Teacher Tips/Training

Posted by Debbie DeSpirt

Words of Nelson Mandela, former South African President will open discussions about non violence with students. Mandela's quotes can be used as a tool to engage students about life inside and outside the classroom. Mandela creates and uses other quotes to promote peace and acceptance. As well, he models his beliefs and that is key for students. Students need to see peace and acceptance in the classroom, school community, and local community.

Mandela's quotes can be the springboard to begin discussions about bullying by students and adults. Bullying has been an issue since the conception of schools but it has now entered students' homes with the introduction of the Internet. Cyberbullying targets students in the safety of their homes, creating a new type of violence for students. Many students are not aware of the damage cyberbullying and other types of bullying have on the victim and the community. If bullying is considered a part of growing up it becomes a part of our values. It is important as teachers to model problem solving strategies, good working relationships with fellow teachers, parents, and administrators and respect for ourselves.

Teachers can be inspired by the words of Mandela and bring this to the classroom to teach students life values.

Posted by Debbie DeSpirt

Earth Day was celebrated around the world yesterday, April 22. Its inception began to educate people from all walks of life on how to conserve and protect our environment. Outside clean ups, litterless lunches, and turning off lights were just a few activities celebrating Earth Day in schools.

Students hear the buzz words to care for our environment, but are they observing the acts on a daily basis. Earth Day was established to get the world involved in protecting our environment for the year, not just one day a year.

Begin the discussions on how to protect our natural resources, but keep having students active in the goal. Litterless lunches do not have to be one day a year but rather on a continual basis. As well, turn off the lights or reduce light usage if possible in the classroom.

Appreciate our earth, by taking care of it and as teachers it is best to model to our students. Teachers can show their litterless lunch, walk or bike to school if possible, and turn off the lights in the classroom and staff room. Teachers, school administrators and the community are excellent environmental role models.

Posted by Debbie DeSpirt

Brain teasers on the blackboard is a great way for students to begin the day. Teacher may choose for students to answer the brain teaser independently or as a group. As well, class points or prizes may be awarded for the group with the correct answer. Since the objective is for all students to learn, give points or prizes for groups that have put effort into finding a solution to the problem.

As students walk into class, they usually mingle until the teacher gets their attention. Brain teaser will have students working together and utilizing brain power before morning announcements. If students are on task, the teacher can utilize this time for attendance and morning questions from students.

Brain teasers can include soduko, word problems, riddles, word definitions, puzzles, and logical games. It is best to have a variety otherwise students will bore of the activity. In addition, have students create brain teasers to share with the class.

Books, internet, and fellow teachers are great resources for creating brain teasers. As well, create brain teasers based on a theme, holiday, and students' curriculum.

Posted by Debbie DeSpirt

Celebrate National Poetry Month in April with your students. Poetry is an excellent reading choice as the material is usually short but there are a grand assortment of activities that can be utilized from one poetry piece.

In class, I always have a few poems to read to the class, in those few minutes between classes or to quiet a rowdy class. Most children in the primary and junior grades begin to quiet and settle when a teacher begins to read an enticing poem. Students begin to sssh their neighbour to hear the words because there is usually no picture.

April is a great opportunity to highlight poetry to your students because it is being celebrated in schools across North America. It is a time for teachers and students to share their favourite poems. Teachers can share with their class or with all students in the school during morning announcements.

I appreciate poetry because in a few short sentences I can be smiling or relate to the emotions of the character in the poem. A poem makes me think and read between their lines. As a teacher, I want students to be able to appreciate reading in all styles and I feel poety is is an enjoyable read.

Posted by Debbie DeSpirt

Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 ever since 1970. It's main purpose is to highlight how to conserve and protect our environment for the present and future. Earth Day is celebrated all across the world to inform students on how one step makes a difference to keep our earth healthy and strong. Earth day began as a one day celebration but many schools, and communities have increased the celebration to a week or month.

Morning Announcements are a great opportunity to showcase Earth Day in the school,to highlight local, national, or global ecological issues. Each morning give a WOW fact that begins a buzz (Fresh water available for human use is less than 1% of earth's water) with the students. Announcements are also an opportunity to give advice on how to reduce,recycle, and reuse to help protect the environment. Announcements should be short, but grab the listeners attention.

Earth Day should be everyday, use this designated observance to open discussions or to begin a cause with the class. It is important for students to educate parents because we are unaware of some of the ways we are hurting our environment. David Suzuki has a new commercial to reduce waste and he asks the children to inform the parents and make them turn out the lights. Students have great power if we give them the knowledge of how to become problem solvers and thinkers.

