Teachers

3 Ways to Improve U.S. Students Standing Worldwide

The latest international report on student knowledge and success worldwide once again paints U.S. pupils in a bad light. This is not the first time American students have lagged behind their peers on the OECD PISA global education survey that tests and compares student outcomes in areas like math, science and reading. The results are really just more of the same.

While I take issue with particular parts of the test (leader China reportedly only tested students in elite schools in Shanghai), it is a wake-up call nonetheless. When it comes to American K-12 student achievement, it is not enough to be a big fish in a little pond. To really make a splash and gain international footing, a few things need to change in U.S. K-12 education. Here are just a few:

Teacher support. This starts from administration in individual schools and extends into the community at large. Parents must also respect the role of teachers in order for kids to follow suit. Unfortunately many times teachers are pitted as servants, and not put on the pedestal they deserve. Perhaps I’m biased but what is more important than imparting knowledge to our next generation? Today’s best teachers are not simply reciting facts and expecting their students to regurgitate them; the teachers in contemporary classrooms are “showing their work” so to speak by imparting the life skills necessary for students to find answers on their own and be successful citizens in other ways.

Teachers need backup from the other people in their students’ lives and from their own colleagues and superiors. Traditionally high-performing PISA countries like Sweden, Australia and Japan all have one thing in common – high levels of community support for teachers and involvement from teachers in the course of instruction and curriculum. When new initiatives are handed down in the U.S., like the Common Core standards, teachers should have access to resources to help them reach goals. Teachers need more input in decisions, more access to continuing education resources and more faith from the administrators and families impacted by their classrooms.

STEM emphasis. There seems to be a general societal consensus that science, technology, engineering and math subjects are somehow boring, or uncool. A lot of attention has been placed lately on young women and finding ways to encourage them in male-dominated STEM fields, but I’d argue that young men need the same opportunities. Overall, more American students need to take an interest in STEM topics if we want to be able to compete on a global scale. The rapidly changing field of technology makes this part of U.S. K-12 education even more pressing. As the digital age continues to modify life as we know it, the students in today’s classrooms must have the tools to lead the country in discoveries, inventions and communication technology the coming decades.

Equal opportunities. In country that claims to be based on equality for all, there are still too many achievement gaps in our classrooms. While it should be a non-issue, the color of a student’s skin does seem to impact his or her academic achievement. It is not a direct effect, of course, but still something that needs even more focus to overcome. The best work on closing the achievement gap is in individual schools and I think that makes the most sense. No blanket national program will be able to answer all of the intricacies of why an achievement gap exists in a particular place or school. From a federal standpoint, however, schools should be encouraged to develop programs for eliminating achievement gaps and reaching individual students where it is most effective – their own classrooms.

Why do you think American students lag the rest of the world? What would you add to my list?

Click here to read all our posts concerning the Achievement Gap.

How Conferencing for Assessment Benefits Students During Hybrid Learning

When it comes to assessment, it is essential to find a way to capture student work in an accurate and timely way. Conferencing for assessment offers educators the perfect solution- it allows for the immediate assessment of student work and the collection of data that can be used to improve the learning environment. In addition, conferencing for assessment can be used to assess student work in various modes, including online, face-to-face, and hybrid formats.

The benefits of conferencing for assessment are numerous and far-reaching. For example, it can help to improve the accuracy and timeliness of assessment by allowing for the assessment of student work in various modes. This can help to ensure that all students are assessed equally and that no student is left behind. In addition, conferencing for assessment can also help to improve the quality of assessment by allowing educators to capture data that can be used to improve the learning environment. This data can be used to track student progress and make changes to the curriculum based on the assessment results.

Overall, conferencing for assessment is an essential tool for educators looking to improve the accuracy and timeliness of assessment and quality of assessment. In addition, it is a great way to ensure that all students can participate in an assessment and get feedback on their work on time.

Types of Parents That Teachers Secretly Hate

There are many types of parents that teachers secretly hate. Some of these parents are authoritarian, demanding, and judgmental. Other parents are more supportive and understanding. However, all parents have some type of negative effect on the education of their children.

One type of parent that teachers secretly hate is the authoritarian parent. These parents often do not allow their children to have any type of expression other than those sanctioned by them. The authoritarian parent often sets the standard for what is acceptable and unacceptable in education, and their children often reflect this in their behavior and thoughts.

The second type of parent that teachers secretly hate is the demanding parent. These parents are always asking for more from their children than they are willing to give. They often expect their children to do more than they are willing to do themselves. This can lead to tension and conflict between the parents and their children, which can negatively affect the education of their children.

The third type of parent that teachers secretly hate is the judgmental parent. These parents are always critical of their children and their behavior. They often look down on them and their choices, and they often do not enjoy having their children around. This can lead to tension and conflict between parents and their children, which can negatively affect the education of their children.

All parents have some type of negative effect on the education of their children. The type of parent that teachers secretly hate is the authoritarian parent. The demanding parent and the judgmental parent can also negatively affect the education of their children.

