Category Archives: Teacher Support

Teachers are the key to the teaching/learning relationship. Teachers need support, Teachers need a quick site to turn to for their questions and educational needs. PIE wants to be that for teachers.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Currently reading “The Leader In Me”, I awoke with such excitement as to how I can help implement this wonderful idea of creating the paradigm shift that Steve Covey brought to life in 1989 via the business world through the “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”.

Being a teacher that began in the early 80s, I realized that many of these were in practice by most elementary schools but not to the degree in which Mr. Covey is suggesting.  Teachers always gave students jobs or tasks and changed them weekly.  Did we realized the ownership that those tasks brought to those students?  I know that we have some incredible ASB groups in our high schools, but we need to share out the leadership in all secondary schools.

Students feel ownership when provided with tasks that need to be done in the classroom and throughout the campus.  Mr. Covey saw the shift from in vocabulary from the school to MY school, the classroom to MY classroom, the school grounds to OUR school grounds.

As we have become more independent learners due to the need of meeting all student needs, have we forgotten the need to work together for the whole of community?  Do we need to take steps back to see how to have students work INTERdependently as well?

In his well-written book, The Leader In Me, the steps are set out on how to begin this paradigm shift.  Simply put, provide a task for students in the classroom, the school, the community.  Ask the students, what can YOU do that I am doing?  Maybe it is reading the morning bulletin, erasing the board at the end of class, gathering or passing out homework, changing bulletin boards, teaching one of the habits monthly, teaching others within the class in small group situations, leading the Pledge of Allegiance, summarizing the lesson or what is due next class period, etc.  This not only helps the teacher, but it helps the students feel ownership in the class.

Professional Learning Communities are no different than what was going on in the past.  Professionals getting together to plan lessons, set the calendar, share what is working, going over tests results to see if teaching or tests need to be changed.  This also is creating an interdependence.

When I was a math coach in Tulare Joint Union School System, our department had an incredible week of finding the needs of students in the classroom.  With the goal being that we didn’t want any of those students falling through the crack, we learned that it was  overwhelming task to meet ALL the needs.  Then we started looking at our own strengths.  What are we best at and how can that assist the entire department.  We assigned tasks to each pair of teachers that would work together to build all that needed to be done to meet the needs of all students for that year.  We had group-test builders, individual-test builders, those creating tasks for the advanced students, those creating assignments for the gaps in learning for the “strugglers”,  those putting the calendar together to meet the goals of the chapters, and more.  It was a beautiful work of interdependence that Mr. Covey is talking about here in his book.  All teachers took ownership in the work that needed to be done to meet the needs of all the mathematics students during 2006.

It’s not about buying in, it is about understanding the need for everyone to work together as teachers, administrators, students and parents to accomplish the goals of doing what is best for the teaching/learning of all students.

For those of you that know me personally, do you see me in this paradigm shift below?  I hope you do and I hope I am now at the 8th Habit!  ~Sandy

In short, this is a cut from wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_7_Habits_of_Highly_Effective_People):

The book first introduces the concept of paradigm shift and helps the reader understand that different perspectives exist, i.e. that two people can see the same thing and yet differ with each other. On this premise, it introduces the seven habits in a proper order.

Each chapter is dedicated to one of the habits, which are represented by the following imperatives:

First Independence

The First Three Habits surround moving from dependence to independence (i.e., self-mastery):

1 – Be Proactive
Talks about the concept of Circle of Influence and Circle of Concern. Work from the center of your influence and constantly work to expand it. Don’t sit and wait in a reactive mode, waiting for problems to happen (Circle of Concern) before taking action.
2 – Begin with the End in Mind
Envision what you want in the future so you can work and plan towards it. Understand how people make decisions in their life. To be effective you need to act based on principles and constantly review your mission statement. Are you – right now – who you want to be? What do I have to say about myself? How do you want to be remembered? Change your life to act and be proactive according to the Habit 1. You are the programmer! Grow and stay humble.
3 – Put First Things First
Talks about difference between Leadership and Management. Leadership in the outside world begins with personal vision and personal leadership. Talks about what is important and what is urgent. Priority should be given in the following order:
1) Important and Urgent
2) Important and not-urgent
3) Not Important and Urgent
4) Not important and Not urgent

Habit 2 says: you are the programmer. Habit 3: Write the program. Become a leader! Keep personal integrity: what you say vs what you do.

