Sunday, 22 May 2011
Clipart Letters for Fun & Profit
I've created sets of clipart letters, digits, punctuation, and symbols that you can use for bulletin boards and as clipart. The first six sets in my collection are a small reflection of what is to come. Each collection is only $1.99. Click on the picture in order to see more details about the collection.
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Can't Memorize Those Dreaded Math Facts
Guest blogger Scipi identifies why some children have trouble memorizing math facts and what teachers and parents can do about it.
Can't Memorize Those Dreaded Math Facts
Many of my college students come to me without knowing their math facts. Some do, but most do not. Since we use calculators in the class, it really isn't an issue. It just takes those students longer to do a test or their homework. One day, the students in my Basic Algebra Concepts class (a remedial math class) were playing a math game to practice adding and subtracting positive and negative numbers. We were using double die where a small dice is located inside a larger dice. (I have to keep an eye on these because they tend to "disappear". The students love them!) I noticed one of my students continually counting the dots on the die. He was unable to see the group of dots and know how many were in the set. It was then that I realized he could not conserve sets.
Conserving sets means that a person can look at a grouping or a set and identify how many there are without individually counting them. (i.e. three fingers that are held up) When a child is unable to do this, they cannot memorize math facts since memorizing is associating an abstract number with a concrete set. Many teachers as well as parents fail to recognize the root cause of this memorization problem. AND no amount of practicing, bribing, yelling, or pulling out your hair will change the situation. So what can you do?
First of all, the problem must be identified. Use a dice and see if the child must count each dot on each face. Try holding up fingers or laying out sets of candy (M&M's - yummy!) or using dominoes. Put five beans in a container, and ask the child how many are in the box. (They may count them the first few times.) Take them out, and put them back in. Ask the child again how many there are. If, after several times, s/he is unable to recognize the set as a whole, then s/he cannot conserve sets.
How do you help such a child? If you have small children at home, begin the conservation of sets by holding up various combinations of fingers. My granddaughter just turned four; so, we worked on holding up two fingers on one hand and two fingers on the other; then one and three fingers, and of course, four fingers. I also like to use dominoes. They already have set groupings which can be identified, added, subtracted, and even multiplied. A dice is great because the child thinks you are playing a game, not doing math. Roll one dice, and ask the child to identify the set of dots. Try the bean idea, but continue to change the number of beans in the box. My granddaughters love the candy idea because they are allowed to eat them when we are done. (All children need a little sugar now and then even though their parents try to control the intake. I love being a Grandma!)
Conserving sets means that a person can look at a grouping or a set and identify how many there are without individually counting them. (i.e. three fingers that are held up) When a child is unable to do this, they cannot memorize math facts since memorizing is associating an abstract number with a concrete set. Many teachers as well as parents fail to recognize the root cause of this memorization problem. AND no amount of practicing, bribing, yelling, or pulling out your hair will change the situation. So what can you do?
First of all, the problem must be identified. Use a dice and see if the child must count each dot on each face. Try holding up fingers or laying out sets of candy (M&M's - yummy!) or using dominoes. Put five beans in a container, and ask the child how many are in the box. (They may count them the first few times.) Take them out, and put them back in. Ask the child again how many there are. If, after several times, s/he is unable to recognize the set as a whole, then s/he cannot conserve sets.
How do you help such a child? If you have small children at home, begin the conservation of sets by holding up various combinations of fingers. My granddaughter just turned four; so, we worked on holding up two fingers on one hand and two fingers on the other; then one and three fingers, and of course, four fingers. I also like to use dominoes. They already have set groupings which can be identified, added, subtracted, and even multiplied. A dice is great because the child thinks you are playing a game, not doing math. Roll one dice, and ask the child to identify the set of dots. Try the bean idea, but continue to change the number of beans in the box. My granddaughters love the candy idea because they are allowed to eat them when we are done. (All children need a little sugar now and then even though their parents try to control the intake. I love being a Grandma!)