Posted by Debbie DeSpirt

Earth Hour goes global to take action against global warming. The lights went out last year on March 29th in Sydney Australia but this year it is a global event. Canada, U.S. Brazil, Uk, Austrailia, and India are just a few countries that are taking a stand against global warming.

April is Earth Month, before the month discuss Earth Hour with your class and begin a school community initiative for students, parents, teachers, and administrators. Invite students to brainstorm on an assortment of activities that they can participate in from 8:00-9:00 pm on March 29th. The classroom is an excellent avenue to educate students on world issues.

Earth Hour can be turned into mini social studies, math, and language arts lessons. Students can write a journal entry on Earth Hour and what there family participated in when the lights were turn out. Earth Hour has a list of number of participants in this global movement from each country across the world. Students can calculate the percentage of residents from each country participating in this initiative. Currently, Less than 0.02% of the US people and less than 1.5% Canadians have joined Earth Hour to take a stand against global warming.

As teachers, we have a wonderful venue to educate students about how our present choices affect our future. As well, how one person does make a difference.

Posted by Debbie DeSpirt

Introduce litterless lunch to students, on their return from spring break. Litterless lunch objective is to have no waste at lunch. It is important for teachers to educate students and parents on how to have a litterless lunch. For the litterless lunch to be successful it is important for the school, students, and parents to work as a team.

For a class to reduce waste in their lunch is a gradual process. First goal may be for students to hold their drinks in reusable containers. Teacher may give statistics on how many water bottles, pop cans, and juice boxes will not go to the landfill, if each student converts to a reuseable drinking container.

Second goal might be for students to place their sandwiches in a plastic container instead of disposable sandwich bags. Teacher may ask students to show their different containers or the teacher may provide suggestions to parents.

Litterless lunch is a great goal to achieve for April to introduce Earth Month. Classroom teachers can compete against each other or schools can compete to motivate students to get involved in litterless lunch.

Posted by Debbie DeSpirt

Another beautiful snow day in Southern Ontario, we have seen our share of snow this season. Schools have not been closed, but buses have been cancelled and schools will have few students participating. Many parents have opted to stay home and only do the treacherous drive if necessary. I decided to spend it at home with my boys and enjoy the day.

However, there are teachers at school who will have a few students or a classroom with an assortment of grades to teach for the day. Teachers must forgo their usually lesson plans and plan on the spot. Writing poems is an excellent quick lesson for all age groups.

Writing a poem has limitless options that will keep the students engaged and the teacher will not have to photocopy endlessly to keep students busy. Poetry allows students at all reading levels to participate in the activity. After writing, students can draw a picture to illustrate the poem, folowed by a poetry reading. Snow days are a good opportunitiy to teach poetry to students.

Posted by Debbie DeSpirt

Math is a dreaded subject for many students. Today, as I taught grade 2 and had to give them 4 pages of addition and subtraction questions, you heard the class sigh. There was approximately 100 questions for the students to answer in 40 minutes and the rest was for homework.

It is important for students to know simple calculations and rote is one way for students to learn the concept but often students will begin to detest math because of the constant repetition. Students need math but it should be used in real life situations for them to understand the concept.

After giving the math, I saw all of these lost faces who understood the concept with a concrete problem but became confused with the abstract problem. As well, some of the children saw the enormous amount of work and just shut down; by twirling hair, tapping pencils, or looking busy when I came by.

As well, students would say it was too difficult when they were at the desk but were able to solve the equations on the carpet with no prompting. My math teacher in teacher's college said a child can demonstrate their knowledge in 4 questions, more is a waste of time for the student who understands and frustrating for the one who does not.

Rote has its place but 4 pages is not a beneficial way for students to learn, rather they become robots with answers but may not truly understand the concept outside the parameters given.

Mathematical Thinking Strategies

Math Problem Solving Strategies

Posted by Debbie DeSpirt

Happy Birthday to the Leap Year babies who will celebrate their birthday on their actual birthday, and not a day early or a day late. Approximately, every four years we add an extra day to the calendar in February to align our seasons with the calendar.

Students are aware of leap years but do they really know why they happen. Create a few brain teasers that relate to leap years to introduce students to the concept. This is an excellent year to talk about leap years because students will experience the day. Leap year activities can be created for primary and intermediate students. As students learn about the leap year they will also be reinforcing math and language skills.

Girls will appreciate the folklore of Leap year as they will not have to wait for the boys to ask them out. Years ago, boys were fined if they refused a proposal. Have your class or school have a dance on February 29th to celebrate the tradition.