Interdependence

The next three habits talk about Interdependence (e.g., working with others):

4 – Think Win-Win
Genuine feelings for mutually beneficial solutions or agreements in your relationships. Value and respect people by understanding a “win” for all is ultimately a better long-term resolution than if only one person in the situation had gotten his way. Think Win-Win isn’t about being nice, nor is it a quick-fix technique. It is a character-based code for human interaction and collaboration.
5 – Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood
Use empathic listening to genuinely understand a person, which compels them to reciprocate the listening and take an open mind to being influenced by you. This creates an atmosphere of caring, and positive problem solving.
The Habit 5 is greatly embraced in the Greek philosophy represented by 3 words:
1) Ethos – your personal credibility. It’s the trust that you inspire, your Emotional Bank Account.
2) Pathos is the empathic side — it’s the alignment with the emotional trust of another person communication.
3) Logos is the logic — the reasoning part of the presentation.
The order is important: ethos, pathos, logos — your character, and your relationships, and then the logic of your presentation.
6 – Synergize
Combine the strengths of people through positive teamwork, so as to achieve goals that no one could have done alone.

Continuous Improvements

The final habit is that of continuous improvement in both the personal and interpersonal spheres of influence.

7 – Sharpen the Saw
Balance and renew your resources, energy, and health to create a sustainable, long-term, effective lifestyle. It primarily emphasizes exercise for physical renewal, good prayer (meditation, yoga, etc.) and good reading for mental renewal. It also mentions service to society for spiritual renewal.

Covey explains the “Upward Spiral” model in the sharpening the saw section. Through our conscience, along with meaningful and consistent progress, the spiral will result in growth, change, and constant improvement. In essence, one is always attempting to integrate and master the principles outlined in The 7 Habits at progressively higher levels at each iteration. Subsequent development on any habit will render a different experience and you will learn the principles with a deeper understanding. The Upward Spiral model consists of three parts: learn, commit, do. According to Covey, one must be increasingly educating the conscience in order to grow and develop on the upward spiral. The idea of renewal by education will propel one along the path of personal freedom, security, wisdom, and power.[3]

The 8th Habit

8 – Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs.

Reception

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has sold more than 25 million copies in 40 languages worldwide, and the audio version has sold 1.5 million copies, and remains one of the best selling nonfiction business books in history. In August 2011 Time listed 7 Habits as one of “The 25 Most Influential Business Management Books”.[4]

New Mobile Education App with Mega Info

New Mobile Application Offers Detailed Information about California’s PK-12 and Adult Education Schools

Source: California Department of Education

URL: http://bit.ly/CA-Schools_App

A new mobile application that offers detailed information about California’s 10,000 public schools was announced last week by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson.

The free “CA Schools” mobile app, which is available for iOS and Android systems, lets users locate nearby schools based on their current location or search for schools (public or private) by location (e.g., city, district, or ZIP code). The app provides information such as the school’s phone number, address, demographics, and test scores (for public schools).

“Never before have we put so much school information literally in the hands of our students, parents, and community members and made the information so accessible and user-friendly,” Torlakson said.

Visit http://bit.ly/CA-Schools_App for more information about this useful new app. Also see http://bit.ly/CDE-DataQuest-61417 for today’s announcement about DataQuest improvements.

~ To subscribe to COMET, send the following message to listserv@listserv.csufresno.edu: Subscribe COMET [followed by your name]

Example:  Subscribe COMET Albert Einstein

Carol Fry Bohlin, Ph.D.

Professor and Graduate Program Coordinator (M.A. in Education-C&I)

Director, Mathematics and Science Teacher Initiative (MSTI)

Reporter/Editor, California Online Mathematics Education Times (COMET)

California State University, Fresno

5005 N. Maple Ave. M/S ED 2

Fresno, CA  93740-8025 

E-mail: carolb@csufresno.edu

COMET: http://comet.cmpso.org                 

http://twitter.com/STEM_Fresno

The Teacher

Lord, who am I to teach the way

To little children day by day

So prone myself to go astray?

I teach them knowledge, but I know

How faint they flicker and how low

The candles of my knowledge glow.