Gregory Tang has written two wonderful books for older children, The Grapes of Math
and Math for All Seasons
, which emphasize conserving sets. At times, I even use them in my college classes! I was fortunate to attend two of his workshops presented by Creative Mathematics. He not only has a sense of humor, but his books can be read again and again without a child becoming bored. Check them out!
and Math for All Seasons, which emphasize conserving sets. At times, I even use them in my college classes! I was fortunate to attend two of his workshops presented by Creative Mathematics. He not only has a sense of humor, but his books can be read again and again without a child becoming bored. Check them out! Saturday, 7 May 2011
Turn Your Attitude Around
The following post is by guest blogger Denise Boehm. As I read her article, I was reminded of a quote by Norman Vincent Peale, "The secret of life isn't what happens to you, but what you do with what happens to you." During these troubling times, we must remember to keep our chin up, our attitude positive, and find ways to cope with stress.
Turn Your Attitude Around by Denise Bohehm
For generations, kids have been uttering the same phrases that instantly raise the blood pressure of their teachers. Do any of these sound familiar: How much longer till lunch? When are we going to recess? Is this on the test? Do we have to write the questions?
Well, one of my high school teachers had a great response for the classic “When will we ever use this?” He hung a giant handmade banner above the side board that read “Right here, Right now!” which he would forcefully point to the first time an unsuspecting freshman would inevitably ask that question. I wonder if he just got so sick of hearing it one day that he ran to the supply room, grabbed some banner paper and scrawled out what became his signature phrase all the while muttering, “When? When? I’ll TELL you when!”
Looking back, I imagine he got some sort of secret joy from hearing that query from that day on. Way to turn it around Mr. Sanders.
Actually, he might have been on to something in his own way. It’s no secret that these are some tough times for teachers. Current circumstances across the country have put us in the position of defending our practices, advocating for our profession, spending more and earning less, while still giving it all we’ve got when we’re in the classroom. It is maddening, heartbreaking, depressing and confusing. I never imagined the day I would be actively seeking out another profession, and yet that’s exactly where I found myself. That was my rock bottom. I had to make a change. I had to find a way to cope, like Mr. Sanders and his banner.
I created my own self-help program that I was determined to follow. Either that, or I was going to have to find another career, because I just could not continue to live in such emotional turmoil every. single. day.
The first thing I committed to was not reading any comments after online news articles related to education. I slipped a few times on that one, but each time I regretted it instantly and now I’m able to resist about 95% of the time.
Next up, I found some amazing, inspiring educators and education advocates to follow on Twitter and Facebook. That has been a great way to stay informed without the bias and sway of public opinion.
Finally, I now make a conscious effort to redirect those dark thoughts that lead me to question my profession and my passion. To that end, I also started a blog to focus on the good things going on in real classrooms with real teachers every day. That has been the very best thing I’ve ever done.
Denise Boehm has been teaching in Florida since 1994. She's taught students from all backgrounds and ability levels in grades 2-5. She has also been a Drop-out Prevention Specialist, a Writing Specialist and for the last ten years has been teaching gifted students. She is a veteran teacher doing her best to focus on the sunny side of education in some pretty trying times.
Denise's Blog
Shop Sunny Days
Facebook
Twitter
Turn Your Attitude Around by Denise Bohehm
For generations, kids have been uttering the same phrases that instantly raise the blood pressure of their teachers. Do any of these sound familiar: How much longer till lunch? When are we going to recess? Is this on the test? Do we have to write the questions?
Well, one of my high school teachers had a great response for the classic “When will we ever use this?” He hung a giant handmade banner above the side board that read “Right here, Right now!” which he would forcefully point to the first time an unsuspecting freshman would inevitably ask that question. I wonder if he just got so sick of hearing it one day that he ran to the supply room, grabbed some banner paper and scrawled out what became his signature phrase all the while muttering, “When? When? I’ll TELL you when!”
Looking back, I imagine he got some sort of secret joy from hearing that query from that day on. Way to turn it around Mr. Sanders.
