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More of 2016’s Best Ideas from Teachers
- August 17, 2016
- Posted by: The Teachers Academy
- Category: All Blog Postings Educator Resources / News
Best Teaching Ideas from PA, NJ and TN
The teachers at The Teacher’s Academy are fortunate to meet hundreds of teachers every week from all over the country. Our professional development courses emphasize teacher creativity and customized projects so that teachers get a chance to develop something functional. As a result, we are able to see fantastic lesson plans, design projects, video creations, hands-on activities and countless other completed assignments from some extremely talented teachers. Last month we shared a small sample of these ideas with you. The response was so overwhelming that we decided to share even more!
Pennsylvania Teachers get Creative with Resume Writing!
Writing does not always have to be in the form of an essay or a poem. Some PA teachers found alternative ways to include real-world writing skills in their current curriculum. Drafting a fictional resume has proven to be an engaging activity for students and quite effective in teaching a variety of writing skills, including grammar, spelling and creativity.
Resume Writing Fun!
Procedure:
- Students choose the type of job they would like to have when they grow up.
- Students research the skills and education needed for the job.
- Students create resumes that state their education, experience, skills and interests to align with the job they have chosen.
Options for Resume Lesson Plans:
- Explore the possibilities of different careers.
- Research jobs within the community and create an actual resume to be used when applying for positions.
- Role play an interviewer/job candidate scenario
- Create beginning-of-the-year resumes for a “getting to know you” activity.
- Design a resume at the end of the year to highlight strengths, past experiences, interests, and to help students prepare for future employment.
Not only are resume projects high-interest writing activities, but they also align with Common Core and help prepare students for college and career. CareerKids.com can be a great site to help you get started. Also, check out our own College and Career Readiness course that highlights this activity and other entrepreneurial activities that teachers can incorporate into their existing curriculum.
New Jersey Teachers Redesign their Classrooms!
Most teachers strive to create the perfect learning environment for their students. The layout of the furniture and unique spaces created for learning have a profound effect on the learning process. New Jersey teachers have taken the classroom design idea very seriously and the results are amazing!
Design Ideas for Young Learners!
- Effectively designed reading nooks, like the ones used in high-tech offices, provide a quiet place for students to zone out with a good book.
- Modern, sophisticated workstations and time-saving technology centers allow students to flourish in their surroundings and teachers to effectively support diverse learning.
- Project tables and materials stored in easily accessible shelving keep resources organized and protected for science and math lessons.
- Design Ideas for Middle / Upper Level Learners!
- Hands-on project spaces, worktables or even individual student desks can be arranged to promote independence in learning and motivation.
- Open, comfortable meeting areas and portable laptops allow students to collaborate or work independently.
- Well-organized, uncluttered classrooms provide students and teachers with a more relaxed, but focused environment.
Customize for your Classroom!
Remember, what works for some teachers may not work for others. Consider your curriculum goals, student population and current classroom set- up. Look for inspiration in high-tech offices as well as your colleagues’ classrooms! New Jersey teachers use a variety of resources to implement change in their classroom.
Here are just a few of them:
Architizer.com, Becuo.com, Pinterest.com, Edutopia.org, K-12 Tech Decisions.com
Teachers can earn professional development hours by designing their own classrooms. Inspiring Ideas for the 21st Century Classroom is a course that introduces teachers to different types of educational professionals and learning environments all around the world. After being inspired by a few new ideas, teachers are given resources to design the classroom of their dreams! Check out one of our most popular courses and earn 18 professional development hours for your creative ideas.
Tennessee Teachers Integrate Technology!
The education industry is getting bombarded with all kinds of technology options for the classroom. As a result, choosing the correct technology is one of the more difficult tasks teachers must perform. In Tennessee, teachers are getting smart about finding and using the technology that fits their students’ best interests. Classroom tools and storage options, curriculum-based games and digital resources are what Tennessee teachers are using to enrich their classroom environment.
Techy Tools – Google Drive!
The tool of choice for Tennessee teachers seems to be Google Drive. This web-based storage program allows users to create, edit and share files from any computer. The files they create can be saved and safely shared among users. There is an unlimited amount of free storage! Here is a snapshot of each program:
- Google Docs – writing projects
- Google Slides – presentations
- Google Sheets – spreadsheets
- Google Forms – surveys
Teachers across the country can earn professional development hours while learning to use Google Drive. Just check out our Google Suite of courses: Docs, Sheets, Slides and see if these tools are right for your classroom.
Evaluating online resources:
Google Drive is an indisputably helpful tool. But, there are lots of other technological resources out there which may be more questionable. Searching for just the right websites can consume hours of valuable time. Let the Common Sense Education website help you. On it, you will find lists of technological resources rated by teachers. It is well-organized and has some great ideas on how to implement technology in the classroom.
The Common Sense Education site has become so useful to us, that we used it to develop our Web Site Reviews courses. By taking these courses, teachers can earn 3 professional development hours while researching the latest technology resources for their classroom. See! Technology isn’t so scary!
Help us Help you!
The Teacher’s Academy is always looking for creative ideas to develop new courses. Our professional development courses are relevant, affordable and created by teachers like you! Have an idea for a course? Fill out a Contact Form! Or check out our course catalog to find a course that inspires your next great idea!