I teach them power to will and do,

But only now to learn anew

My own great weakness through and through.

I teach them love for all mankind

And all God’s creatures, but I find

My love comes lagging far behind.

Lord, if their guide I still must be,

Oh, let the little children see

The teacher leaning hard on Thee.

~Leslie Pinckney Hill

 

How To Become A Teacher

Teaching is one of the most fun and noble careers one could have. They have the power to influence and touch students’ lives profoundly.

Starting A Teaching Career

In this guide you’ll learn why teachers are more important than ever and how to start your teaching career.

SHARES102

Why Start A Teaching Career?

In the United States, the demand for teachers is skyrocketing. For instance, in California alone, teacher vacancies currently clocks at over 14,000 positions. According to reports, the figures are set to grow in the forthcoming school years. Considering this, experts see a noticeable increase, with 19% in the post-secondary department and 17% for preschool.

With more job openings in specific subject areas, there is no question that the country needs better teachers. Teachers with specialization in particular subject areas such as ESL, STEM, and special education needs are in high demand. Wondering where to practice your teaching career? See teacher shortage statistics for top five states below.

Top States Affected by Teacher Shortage Crisis

Teaching delivers multiple virtuous benefits, but shortage remains an adamant issue in both public and private educational facilities. To date, statistics report critical levels of teacher shortage in the following states:

  • 14,521California
  • 8,005Texas
  • 6,381Illinois
  • 6,189New York
  • 5708Florida

Most Attractive States To Teach In

The US offers staggering number of job opportunities for teachers. As a matter of fact, multiple locations show immense attractiveness rating, a data that’s evaluated based on a number of key factors such as compensation, working conditions,  qualifications, and turnover. According to the Learning Policy Institute, these are the top 5 states that offer the most advantages for potential educators.

Teacher Attractiveness Rating

5 = Highest, 1 = Least

  • 4.09 Oregon
  • 4.00 Wyoming
  • 3.82 South Dakota
  • 3.67 California
  • 3.67 Arkansas

Teacher Shortage Areas

Teacher shortage area or TSA is defined as an area of specific grade, subject matter or discipline classification, or a geographic area in which the Secretary determines that there is an inadequate supply of elementary or secondary school teachers.

Percentage of States With Shortages in the Following Area

  • 84%Special Education
  • 78%Math
  • 75%Science
  • 57%Reading / Language Arts
  • 51%Foreign Language

How Long Does It Take?

The length of time to become a full-fledge educator varies depending on your preference and area of focus. However, there are common rules that apply to all, such as getting a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree beforehand. Through the years, teacher education requirements have changed dramatically in each individual state. While no two states have equal requirements, these are common routes you can choose from when considering a career in teaching.

Bachelor’s Degree

Earned through college or university, completion of this degree usually takes four years of regular schooling. School needs to be accredited by National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.

Alternative Certification

An increasing number of states approve Alternative Certification programs to certify new teacher candidates that already have a Bachelor’s Degree in a subject other than education. Alt-Cert education programs like Teachers of Tomorrow enable career changers to enter the teaching profession, providing quality preparation and support.  This route is often the most streamlined affordable pathway to a career in education.

Four-year Route

It is possible for an aspiring teacher to teach early childhood education after finishing a four-year course. However, it might be different for one looking to teach in high school. In addition to a bachelor degree, you will need to sign up for a teacher certification and teacher education program to get required on-the-job hours.

Five-year Route

A majority of states allow you to teach students at high school or middle school once you obtain a four-year degree, a subject endorsement, hours, and teaching certificate of completion. However, this can vary depending on the rules per state. To get an endorsement, you may have to add another semester or a few more classes to your existing units. It will likely take you five years if you’re changing major subjects or getting your certification after finishing a bachelor’s degree.

Six-year Route

If your state of practice requires teachers of high school and middle school to get a master’s degree, getting that certificate will take you one to two years more. Some degree holders earn this while student teaching. This route seems to take a lot of time; however, you might like to reconsider if you want to get more freedom on choosing subjects to teach, higher compensation, and better opportunities when landing a job.

Steps To Become A Teacher

Steps to becoming a teacher
Considering a teaching career? Take note of these steps.