Actually, he might have been on to something in his own way. It’s no secret that these are some tough times for teachers. Current circumstances across the country have put us in the position of defending our practices, advocating for our profession, spending more and earning less, while still giving it all we’ve got when we’re in the classroom. It is maddening, heartbreaking, depressing and confusing. I never imagined the day I would be actively seeking out another profession, and yet that’s exactly where I found myself. That was my rock bottom. I had to make a change. I had to find a way to cope, like Mr. Sanders and his banner.
I created my own self-help program that I was determined to follow. Either that, or I was going to have to find another career, because I just could not continue to live in such emotional turmoil every. single. day.
The first thing I committed to was not reading any comments after online news articles related to education. I slipped a few times on that one, but each time I regretted it instantly and now I’m able to resist about 95% of the time.
Next up, I found some amazing, inspiring educators and education advocates to follow on Twitter and Facebook. That has been a great way to stay informed without the bias and sway of public opinion.
Finally, I now make a conscious effort to redirect those dark thoughts that lead me to question my profession and my passion. To that end, I also started a blog to focus on the good things going on in real classrooms with real teachers every day. That has been the very best thing I’ve ever done.
Denise Boehm has been teaching in Florida since 1994. She's taught students from all backgrounds and ability levels in grades 2-5. She has also been a Drop-out Prevention Specialist, a Writing Specialist and for the last ten years has been teaching gifted students. She is a veteran teacher doing her best to focus on the sunny side of education in some pretty trying times.
Denise's Blog
Shop Sunny Days
Sunday, 1 May 2011
Teacher Appreciation Week
This school year has been difficult for many teachers. We've entered into an age of blame. Blame is being placed on teachers for everything from low test scores to state budget woes. In truth, teachers have little control or power over either. We do the best we can with what we are given. In the end, the variables are truly out of teacher's control.
Myth Busters
Let's begin by clearing up a few myths. (1) We are paid for the days we work. We are not paid for summers, holidays, or weekends. We do not receive a paid vacation. The best we get are sick days and a couple of personal days. (2) Our clock hours are eight. In my state, we get a 30 minute duty free lunch in an eight hour day. That's it. Our conference period is work time -meetings, planning, and preparing. (3) We do not have a personal, socialist agenda. We teach kids how to read, write, and do math. If anyone has to be politically correct, culturally sensitive, and careful of what we say -it's teachers. We are not out to brainwash your kids. Really. (4) We do not design the curriculum. The curriculum standards are created by each state. The districts design curriculum based on state standards. Our autonomy is limited. (5) We hate teaching to the test. If we spend time teaching test taking strategies it's because we are not given a choice. The test has become the bottom line in education.
Standardized Tests & Evaluations
The idea of tying teacher pay to test scores has taken hold despite research that shows it's an ineffective strategy. A one day test shows one snapshot out of thousands of pictures. It's a blurry snapshot at best. There are many, many variables that effect a child's test scores. Here are a few:
1. Teachers are given a class of students who come with a range of abilities. Some students are on grade level when they arrive, some are above grade level, and some are below grade level. We do our best to take each child from where they are at and help them to grow in order to get them where they need to go. For example, a fourth grade teacher might get three children on first grade reading level. They work hard to help these children. By test time, the children read on third grade reading level. That's an amazing amount of growth! Two years in less than nine months. But it's not enough to pass the test...
2. Children come with baggage. We cannot control a child's home life. Some children are dealing with family stress, tragedy, lack of money, abuse, drugs, drinking, split parents, and a host of other things that would break your heart. They can't help what's going on in their home. And neither can we. We do the best we can to support children who are going through hard times, but don't think for a second that the difficulties in their lives don't effect them academically. Who can think about school when the police came to your house the night before, or you didn't get dinner or breakfast?
3. A lot of children move around. They move from school to school to school. They can't help it. Sometimes their parents can't help it either. We get kids every year who move in and out. Sometimes a teacher has a revolving door. It's hard to maintain consistency when kids come and go. Moving often creates gaps. A child missed the multiplication unit. They are at a new school now, and they are already behind the moment they walked in the door. All of this effects how student's perform on tests.
