experiment "kills many birds with one stone":
  • It reinforces facts and statistics students need to remember.
  • It teaches students that learning can be a fun process.
  • It stretches minds to explore new ideas and endless possibilities.
  • It teaches critical thinking and problem solving.
  • It teaches students to collaborate with other group members.
  • It sparks interests in areas children didn't know they would be interested in.
  • It reinforces motor skills and hand/eye coordination.
  • It instills love of the natural world, which makes kids great decision makers for the future.
Finally, and this may be the most important part of the entire article, the experiment is only effective if the teacher demonstrates passion and excitement for the task. Teachers often ask how I get kids so excited about science class. The answer is simple--I am excited about science! 


Visit the author's blog at Science Stuff by Amy  


Teachers Pay Teachers Related Products:
15 Must-Do Labs for a Biology or Life Science Class  FREE!

  


Saturday, July 14, 2012

Featured Teacher: Marsha McGuire



1.     How long have you been on Teachers Pay Teachers?  What made you decide to be a part of it?
I have only been posting Items since the first of March. I was seeing a differentiated component missing from most of the items I saw and thought I had something to offer in that arena.

2.     When did you know that you wanted to be in education?
This is actually my second career. Before this I was a manager in a Japanese manufacturing company. My college major was in Anthropology and Japan Studies. I always said if my position were ever eliminated I would have next available appointment to speak with a college about getting certified. And then, it did and I was!

3.     How are you currently involved in education?
      I am a kindergarten teacher with my masters in Early Childhood education.

4.     What would be your advice to people who are considering joining Teachers Pay Teachers?
Find your niche without becoming a copycat of someone else. Establish your blog and Facebook followers and your products will sell in time.

5.     What has been a highlight, thus far, about being on Teachers Pay Teachers?
I love getting comments from teachers who have benefited from something I made.

6.     What is something fun about you that other teachers don’t know?
It not necessarily  "fun" but most people don't know that I infuse my son in a chest port a cath three times a week. He has hemophilia and needs medicine to strengthen his clotting factor.

7.     Do you participate in education outside of the classroom?  In what type of role?
I have been a presenter at Central Michigan University's student teacher professional development and have been a mentor teacher for new teachers and have hosted student teachers.

8.     What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?
This is the only job I have ever wanted. If I couldn't teach in a classroom I would want to be a teacher consultant.

9.     What profession would you not like to do?
      A police officer

10. Who is your favorite author?  Favorite educational author?  And why?
Maurice Sendak, I have 3 little boys and I just feel like The Wild Things was written about them. He just "gets" them.




Marsha McGuire

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Book Look: The Wide-Mouthed Frog by Keith Faulkner

The Wide-Mouthed Frog by Keith Faulkner
Review by: Karla Banks

Recommended for: Kindergarten-2nd 

This is a great book to add to your unit on pond habitats. It is also great for practicing retelling or sequencing. The kids love to retell the story. The main character is a wide-mouthed frog who hops to different animals and asks them what they eat. Each animal is a full page pop out, which the kids absolutely love. The illustrations are amazing with bright colors that really get the kids' attention. The book ends with the wide-mouthed frog hopping up to an alligator and receiving a shock which the kids find quite funny. This is a fun book that your class is sure to enjoy!


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Monday, July 9, 2012

Finding the Best Deals on Teacher Resources

By Michele Luck 

Teachers Pay Teachers Storefront: Michele Lucks Social Studies   

As soon as you hear you’ve been hired to teach, your heart begins to race with anticipation. Suddenly, you realize you need materials for your new classroom. How will you decorate the walls? How will you organize materials? How on earth will you be ready to teach by the ding of the first school day’s bell? 

For every teacher, gathering resources for their classes is never-ending. We want the newest and brightest materials for our students, and we want up-to-date lesson plans to teach from. Yet, in today's struggling economy, school funds have dwindled for those in need of classroom supplies. That leaves teachers putting on their frugal hats! Here are some suggestions for locating the best deals when it comes to teacher resources: 

1. Always ask your team chairperson or principal! Some schools have funds available for classroom materials. Plus, purchasing online, which increases buying options and offers competitive pricing, is now okay in lots of districts. Also, ask if your district or school has a surplus room where such goodies might be stored.  

2. For basic classroom supplies (crayons, decorations, etc.) go to your local discount stores. The Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and Family Dollar stores have great items at super prices. Ask management for extra school or teacher discounts or for sponsorship allowances. You’ll be surprised how generous local businesses are! 