Step 1: Secure a bachelor’s degree.

This typically involves completion of a major in the subject area you wish to focus on, along with a minor in education. An enrollment in a teacher education preparation program is also acceptable. Regardless of the choice, students generally complete mentorship or student-teaching subsequent to completion of bachelor’s degree.

  • Career hint:
    Internship, student teaching, tutoring, and teaching certification programs are great means to gain field experience in teaching. Future school teachers should consider being in one of these education programs to better understand the craft and to fill their resumes, which is highly valuable when job-hunting after graduation.

Step 2:Complete your teacher training.

Once you’re done with a four-year degree, the next thing to pay attention to are the requirements and exams that’s necessary to earn teaching credentials. These vary depending on location, but in general, students take a basic skills exam, along with an exam for the subject they wish to teach. The test scores, college or university transcripts, teaching program certificates, federal background checks, and complete application form should be submitted altogether to the State Board of Education.

  • Career hint:
    Join a quality Alternative Certification program once eligible, as they can guide you through your state’s specific process. You may find it difficult to locate and understand all the requirements or take advantage of all necessary resources without professional guidance.

Step 3: Development resources

are also great tools to gain additional teaching strategies and skills. Along with keeping up with the latest technology in education, you can use these sources to improve as a professional in the field.

Step 4: Get ahead by pursuing a voluntary certification.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, earning additional credentials can help you get ahead when obtaining a teaching career. These certification programs, often offered by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, offer advanced teacher education credentials and certificates in various fields including mathematics, science, library media, health, physical education and others.

The next sections will introduce you to the top universities, subject areas, and certification requirements, along with compensation expectations for school teacher hopefuls.

Bachelor’s Degree

Complete all required coursework and requirements for obtaining a four year Bachelor’s degree in Education, or you concentration of choice with a minor in Education, from any accredited college or university.

Choose Your Subject Area

When choosing a teacher’s course, having a subject area in mind is crucial. At the moment, these are the most sought-after jobs you might consider venturing on.

English as Second Language (ESL)

Many non-English speaking students come to the US to learn English. School teachers are needed by these students so as to know how to speak and write the language fluently. Educators also help them adopt into a new campus and classroom. Aspiring teachers with college degree and multi-lingual abilities have higher chances of getting a career in education. Some of the common foreign language skills needed in US schools are Spanish, French, German, Latin, and the list goes on.

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)

Involving prerequisite subjects such as information technology, statistics, physics, chemistry, biology, and geology, the need for teachers with concentration in these subject areas is exceedingly high. The reason is that, more and more teachers are choosing private sector schools, which allow them to earn twice the salary. Still, STEM teachers have plenty of career opportunities and are considered a valuable necessity in this field.

Special Needs Education

This refers to the special education needed by children with disabilities, including those with mild autism, dyslexia, ADD/ADHD, and sufferers of intellectual incapacity. By getting a course in this subject area, you should expect a lot of teaching openings because most positions go vacant every year. Not only physical schools, but also online academies launch dozens of opportunities each school year.

Early Childhood Education

It’s very common for parents to change careers when their children become school-aged. There’s definitely a demand for early childhood education jobs ranging from preschool to early elementary school. This is where educators teach children to be lifelong learners.

Learn Your State’s Certification Process

state certification process

A teacher needs to meet certification and licensing requirements in order to jumpstart their teaching career. While requirements vary by state, these are the general teacher training prerequisites to date.

  • Eligibility
    Complete a 4-year Bachelor’s Degree with a GPA of at least 2.5.
  • Teacher Preparation Program
    Typically includes master’s degree, undergraduate, or other alternative teaching programs.
  • State or National Certification
    The certificate is issued to teachers who have completed all requirements.

Certification & Licensing Requirements Per State

To view specific certification and licensing requirements for each state, click below to learn about state-approved teacher preparation programs.

Study For Your Teacher Certification Exams

One of the basic requirements for state teacher is passing a standardized test. These exams, used by majority of US Public Schools, aim to measure a teacher’s knowledge and skills. Each individual state has their own standards, therefore, the requirements may vary per state. For instance, if you passed the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations in New York and you want to teach in California, you will also need to ace California Basic Education Skills Test.

These tests are extensively used for teacher certification.

