Other+Great+Educator+Tools

This page will be dedicated to whatever I find that would be helpful to you in your classroom.

[|Using Grades to Predict Assessment Scores]
 * [|Posters of 21st Century Skills] **

[|Dealing with Test Anxiety] Classroom Library Inspired Mini-Lessons - []

4 TED Videos You Should Not Miss - [] Posted: 16 Oct 2012 02:32 AM PDT  //With parent conferences just around the corner for many schools, we thought this would be a timely article for you. Enjoy! ~EMP// Being a teacher comes with many responsibilities, among them the task of dealing with unhappy parents. While many parents are willing to bend over backwards and work with the teacher to help a child succeed, some parents come off as abrasive and difficult to communicate with. There are three helpful tips that teachers can use to communicate effectively with angry parents and to begin redirecting the parents to focus on a solution. 1. Let the Parents Yell Out Their Frustrations. While no one wants to be yelled at, it is often a good idea to allow a parent to vent until he or she has had a chance to yell out his or her frustrations. During this process, it is important for the teacher to remember healthy boundaries. It is never okay to allow a parent to become verbally abusive or threatening during a parent-teacher meeting. As long as the parent is not threatening or abusive, when the teacher gives the parent an opportunity to verbally express frustrations, then the teacher will have a prime opportunity to begin effectively communicating with the parent once the parent is finished with a verbal rant. Listening is a key factor for the teacher when the parent is venting. By practicing good listening skills and remaining attentive you make the parent feel heard, and this will help to diffuse the parent’s anger. Practicing good listening skills will also help the teacher to identify what the real problem is, and this can lead to working on a healthy and effective solution. 2. Ask the parents to elaborate on their issues. Once the parent is finished venting, begin the next few sentences with open-ended questions. Ask the parents to tell you more so that you can get a clearer handle on the source of their problem. In addition to these questions enlightening the teacher more, these questions will also help to calm the parent by making the parent feel heard and validated. No parent wants to talk to a teacher and then feel as if the teacher does not understand why the parent is upset. When the teacher asks questions and encourages the parent to speak more, the parent will feel as if the teacher truly cares. This is a huge positive step a teacher can take to begin helping the parent to calm down and to find a solution to the issue. The National Education Association NEA recommends teachers document any problems or issues with the child before speaking to the parent. This will help prepare the teacher to ask the right questions to help the parent identify if there are any common problems with the child that occur both at school as well as at home. This may help the parent to realize there are more actions he or she can take in order to promote better behaviors and better learning abilities in the student. 3. Once the parent has vented and the teacher has asked appropriate questions regarding the situation at hand, it is time for the teacher to inform the parent about the situation. Telling the parent how it is in a direct and considerate manner will help the teacher to reach the parent through effective means of communication. Byline: This article was composed by Stephanie Katsopolus, an elementary school teacher in Astoria, Oregon. She also dabbles in freelance writing; this particular article was written for justcolleges.com. || CLASSROOM FREEBIES ** - **[] 10 Ways to Asses without Tests - [|CLICK HERE]
 * 3 Helpful Tips for Teachers to Diffuse Tension in Angry Parents
 * [|Solving Formative Assessment's Catch 22] **

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 * 5 Tech-Friendly Lessons to Encourage Higher Order Skills: **

[|Crossword Website] [|Classroom Posters] 16 Classroom Control and Management Tips Great Classroom Management Ideas from a blog for English Teachers media type="youtube" key="vwsKWiXlA78" height="315" width="560" media type="custom" key="20652457"

5 Technology Skills Every Student Should Learn:[]

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 * How to introduce your students to websites - **


 * 16 Websites YOU Should Know About!!! ** - []

Top 16 Classroom Control and management TIPS - []

// Are you sick of the walls in your room? Here is the solution! // - []

[] - What can you save money on in your classroom

[] - PD refreshed

Schools Boost Classroom Technology

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Teaching Test Taking Strategies - []

This video is for your first day of teaching and any other person on their first day - @http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDAEBMFycIk

10 FREE Organizational Tools - []

Building connections and relationships with your students is key. Have them get to know you and you get to know them through surveys, interviews, games and fun activities. Reviewing your behavior management plan is also essential. Components of your plan may include your Guidelines for Success, Classroom rules and expectations, Attention Signal, Positive and Negative Consequences, Long term Academic and Behavioral Goals, Daily Routines and Procedures as well as Teaching behavioral expectations for all activities and transitions. Check out more at [|www.BehaviorInSchools.com] 52 Character Building Thoughts for Children [] - Short videos for classroom management and more!!

USING TECHNOLOGY WITH CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION THAT WORKS

http://teacher-clipart.com 25+ Quotes for Educators - []

[] - A lot of tech related article created by Howard Pitler EdD for educators

6 Characteristics of a Successful Educator - []

Free Downloadable Worksheets and Flash Cards for math, S.S, and LA - []

[] - How to Engage Students Online A list of online learning resources - []

8 FREE Educational Resources all teachers should know about - CLICK HERE Motivate Your Students - [] //**FIrst Day Activities**// - [] How to Spark Kids' Passion: **RESPECT.** Adults and kids don’t respect each other as much as they should, Prensky said. “The war between digital natives and immigrants is over, and the natives have won! So let’s move forward to mutual respect and wisdom,” he said. We need both technology and strong pedagogy, but we need to include kids’ voices in how we make decisions about learning. “All education decisions come top down right now,” he said. “The next century is about changing that.” **OVER-EXPECT FROM STUDENTS.** Today’s kids have far greater capabilities than ever been before, not less. “What’s making them better is connecting their brains to technology wisely,” he said. Let’s step up our expectations of them in that regard. **DO WHAT YOU KNOW IS RIGHT.** “Teachers know what kids need, but someone has convinced them to just cover the curriculum,” he said. A teacher’s job is to help equip kids with skills to function and thrive in the digital future, and though that could be challenging because of conflicting policies in place, that’s the definition of courage.
 * 10 Lessons about Collaboration - [] **
 * LISTEN.** It’s impossible to encourage students when we don’t know what their passions are, so above all, teachers must listen to their students. “Or else what we get is ‘cellophane kids,’ when a teacher looks right through them to the curriculum and test scores and kids become invisible,” he said.