4 Proven Strategies for Teaching Empathy

Empathy is vital to understanding others and can help us build trust and cooperation. It’s also an important tool for healing wounds and assisting in preventing violence. There is no question that empathy is an important tool for building relationships and communing with others. Unfortunately, empathy can be difficult to teach, especially to young children. To help make empathy learning easier, here are four proven strategies:

  1. Provide opportunities for children to practice empathy by roleplaying with them. For example, have them pretend to be a firefighter trying to save a cat trapped in a burning building.
  2. Use empathy-building activities that focus on the senses. For example, have children practice identifying the different smells of a baking cake, listen to a story about a lost pet, or watch a video of someone cooking a meal.
  3. Encourage children to share their feelings and emotions. For example, have them share what it was like when their pet died or write about a time when they were hurt.
  4. Help children learn how to be kind and compassionate by modeling these behaviors. For example, tell children how you would have felt if someone did something wrong to your favorite pet or how you would have reacted if you were in the same situation as the child in the story.

Learning to be empathetic can be a valuable skill in any personal or professional life. Empathy is key to fostering positive relationships with others. Understanding and experiencing empathy can be a powerful personal growth and development tool.

What Makes a Good Leader? Best Tips & Growth Strategies

A good leader is someone who is able to motivate their team and help them achieve their goals. They should also be able to give clear instructions and be able to keep a cool head in difficult situations. Here are some tips on how to become a good leader:

1. Be consistent: It’s important to be consistent with your team and policies, even if it means being unpopular initially. This will help your team understand and trust you, making them more likely to follow your lead.

2. Be patient: Leaders need to be patient when it comes to getting their team to cooperate and work together. It may take some time for them to develop trust, but eventually, it will pay off.

3. Be organized: Leaders should be able to keep track of their team’s progress and be organized in their work. This will help them make better decisions and plan for future contingencies.

4. Be motivational: Leaders need to be able to motivate their team to work harder. They should be able to set an example for them and show them what success looks like.

5. Be authoritative: Leaders need to be able to give clear instructions and make decisions without involving their team. They should also be able to enforce their decisions without being authoritarian.

What Is Leadership Communication?

In order for a leadership team to effectively communicate, they must first have a clear understanding of what leadership communication is. Leadership communication is the process of exchanging messages between leaders in order to improve team effectiveness. Leaders should use communication to build relationships, assign tasks, and make decisions.

There are a few key elements to effective leadership communication. First, leaders must be clear and concise in their messages. They should also be aware of their audience and focus on the most important aspects of their message. Lastly, leaders should implement regular communication practices to ensure that their messages are always received and understood.

Below are some best practices for effective leadership communication.

1. Be Clear and Concise in Your Messages

Leaders should be clear and concise in their messages to be understood by their audience. They should avoid using ambiguous language and long speeches. Instead, they should focus on concisely delivering the most important points.

2. Pay Attention to Your Audience

Leaders must be aware of their audience to communicate with them effectively. They should focus on the most important aspects of their message in order to be understood. Additionally, leaders should pay attention to their tone of voice and body language in order to project the right image.

3. Implement Regular Communication Practices

Leaders should implement regular communication practices in order to ensure that their messages are always received and understood. They should schedule regular meeting times to discuss team progress and assign tasks. Additionally, they should use email, chat, and other communication platforms to keep team members updated.  

Definition and Examples of Postmodifiers in English Grammar

Postmodifiers are a type of modifier in English grammar that comes after the main word is modified. These modifiers can take the form of adjectives, adverbs, nouns, or other words, and they can make a sentence more descriptive or specific. Postmodifiers are an important part of English grammar, and it is important to understand how they work. This article will explain the definition and provide examples of postmodifiers.

Definition

Postmodifiers are modifiers that come after the main word they modify. This means that they follow the word they modify, or they come “after” it. These modifiers can be adjectives, adverbs, nouns, or other words. They can be used to modify nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, or clauses. Postmodifiers can be used to make a sentence more descriptive or specific.

Examples

Postmodifiers can come in a variety of forms. Here are some examples of postmodifiers in action:

Adjective: The red dress is pretty.

In this sentence, the word “red” is a postmodifier. It comes after the noun “dress” and describes it.

Adverb: She ran quickly.

In this sentence, the word “quickly” is a postmodifier. It comes after the verb “ran” and describes how she ran.

Noun: The man in the hat is cool.

In this sentence, the noun “hat” is a postmodifier. It comes after the noun “man” and specifies which man is being referred to.

Conclusion

Postmodifiers are an important part of English grammar. They come after the word is modified and can be used to add more detail or specificity to a sentence. Knowing how to use postmodifiers correctly can help you improve your writing.

18 Genius Tips for Teaching Students to Adapt to a New Routine

Are you looking for teaching students to adapt to a new routine? If so, keep reading.

1. If an aide works in the classroom, have the aide monitor the learner’s behavior; give reinforcement; deliver instructions; etc., when a substitute teacher is in the classroom.

2. Give a quiet space for the learner to work.

3. Notify the learner in advance when it will be appropriate for a substitute teacher to be in the classroom and create expectations for behavior and academic performance.