  • National Evaluation Series
    This is a computer based examination that tests the qualification and skills of potential educators. NES is managed by the personal development organization Pearson and covers a comprehensive range of academic subjects including ESL, Math, English, and technological skills. Since standards and requirements vary, check with your state’s Board Of Education to know which test is for you. Keep in mind that not all states accredit the NES.
  • Praxis Series
    Currently used by over 40 states in the US, the Praxis Series is given by the Educational Testing Service. The test measures a teacher’s knowledge and skills to know if they are eligible for certification or licensing. The state sets varying passing scores and may or may not require taking of all Praxis tests, which comprise of the following:

    • Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educator Tests
      Includes three separate sections – reading, writing, and mathematics
    • Praxis Subject Assessments
      Includes Principles of Learning Tests and Subject Assessments

Getting Your First Teaching Job

The job market for teachers may be hard to crack, but nothing is impossible for someone with solid determination. To land on that first teaching gig, follow these steps.

  • Prepare your portfolio.
    This is extremely essential especially if you don’t have much experience to tackle with the interviewer. Get your transcripts, Praxis results, certifications, student-teaching certificates, impeccable lesson plans, and just about anything that could boost your eligibility. Make sure your portfolio is perfect because how it appears tells a lot of things about you.
  • Exhaust all your means.
    Start each job-hunt day with a “stay focused and proactive” attitude.  This includes using all media for searching jobs including your personal network, government employment agencies, and social media, primarily Facebook and Twitter. Many employment companies, online and office-based, send recent job announcements in your news feed. Submit a completed application with every school district within your commute radius, and proactively follow up with these districts by phone.  District recruiters have shared it is a strong strategy to resubmit a new application every 2-3 months.  Don’t be overly-selective about the districts you wish to teach at during your first year.  Getting your first position and excelling in the classroom are key to opening more doors
  • Be a substitute teacher.
    Doing this lets you demonstrate your teaching skills and network with fellow teachers and administrators at the same time. Until you’re hired as a regular teacher, you’re likely going to be paid per day or per shift basis. That said, the work can be pretty inconsistent and lack the benefits. However, you can do research on health insurance choices – you may find a plan that fits your current employment status.
  • Maximize your qualifications.
    For instance, teachers with certifications on subject areas are more marketable than those who do not have one. More so if you’re able to earn more than one. Not certified yet? Certain academies offer free or discounted courses for professionals. For graduates, you can sign up to gain more credits needed for dual certification.
  • Keep an eye on regions where teachers are in-demand.
    Many regions in the US are in urgent need of teachers specializing in different subject areas. Mississippi, for one, opens 2,000 vacancies at scheduled times per year. Other states are aggressively recruiting teachers in the past few years. To see which regions are actively hiring, refer to the Teacher Shortage Areas Nationwide Listing.
  • Get an A on your interviews.
    Interview is the first crucial step in getting that teaching post. This is why preparing ahead is extremely imperative. The first thing to keep in mind when listed for an interview is to relax. If you show up too nervous to speak with the principal or hiring panel, they might think you won’t be able to handle yourself when faced with a classroom full of noisy students. Make sure you’re knowledgeable about the school you’re considering. You can also make yourself familiar with the community where the school is located.

What to Expect From Your Teaching Career

New Teacher Expectations
While teaching is not a “million-dollar” endeavor, it’s important to know how much money it can add to your wallet. Salary rates and schedules differ from one district to another, however, most states follow a general format.

Teacher Salaries

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of teachers per year is $55,000 approximately. 10% of teachers in the US get $36,930 annually, while other 10% earn as much as $85,690 per year. Difference in salaries are affected by variety of factors, including location, years of experience, educational attainment, and type of school.
Highest paying US schools are located in these areas, sorted from highest to lowest.

  • New York
  • Alaska
  • New Jersey
  • Rhode Island
  • Massachusetts

Average Teacher Pensions Per State

Based on statistics in the past 10 years, there are the average pension that newly retired teachers receive per state.

> $20K

$20-$29K

$30-$39K

$40-$49K

$50K <

Source: Teacherpensions.org

Graph above shows average pension for newly retired teachers from 2006-2015. However, amounts presented here may not reflect the actual amount that retirees earn, which depends on years in service, qualifications, location, and contributions.