4. Children take the test. We can only hope they will do their best, but sometimes they don't. Sometimes they rush to get it done, mark answers without reading, or get so nervous that they over think everything. Sometimes they get off track bubbling in the answers, and forget to go back and check. It's not that they are not capable. Some kids are not strong test takers. They've shown us time and time again that they can do it if they try, but on the day of the test, they fail to rise to the occasion. It breaks our hearts to see this happen, but in the end, we can't say anything, and we don't have any control over how they handle the test.
The stress society puts on children and teachers to pass a one day test is ridiculous. Children should not cry or feel sick because they have to take a test. Tying teacher's pay to standardized tests will not improve testing, but it will increase anxiety, which will make matters far worse.
Teacher Appreciation
I pointed out myths and variables for a reason. I think that so many of the people who make decisions about schools just don't get it. They don't understand the variables. They believe the myths. We are highly educated professionals, and it's about time we are treated as such. If you appreciate teachers -
1. Say so. Tell us through personal notes, articles, blogs, and tweets. Change the growing discontented atmosphere by treating us like professionals. Stop calling us whiners. We are not whining. We are simply trying to get those on the outside to understand what we are dealing with on the inside. Teaching is a hard job. It's stressful, but most of us embrace it with a passion for teaching and learning and children.
2. Support us. It's time teachers receive the support we deserve. Parents need to step up and accept responsibility for their children (we appreciate the parents who do step up). Politicians need to step up and provide financial and moral support. The media needs to step up and tell the positive side of the story. There are many great things going on in schools. It's time we hear them.
3. Give us autonomy. The more are hands our tied, the more we are micromanaged, the less we can do to ensure your child's success. We teach children; individuals with a will of their own. If we want to reach and meet every child's needs, we need to be able to differentiate. We need the autonomy to make decisions based on our student's needs and abilities. Allow us to work creatively and to innovate. Give us the chance to help your children soar.
4. Treat us like professionals. Our pay is 14% below other professionals (that's based on daily rates for the number of days worked). We spend an average of $1000 a year out of our own pockets for classroom materials and resources. We spend countless hours off the clock in professional development, planning, preparing, reading and learning, and growing as a professional. The one bad apple news story out of millions is not a reflection on the majority of teachers or schools. No more than the one bad doctor, or the one bad lawyer is reflective of how an entire profession operates. We are just as outraged (and more so) when we hear of abuse or mistreatment by teachers. Please do not judge an entire profession of people based on a small percentage of bad characters. The media can create a perception that the "bad story" is happening everywhere. Well, it's not.
We are professionals. We really do care about your children. We work hard to help your children. Most of us are parents too. We have children in the school system as well. This week, I ask that you say or do something positive to help the teaching profession regain respect. Our children deserve the best. We want to give our best. Thank you for entrusting your children into our care. We promise to do our best with the resources we are given.
P.S. I am blessed to work in a wonderful district with supportive parents and administrators. It saddens me to hear stories of teachers who do not have the same level of support.
Myth Busters
Let's begin by clearing up a few myths. (1) We are paid for the days we work. We are not paid for summers, holidays, or weekends. We do not receive a paid vacation. The best we get are sick days and a couple of personal days. (2) Our clock hours are eight. In my state, we get a 30 minute duty free lunch in an eight hour day. That's it. Our conference period is work time -meetings, planning, and preparing. (3) We do not have a personal, socialist agenda. We teach kids how to read, write, and do math. If anyone has to be politically correct, culturally sensitive, and careful of what we say -it's teachers. We are not out to brainwash your kids. Really. (4) We do not design the curriculum. The curriculum standards are created by each state. The districts design curriculum based on state standards. Our autonomy is limited. (5) We hate teaching to the test. If we spend time teaching test taking strategies it's because we are not given a choice. The test has become the bottom line in education.
Standardized Tests & Evaluations
The idea of tying teacher pay to test scores has taken hold despite research that shows it's an ineffective strategy. A one day test shows one snapshot out of thousands of pictures. It's a blurry snapshot at best. There are many, many variables that effect a child's test scores. Here are a few:
1. Teachers are given a class of students who come with a range of abilities. Some students are on grade level when they arrive, some are above grade level, and some are below grade level. We do our best to take each child from where they are at and help them to grow in order to get them where they need to go. For example, a fourth grade teacher might get three children on first grade reading level. They work hard to help these children. By test time, the children read on third grade reading level. That's an amazing amount of growth! Two years in less than nine months. But it's not enough to pass the test...
