Teaching Tips of the Week
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| In this weekly column, we offer teacher-tested techniques and tips. |
| Silence is Golden |
| Divide the class into groups. Have each group complete a project in complete silence. (The project could be as simple or complex as you wish.) Tell the students they can only communicate using hand signals, facial gestures, etc. After all groups finish, discuss what they learned about communication. |
| Tacky Ball Math Review |
| Make a "tacky ball" with wadded newspaper and masking tape. (The ball will be mishapen and "tacky" looking.) Divide the class into two teams. Have one student be the scorekeeper and one student be the basket keeper. Pick one student from each team to go to the board. Call out a math problem that the class has been studying (long division problem, fractions, etc.). The first person to complete the problem and write the correct answer on the board wins one point. The winner gets an opportunity to throw the "tacky ball" into a small trash can (or some other type of basket). (For more of a challenge, place the basket on a stool.) If they get the ball in, they win two more points. (If you desire, you can have each of the team members write and try to solve the math problems on paper while they are sitting at their desks waiting for the two students at the board to finish.) The basket keeper holds the trash can or basket (if it is on a stool) and picks up the tacky ball when the shooter is finished. |
| Tapestry Tales |
| Have students summarize their favorite fairy tale, folktale, or book. Then have them choose six important scenes in the story. On drawing paper or oak tag have them illustrate the scenes to create a medieval-looking tapestry. For a brief overview of tapestries, go here. |
| Limit Teacher Talk |
| Studies show that oftentimes class discussions are dominated by the teacher. Make a concentrated effort to limit "teacher talk," and encourage student participation. |
| Offer Options |
| Whenever feasible, offer options for how learning and assessment will take place. You may offer students the choice of a longer, take-home test, for example, or a shorter in-class test. Another example: Offer students the option of writing a play, making an informational brochure, or creating an art project in order to "show what they know" as opposed to a regular book report. |
©2006 Education Oasis http://www.educationoasis.com |