Important note: In order to qualify for a state pension, a teacher has to meet minimum service requirements, ranging from 5-10 years. The figures above aim to show the average pension new retirees get at retirement, including only the teachers that qualify for pension.

 

Teacher Retirement Resources

10 Things a Retired Teacher Wants You to Know by Jessica McFadden

How to Excel at Teaching

How To Excel At Teaching

Teaching and making a difference in students’ lives is rewarding on its own. But, it is more rewarding if you’re able to improve professionally and conceptualize teaching strategies for more effective teaching. So how exactly do you upgrade yourself as a teacher? Read on.

Develop Your Teaching Philosophy

A teaching philosophy defines what you want to become in terms of learning and teaching. This written statement should discuss your how you intend to apply your beliefs by stating concrete examples of what you’re doing or planning to do inside the classroom. Why is this necessary? To achieve personal and professional growth.

When writing your very own teaching philosophy statement, take into account the following guidelines.

  • Keep the length to only 1-2 pages.
  • Use first person point of view, personal tone, and present tense.
  • Make it easy to read by not using ambiguous technical terms.
  • Clearly state your strategies, homework, and classroom activities so the reader will know exactly how it feels like to be in your class.
  • If you’re writing a philosophy to earn a job, do your best to make the statement stand out. Creatively emphasize your commitment and tough decisions you have made in the name of teaching.
  • Enumerate your teaching background accurately. Avoid generic sentences such as, “Students should do this in order to reach success”. Also mention that you’re willing to be flexible when the need arise.

Things to write in your teaching philosophy

  • Your idea of teaching
  • Your idea of learning
  • Your aspirations for students
  • How you intend to implement your philosophy

Effective Teaching Strategies

New teachers can make use of certain strategies to make teaching more valuable. Five of these strategies are:

Practicing clarity.
When teaching new lessons, a good teacher begins by explaining the purpose and goals of learning it. They should demonstrate examples or models so students can figure out how the outcome really looks like.

Inducing class discussion.
An efficient teacher often steps up and mitigates classroom discussion. This way, students can interact and learn from one another. It’s also an ideal way to assess how well students are grasping new ideas and knowledge.

Providing student/teacher feedback.
Giving individual or group feedback is an excellent method to know how students are coping up with new educational concepts. Written or verbal, it pays to provide comments and keep them altogether in writing to monitor student’s growth. Teachers must also allow students to do the same.

Doing systematic student assessments.
In order to come up with accurate student feedback, teachers need to spend sizable amount of time creating systematic assessments. Evaluations should be done in a routine or regular basis.

Doing/teaching metacognition.
During this process, students have the liberty to conceptualize, organize, ease their way to learning, and evaluate their own work down the road. By letting students take responsibility of their thoughts and learning, student ownership heightens. The good news is, metacognition can be taught to students of all levels.

Having in-depth knowledge of subject area.
Creating excellent curricula starts with a teacher whose specialization is correct for the field in question. By having complete knowledge of your area of focus, you’ll easily answer student questions and craft an effective lesson plan for them.

Using strong verbal and written communication skills.
Whether creating lesson plans, drafting exams, doing classroom discussion, or speaking to parents or colleagues, adept communication skills is key. When in doubt, pay close attention to this aspect and work on improvement. Surely, you’d be a great and effective teacher once successful.

Have Fun Teaching!

There’s nothing more fulfilling than having awesome classroom fun. Here’s how to do it:

Explore new things with students.
Learning is much more fun when both teacher and students learn mutually. So drop down your authoritative side when appropriate, and join in the learning journey with them.

Add a hint of mystery.
Children love surprises, and this also applies inside the classroom. To make discussions more exciting, do not spill the information right away. Swathe it in mystery instead. Start with an intriguing detail and then ask questions. Your students will surely love it.

Show care and goofiness.
Sometimes, it’s okay to sacrifice authority if it means making your students happy and more enthusiastic. Bundled with authentic care from you, children will feel better knowing that their teacher is someone they can rely on and be funny with.

Take part in projects.
Think of this as a workshop where the leader plays a role with the team. Step down from your level, be part of the activity, and you’ll discover how your students get more focused and engaged with the task at hand.