4. Inform the learner in advance when changes in their schedule will happen (e.g., going to P.E. at various times, going on a field trip, etc.).

5. Teach the learner acceptable ways to express displeasure, anger, frustration, etc.

6. Get the learner to question any directions, explanations, instructions not grasped about the change in an established routine (schedule).

7. Select a peer to model appropriate acceptance of changes in an established routine (schedule) for the learner.

8. Create classroom rules: • Complete every assignment. • Remain in your seat. • Finish tasks. • Meet task expectations. • Raise your hand. Examine rules often. Praise students for following the rules.

9. Draft an agreement with the learner stipulating what behavior is required (e.g., accepting a change in routine (schedule)) and which reinforcement will be implemented when the agreement has been met.

10. Praise those students in the classroom who accept changes in an established routine (schedule).

11. Praise the learner for accepting changes in an established routine (schedule) based on the number of times the learner can be successful. As the learner shows success, slowly increase the number of times required for reinforcement.

12. Connect with parents (e.g., notes home, phone calls, etc.) to disseminate information about the learner’s progress. The parents may reinforce the learner at home for accepting changes in an established routine (schedule) at school.

13. Converse with the learner to explain (a) what the learner is doing wrong (e.g., having a tantrum, refusing to accept the change, etc.) and (b) what the learner should be doing (e.g., accepting the change in routine (schedule)).

14. Assess the appropriateness of the change in routine (schedule). Ascertain if the change is too complicated and if the duration of time scheduled is sufficient.

15. Praise the learner for accepting changes in an established routine (schedule): (a) give the learner a concrete reward (e.g., privileges such as leading the line, handing out learning materials, 10 minutes of free time, etc.) or (b) give the learner an informal reward (e.g., praise, handshake, smile, etc.).

16. Consider using a classroom management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

17. Consider using Alexa to help you with classroom management. Click here to read an article that we wrote on the subject.

18. Click here to learn about six bonus strategies for challenging problem behaviors and mastering classroom management.

Types of Nouns

Nouns are an essential part of language. They are words that are used to refer to people, places, things, and ideas. There are many different types of nouns, each serving a different purpose. Understanding the different types of nouns is essential for language learners.

Common Nouns
Common nouns are the most general type of noun. They are used to refer to everyday people, places, things, and ideas. Examples of common nouns include “person,” “city,” “book,” and “happiness.”

Proper Nouns
Proper nouns are nouns that refer to specific people, places, things, and ideas. They are always capitalized, and they often have specific spellings and meanings. Examples of proper nouns include “John,” “Paris,” “Harry Potter,” and “Christmas.”

Abstract Nouns
Abstract nouns are nouns that refer to ideas, feelings, concepts, and qualities. They cannot be seen, heard, touched, smelled, or tasted. Examples of abstract nouns include “love,” “happiness,” “anger,” and “sadness.”

Collective Nouns
Collective nouns are nouns that refer to groups of people, places, things, and ideas. Examples of collective nouns include “school,” “team,” “class,” and “army.”

Concrete Nouns
Concrete nouns are nouns that refer to people, places, things, and ideas that can be seen, heard, touched, smelled, or tasted. Examples of concrete nouns include “dog,” “tree,” “chair,” and “strawberry.”

Compound Nouns
Compound nouns are nouns composed of two or more words. They are typically created by combining two words, such as “sunflower,” or by adding a prefix or suffix to a word, such as “unbreakable.”

Knowing the different types of nouns is essential for language learners. Understanding the various types of nouns will help language learners communicate more effectively and accurately. 

Uses of the Verb To Do

The verb ‘to do’ is one of the most versatile and commonly used verbs in the English language. It can be used in various ways and contexts and is often used to express actions or give commands. Here are some of the most common uses of the verb ‘to do.’

1. To Express Action

The verb ‘to do’ is often used to express action. For example, ‘I do the dishes every day’ would express an action. It could also be used to discuss other activities, such as ‘I do yoga every morning.’

2. To Give Commands

The verb ‘to do’ is also commonly used to give commands or orders. For example, ‘Do your homework’ could be used to tell someone to complete an assignment. Or, ‘Do the laundry’ could be used to instruct someone to clean their clothes.

3. To Talk About Habits

The verb ‘to do’ is often used when talking about habits or repeating activities. For example, ‘I do my nails once a week’ would express a regular activity. It could also be used to talk about how often someone does something, such as ‘I do the shopping every Saturday.’

4. To Make Questions

The verb ‘to do’ can also be used to form questions. For example, ‘Do you like coffee?’ would be a way of asking someone whether they enjoy coffee. Or, ‘Do you want to go out tonight?’ could be used to ask someone if they would like to go out.

5. To Express Agreement

The verb ‘to do’ is also commonly used to express agreement. For example, ‘I do’ could be used to agree with something someone has said. Or, ‘I do believe that’ could be used to agree with a statement or opinion.

As you can see, the verb ‘to do’ is one of the most versatile and commonly used verbs in the English language. It can be used in various ways and contexts and is often used to express action, give commands, talk about habits, ask questions, or express agreement. It is an essential verb for any English speaker to know and understand.