7 Creative Approaches to Classroom Seating: []

**12 of the Best Professional Development Websites for Teachers** - []

10 Rules for Student Engagement w/examples -[] media type="youtube" key="dFySmS9_y_0?feature=player_embedded" height="360" width="640"
 * 5 of the BEST Online Learning Resources ** - []

Professional Development: Book Study from TEC Teach K12 - []



Teaching Relationship Skills in Schools -[]

Over 10,000 eBooks, Samples Papers, Tests and Free Videos! Text Message Parents and Students, but protect your number! - []

Make a webpage more printer-friendly - [|www.printfriendly.com] Interesting blog -[]

[] - Teacher Reviews on educational products - Currently discussing Math Textbooks media type="custom" key="20452230" FREE MATERIALS FOR TEACHERS - []

Videos to help build classroom management, team building, and leadership in schools - []

Discounts for Teachers - []

Conduct Educational Virtual Field Trips - []

Three Ways to Help Unmotivated Students Succeed!!! Part 2

[] - Famers Insurance Education Site - Free DVDs and lessons available Microsoft in Education - Teacher Resources []and @http://www.pil-network.com/Resources/Tools (Critical Thinking, Windows Live Movie Maker, Free Tools from Microsoft, Digital Storytelling, Microsoft Office and Web apps, Microsoft OneNote, Windows 7, Bing, Microsoft Mathematics 4.0, and Accessibility)

Lessons on various topics to help YOU learn more! - Learn for Free.org Creative Commons Search SAT Test Prep - Read about the New Turbo Test

[] [|www.iconfinder.com] - find free icons that you can use in anything [|www.loc.gov/teachers/] - Library of Congress for Teachers site - has resources and professional development [] Scribble - Online researching tool that lets you make notes on webpages and more FREE [|Certificate Street] - online certificates, printable and free [] - Students are __**rewarded**__ for hardwork on this website - prizes and stuff ...very cool [] - Reviews Children's games

media type="youtube" key="LXpfCfuDqnY?feature=player_embedded" height="360" width="640" Teach Fiscal Responsiblity - [] [|www.stickersandcharts.com] - FREE [|www.123certificates.com] - FREE Gifted - [|www.giftedparent.org] [] - Game Company  Bishop Cubes: media type="youtube" key="nQJxRXtqbGo?version=3" height="360" width="640" =HIGH SCHOOL GAME: []= Global Educational Resources - [] Football Lover Game: [] Tech for Global Early Childhood Education   This article helps teachers to understand what their administration would like out of them. Please read: [][] Digital Delights - Connecting Online Education - [] Polyvisions' Learning Community - [] Postcards from the Past Lesson - For Art or Social Studies/History - []media type="custom" key="17404724"  These Sites are Safe To Download Music from: * PodSafe Audio __ [] __ * Kaplaa __ [] __ * SoundSnap __ [] __ * Shambles: Sound Effects and Music __ [] __ * Educational CyberPlayGround: Get Music Downloads __ [] __ * Open Source Audio __ [] __ * Incompetech Royalty Free Music __ [] __ * Mutopia (public domain sheet music) __ [] __ * Opsound Copyright friendly sound __ [] __ * Find Sounds __ [] __ * FreePlay Music (check for licensing) __ [] __ * Partners in Rhyme: Free Sound Effects __ [] __ * Partners in Rhyme: Free Music Loops __ [|http://www.partnersinrhyme.com/pir/free.html] __ * Partners in Rhyme: Free Midi Files __ [] __ * Partners in Rhyme: Free Weather Sound Effects __ [|http://www.partnersinrhyme.com/soundfx/Weather.shtml] __ * Soundzabound Music Library __ [] __ * ccMixter __ [|http://ccmixter.org/] __ * Classic Cat (classical music) __ [|http://www.classiccat.net/#black] __ * WavList.com __ [] __

Teacher Helper Intermediate Magazine - [|http://teachershelper-intermediate.texterity.com/thintermediate-alt/201204/?sub_id=Df10EMRsfzhM#pg1]

Online/Virtual Classroom LIVE - [] Free Search Tools Every Educator Should Know About - []

[] - How culture effects ESL learning

TEACHERS GUIDE TO CREATIVITY Safe on the Street - a road safety educational website for children 7 - 11 year olds, parents, and teachers. Puzzles, stories, quizzes, contests, and fun activities to help students learn how to be safe on the streets.

Blueberry Story - [] The fact is we //do// get all the blueberries in our classrooms and we //have// to keep and teach them all. What a challenge! What did I take from this story? Three things.
 * 1) We must take care to make all students feel like they have a place in our classroom. We can’t just cast them aside like they belong in the trash!
 * 2) All my students have such a variety of needs: ADHD, special needs, speech, single family homes, hunger and homelessness, giftedness, mental issues, autism… I need more training in working with ALL these children so that I can be a more effective teacher!
 * 3) Using innovative means to reach all students is becoming more and more important. We must think about the use of [|technology] and [|arts integration]not as an add on to the traditional rigor of classrooms, but as an integral part of our teaching repertoire. - []