Stop being monotonous.
Doing the same thing every single day is dull and boring – your students feel this. Break the monotony by exerting extra efforts, taking risks, trying new things, make mistakes and learn from them, and live each teaching day with positivity.

Review past class materials.
Integrating old materials with new ones is another great way to alleviate boredom. Go deeper into past lessons to see if any information is missed. Spend about a couple of hours for this to enhance students’ memory and learning.

Talk about your passion.
Sometimes, passion can be really contagious. Spend some time sharing passion with your students. Tell them a scenario where you had great fun doing something you’re passionate about. For sure, your students will inherit the same passion as you.

Have a good laugh with jokes in class.
Being a teacher doesn’t mean only you have the right to share your sense of humor, your students can, too! Let them share funny stories and have a good laugh about it. This way, you’ll enjoy one another.

Forget lectures. Say hello to conversations.
Teaching doesn’t have to be passive at all times. Most students find lectures repetitive and boring, that’s why you have to channel boredom into something more exciting. Speak to your students like you would with a good friend. Exchange thoughts and ask questions in such a way that you’re not the only one that does the responding.

Know your body language.
As the cliché goes, actions speak louder than words. This also applies when in a classroom discussion. According to experts, there is an ideal pace to move around the room, head position to let them the students know they got your attention, and manner to speak to students. Simply put, think of teaching as a performance where you have to be aware of yourself.

Be confident.
People who have high confidence and positive energy tend to attract more attention and respect. The same can be said to teachers. Express your passion in teaching by showing that you’re enjoying what you do. Nurture your inner self while nurturing your relationship with your students – they sure will have a great time as much as you do.

Picture yourself as a student again.
Your students will take it as a challenge if you sit as a student for a day and you let one or two of them to discuss in place of you.

Don’t take teaching conflicts too seriously.
Teaching and learning can be stressful to both teachers and students. Some students may take more than one courses, and may need to balance work with studies. Teachers, on the other hands, have various responsibilities that do not stop with teaching or making lesson plans. This is the reason why you shouldn’t be too hard on yourself when things are not working like you expected. Things happen, but they pass so understand, empathize, and carry on.

Teaching At Home/Addition

Once your student understands counting with manipulatives and identifies where whole numbers fall on a number line, you can add using both of this visuals.  Start with adding 1+1, put out two beans and push the one and one together.  The student should come up with 2.  Have the child count the one and one and then count it again as 2.  Show the numbers with dots on a paper.  One dot plus one dot equals two dots.  Now add 2+1 and move through the same process.

1+1, 2+1. 3+1, 4+1, 5+1, 6+1…

Then add 1+2 and look at 2+1 again to show student that 1+2 and 2+1 gives you the same number of beans or dots.  This is COMMUTATIVE PROPERTY.  Shows that you can add in either direction and get the same thing.

Move to the number line now.  Put your finger or a pencil on the number 1.  Adding one means moving right by one number.  This will also show that 1+1=2.  Show it with beans, dots and number line for several examples.

Go back and ask if 4+5 = 5+4 to revisit commutative property.

Continue to practice single digit addition until student feels confident.

Lake Havasu City is looking for educators!

Lake Havasu City is in need of one Administrator at District Office Level, 25 Certified, 21 Classified and 2 Substitutes.  Jobs are currently open for applying. Jobs begin on January 1, 2017.  Looking for a change?  Take a look! ~Sandy

Welcome to the Lake Havasu Unified School District Personnel Department home page. Lake Havasu City, home to the world famous London Bridge, is a growing desert community located in the foothills of the Mohave Mountains in western Arizona on the beautiful Colorado River. We are a community inspired by possibility and rich with promise. Our young city responds to a common purpose: To build a future dependent on our single most precious resource, our youth.

Our school district consists of 6 elementary schools (pre K-6), 1 middle school (7-8), and 1 high school (9-12). Total student enrollment is over 5500 students. We have about 650 staff members with 300 certified positions.

Our mission here in the personnel department is threefold.

  1. To offer an attractive, competitive wage and benefits package.
  2. To market Lake Havasu Unified as a great place to work, and Lake Havasu City as a great place to live.
  3. To help provide a strong support system for our employees.

We are currently accepting applications.