2. Children come with baggage. We cannot control a child's home life. Some children are dealing with family stress, tragedy, lack of money, abuse, drugs, drinking, split parents, and a host of other things that would break your heart. They can't help what's going on in their home. And neither can we. We do the best we can to support children who are going through hard times, but don't think for a second that the difficulties in their lives don't effect them academically. Who can think about school when the police came to your house the night before, or you didn't get dinner or breakfast?
3. A lot of children move around. They move from school to school to school. They can't help it. Sometimes their parents can't help it either. We get kids every year who move in and out. Sometimes a teacher has a revolving door. It's hard to maintain consistency when kids come and go. Moving often creates gaps. A child missed the multiplication unit. They are at a new school now, and they are already behind the moment they walked in the door. All of this effects how student's perform on tests.
4. Children take the test. We can only hope they will do their best, but sometimes they don't. Sometimes they rush to get it done, mark answers without reading, or get so nervous that they over think everything. Sometimes they get off track bubbling in the answers, and forget to go back and check. It's not that they are not capable. Some kids are not strong test takers. They've shown us time and time again that they can do it if they try, but on the day of the test, they fail to rise to the occasion. It breaks our hearts to see this happen, but in the end, we can't say anything, and we don't have any control over how they handle the test.
The stress society puts on children and teachers to pass a one day test is ridiculous. Children should not cry or feel sick because they have to take a test. Tying teacher's pay to standardized tests will not improve testing, but it will increase anxiety, which will make matters far worse.
Teacher Appreciation
I pointed out myths and variables for a reason. I think that so many of the people who make decisions about schools just don't get it. They don't understand the variables. They believe the myths. We are highly educated professionals, and it's about time we are treated as such. If you appreciate teachers -
1. Say so. Tell us through personal notes, articles, blogs, and tweets. Change the growing discontented atmosphere by treating us like professionals. Stop calling us whiners. We are not whining. We are simply trying to get those on the outside to understand what we are dealing with on the inside. Teaching is a hard job. It's stressful, but most of us embrace it with a passion for teaching and learning and children.
2. Support us. It's time teachers receive the support we deserve. Parents need to step up and accept responsibility for their children (we appreciate the parents who do step up). Politicians need to step up and provide financial and moral support. The media needs to step up and tell the positive side of the story. There are many great things going on in schools. It's time we hear them.
3. Give us autonomy. The more are hands our tied, the more we are micromanaged, the less we can do to ensure your child's success. We teach children; individuals with a will of their own. If we want to reach and meet every child's needs, we need to be able to differentiate. We need the autonomy to make decisions based on our student's needs and abilities. Allow us to work creatively and to innovate. Give us the chance to help your children soar.
4. Treat us like professionals. Our pay is 14% below other professionals (that's based on daily rates for the number of days worked). We spend an average of $1000 a year out of our own pockets for classroom materials and resources. We spend countless hours off the clock in professional development, planning, preparing, reading and learning, and growing as a professional. The one bad apple news story out of millions is not a reflection on the majority of teachers or schools. No more than the one bad doctor, or the one bad lawyer is reflective of how an entire profession operates. We are just as outraged (and more so) when we hear of abuse or mistreatment by teachers. Please do not judge an entire profession of people based on a small percentage of bad characters. The media can create a perception that the "bad story" is happening everywhere. Well, it's not.
We are professionals. We really do care about your children. We work hard to help your children. Most of us are parents too. We have children in the school system as well. This week, I ask that you say or do something positive to help the teaching profession regain respect. Our children deserve the best. We want to give our best. Thank you for entrusting your children into our care. We promise to do our best with the resources we are given.
P.S. I am blessed to work in a wonderful district with supportive parents and administrators. It saddens me to hear stories of teachers who do not have the same level of support.
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