JARIYA: Due Dates, Easy Excellence and Focus First

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Due Dates, Easy Excellence and Focus First

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Tips:

May 16, 2013.

Featured Post:
Grading Group Projects Fairly

From C. Saunders
A teacher in Brooten, Minnesota:

All my group projects have a group element and an individual element. Each student earns one score for the group (same score for all members) and another individual score for his/her part in the product.

Question of the Week:
Spelling & Vocabulary

From The Worker Bees:

Students seldom have more fun – and learn better – than when playing games. Spelling Bees are a great example. What kid-tested, teacher-friendly strategies do you have for teaching spelling and vocabulary skills?

Due in Two

From Jo Elliot
A fifth grade teacher in Ortonville, Minnesota:

Ms. Elliot has a nifty way of organizing and tracking her students' work assignments. Her "Due in Two" routine sets clear expectations and firm consequences - and helps keep whole class running smoothly.

Easy Button Rewards

From Laurie Goss:

Ms. Goss builds community and motivates her class by allowing students to push her buttons - her Easy Button that is. Read more about how her students look for opportunities to shine and to recognize each other's achievements.

Focus First, Then Questions

From Jan McCarthy
A high school teacher:

Do you ever wish that students would actually read your instructions before asking questions about them? Ms. McCarthy certainly did, so she developed a very effective method for teaching the simple, fundamentally important skill of following directions.

We couldn't do it without you! Submit your tip online or reply to this email. Please contribute your own brief, practical, broadly applicable classroom tip to Works4Me. When submitting a tip, please include your full name, school, specific assignment (grade/subject), city and state. This newsletter is only as good as the tips we receive, so send your ideas today.

PATHS TO LITERACY

Paths to Literacy now offers a way to earn Continuing Education credits or Professional Development Points (PDPs)! Teachers are invited to post strategies related to any aspect of literacy for children who are blind or visually impaired, including those with additional disabilities. We’re looking for practical ideas that have worked well for you related to writing, emergent literacy, braille, large print, objects, auditory strategies, or anything that you would like to share with others. Learn more at: pathstoliteracy.org.

Disclaimer
Works4Me is a vehicle for instructional staff to share their ideas with other instructional staff. As such, it does not constitute an endorsement of any particular curriculum or teaching method by the National Education Association or any of its affiliates.