Math Leadership Conference in Visalia

It’s Not Too Late to Register!

We are excited to welcome two outstanding mathematics leaders to the Central Valley Region 7 Annual Mathematics Leadership Conference on October 20, 2016 at Tulare County Office of Education.  Please join us to hear Cathy Seeley and Harold Asturias as they help us understand what needs to take place in a mathematics classroom to help all students become powerful mathematical thinkers.   

 Cathy Seeley is a former president of NCTM and the author of several powerful books on effective mathematics instruction.   

Harold Asturias is the Director of the Center for Mathematics Excellence and Equity (CeMEE) at the Lawrence Hall of Science and is devoted to helping teachers more effectively teach English Language Learners in the mathematics classroom. 

 Registration includes the book: Principles to Action.  This is a great resource to use in your PLCs back at your site.  See the attached flyer for the registration link and additional information.

math-flyer-10-20-2016-copy 

Help Your Child Prepare For Upcoming Testing!

Testing with success series

Overcoming test anxiety

Most students experience some level of anxiety during an exam
However, when anxiety affects exam performance it has become a problem.

General preparation/building confidence:
Review your personal situation and skills
Academic counselors can help you in these areas, or refer to our Guides on the topic:

  • Developing good study habits and strategies (a link to our directory)
  • Managing time
    (dealing with procrastination, distractions, laziness)
  • Organizing material to be studied and learned
    Take a step by step approach to build a strategy and not get overwhelmed
  • Outside pressures
    success/failure consequences (grades, graduation), peer pressure, competitiveness, etc.
  • Reviewing your past performance on tests
    to improve and learn from experience

Test preparation to reduce anxiety:

  • Approach the exam with confidence:
    Use whatever strategies you can to personalize success: visualization, logic, talking to your self, practice, team work, journaling, etc.
    View the exam as an opportunity to show how much you’ve studied and to receive a reward for the studying you’ve done
  • Be prepared!
    Learn your material thoroughly and organize what materials you will need for the test. Use a checklist
  • Choose a comfortable location for taking the test
    with good lighting and minimal distractions
  • Allow yourself plenty of time,
    especially to do things you need to do before the test and still get there a little early
  • Avoid thinking you need to cram just before
  • Strive for a relaxed state of concentration
    Avoid speaking with any fellow students who have not prepared, who express negativity, who will distract your preparation
  • A program of exercise
    is said to sharpen the mind
  • Get a good night’s sleep
    the night before the exam
  • Don’t go to the exam with an empty stomach
    Fresh fruits and vegetables are often recommended to reduce stress.
    Stressful foods can include processed foods, artificial sweeteners, carbonated soft drinks, chocolate, eggs, fried foods, junk foods, pork, red meat, sugar, white flour products, chips and similar snack foods, foods containing preservatives or heavy spices
  • Take a small snack, or some other nourishment
    to help take your mind off of your anxiety.
    Avoid high sugar content (candy) which may aggravate your condition

During the test:

  • Read the directions carefully
  • Budget your test taking time
  • Change positions to help you relax
  • If you go blank, skip the question and go on
  • If you’re taking an essay test
    and you go blank on the whole test, pick a question and start writing. It may trigger the answer in your mind
  • Don’t panic
    when students start handing in their papers. There’s no reward for finishing first

Use relaxation techniques
If you find yourself tensing and getting anxious during the test:

Relax; you are in control.
Take slow, deep breaths

Don’t think about the fear
Pause: think about the next step and keep on task, step by step

Use positive reinforcement for yourself:
Acknowledge that you have done, and are doing, your best

Expect some anxiety
It’s a reminder that you want to do your best and can provide energy
Just keep it manageable

Realize that anxiety can be a “habit”
and that it takes practice to use it as a tool to succeed

After the test, review how you did

  • List what worked, and hold onto these strategies
    It does not matter how small the items are: they are building blocks to success
  • List what did not work for improvement
  • Celebrate that you are on the road to overcoming this obstacle

Check out local centers and resources in your school for assistance!

If you are aware that you have a problem with test anxiety,
be sure your teacher or instructor knows before any testing begins
(and not the hour before!).
There may be other options to evaluate your knowledge or performance within the subject matter.

http://www.studygs.net/tstprp8.htm