3. Become a scavenger! Look in your local newspaper or search online for free items, such as shelves or other storage items. Scour yard sales with teachers or children’s items listed. Check universities and libraries that may have available resources to lend for free, or they may have experts willing to visit classrooms. 

4. While there are still some parent-teacher stores around to visit for classroom decorations, venture online for a smorgasbord of great items: 
  • Oriental Trading offers decorations and goodies for themed events. Also, the company sells classroom supplies in bulk. 
  • National Geographic and your state's Geography Alliance provides free maps for classrooms upon requests. Orders of up to ten of each map are accepted. 
  •  Teaching Tolerance has valuable teaching resources at no cost to help teachers create and model safe classroom communities. 
  • The Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institute has printable resources for every grade level on every topic imaginable. Experts are on hand to help teachers with resources, many of which can be shipped. 
  • EPA.gov and the Weather Channel offer online interactives and printables, as well as free lesson plans. 
  • Free.ed.gov has listings of resources too numerous to name. 
  • At Discovery Education, teachers can browse lessons, make puzzles, or assign learning games for students. 
5. Finally, visit TeachersPayTeachers.com for lessons from every grade level and of every subject area. Try A Lesson Plan Template, A Lesson Plan for Teachers, New & Old! or Student Survey/Teacher Evaluation. From freebies to full units, teachers will find everything needed to teach for the entire year! 

Being prepared with great materials and resources makes the first weeks of school go smoothly and makes the school year less challenging. One last piece of advice—save all classroom merchandise receipts. School expenses can be used as tax credits in most states. Good luck preparing for a new school year!

Visit the Author’s Blogspot at A Lesson Plan for Teachers


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Saturday, July 7, 2012

Featured Teacher: Heather Whetham


1.     How long have you been on Teachers Pay Teachers?  What made you decide to be a part of it?
I joined TpT in 2009. I cannot remember why I joined, but I do know I started taking it more seriously in 2011 when I realized that my lessons could impact students around the world!

2.     When did you know that you wanted to be in education?
Growing up it never even crossed my mind that teaching might be my calling. However, I was a Girl Scout leader for a younger troop, Sunday school teacher, and I even earned my Girl Scout Gold Award my holding a day camp for 3-4 year olds. It wasn't until college when I was taking a bunch of business and computer programming classes that I realized I missed children and I finally switched majors!

3.     How are you currently involved in education?
I currently teach 5th grade special education in an inclusion classroom. I also teach Asian students online through video conferencing. Finally, I blog and connect with others online.

4.     What would be your advice to people who are considering joining Teachers Pay Teachers?
Visit the forums! Blog! Collaborate with others! Be patient! Like I said before, I began TpT back in 2009 but did not really begin to be successful until 2012. That is around the same time that I started doing all of the things mentioned above. There are some people who take off and do really well right away, but don't get discouraged if it takes you awhile.

5.     What has been a highlight, thus far, about being on Teachers Pay Teachers?
For me, the biggest highlight is seeing thousands of downloads of some of my freebies. It is just so humbling to see that there are thousands of students throughout the country and world that are benefitting from my ideas!

6.     What is something fun about you that other teachers don’t know?
I used to teach in a multi-grade classroom to 100% ELL students. They were Hutterites. For those who don't know, that's similar to Amish in that they're very religious, but they do have vehicles.

7.     Do you participate in education outside of the classroom?  In what type of role?
I also teach online to Asian students. There are several professional organizations I have belonged to over the years.

8.     What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?
If I ever leave teaching, my goal is to become a college professor. What better way to impact more students that to be directly responsible for the teacher they get!?

9.     What profession would you not like to do?
I'm not really fond of desk jobs. I've done a lot of things over the years: retail, online jobs, factory, manual labor, and working with animals. But desk jobs were my least favorite!

10. Who is your favorite author?  Favorite educational author?  And why?
My favorite author is Mo Willems. I so enjoy reading his books to young children. They get to interact with the book and they absolutely love them! I have too many educational authors to choose from! My summer reading list is a mile long! Lol



Heather Whetham, aka HoJo Heather's TPT store


Heather's Prized Products

While teaching Kindergarten, I decided to put my Reading Recovery skills to use. I created an alphabet recognition book using stickers! You can read all about it here. http://hojosteacherstore.blogspot.com/2011/11/letter-recognition-fun.html


One of the first items I ever created was Multiple Meaning Word Cards. They can be used for centers, as individual practice, or even to play the game Scoot.  Multiple Meaning Word Cards 
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