Instructional Strategies

I've been noticing that I have been using WAY more lecture time than I really want to have in my class. However, I've been struggling with ideas to shake it up. I know many different instructional strategies, yet feel as though I've been negligent in applying them to my instruction.

So. The website Instructional Strategies Online has a multitude of different methods of instruction. With applicable handouts when appropriate.

How I am going to use this in my classroom is by choosing one to two instructional strategies each week and including it into my lesson plan. My goal is to encourage students to be more self-directed in their learning, rather than just vessels waiting to be filled with my knowledge.

Posters!

Block Posters is a site where you can upload a picture, chose what section of the poster to use, and print out pdf files to make a HUGE poster.

Click here: Block Posters

How I would use it in the classroom: buying teaching materials is a bit pricey at times, and I can see where this would be a great site to add to my motivational messages in the classroom. I would also like to try using it with student created work (such as projects) that will serve as visual reminders in the classroom.

Promethean Board & Inspire Training

Check out the wiki below that has some useful tutorials for using Inspire Flipcharts.

Inspire Wiki

Edcamp Detroit

I just found out about a cool sounding unconference for educators that will be held May 7, 2011 at Wayne State.


#edcamp Detroit!!


Check it out!

All My Faves

All My Faves is a site that is just what it says - all the author's faves. If you visit this site, be prepared to be sidetracked. Many times.

Ideas for Classroom: I don't think I would use this in the classroom, but rather as a virtual library of sorts. The sites are sorted in a very logical way, and set up to open in a new tab when clicked.

USA Today graphics

This site has several archived USA Today "snapshots" - those graphics USA Today is useful for.

Ideas for classroom: This would be a good site to grab a bell-ringer to help students read various types of graphs while learning some current events. In my yearbook class I would also use this to show some of the many ways students can display information in an entertaining manner.

National Archives

Interactive National Archives. Take a trip without leaving your seat! I'm not quite sure how I'd use this site yet, but the potential is there. In spades.

More Graphic Organizers

Just in case you don't already have enough graphic organizers, here's another site. Cool thing about this site - they are interactive! You download it, type your info in, and print it out. Shabang.

Math Warehouse

I have included this site just because I think Math Teachers are awesome!!

Super Teacher Tools

Um...the name says it all. Fun Flash games, random group generator, seating chart, and name generator.

Web 2.0

Dang. There is A LOT of stuff here. Cool stuff. Must.save.for.future.use........

Farr-Out

Front Page Newspapers

The front page of 820 newspapers from 81 countries. Updated daily. I guess I can let my newspaper subscription go.....hm?

Cartoon Creator

Another comic strip creator. With this one, you can't see the cartoon before it's printed. That's a bummer. But it's a pretty cool site. I wasted entirely too much time on it. Ask to see my cartoons sometime!!

Symbaloo

Symbaloo is a place to save websites in a convenient "tile" type format. I like this in other ways than blogging - give a student a link to this site, they can then choose which tile will be most helpful for their project/assessment. There are also widgits to put in the center from which you can place an agenda, search engine, or many other options.

Comic Strip Creator

This site will allow you to make your own comic strip - full page one panel up to three panel.

Newspaper Clipper Generator

Use this site to make newspaper clippings, tomatoes talk, or ninjas spell!

Web 2.0 Tools

Annotated links to lots of Web 2.0 tools.

School Blogging

The title says it all. Links to HUNDREDS of school bloggers. Good stuff, man!

Are You Bored?

If it's your prep and you find yourself with nothing to do, (hehe...I crack myself up!) then check out this site. Words fail me. Just go. Now.

Printing Press

I LOVE having the students  make an artifact of their learning. I don't love having the lesson be more about how to format a document than the material they should be learning in the project. At this site, you can input information to make a newspaper, booklet, brochure, or flyer. Easy Peasy.

Teacher forms

Sometimes it's just easier to use something somebody else has already put a lot of work in...if you need a form for your classroom, why re-invent the wheel? Or even if you just need an idea of how to make your own form - check this site out. Lots of forms pre-made...either for use or ideas!

Timeline Generator

Here's another timeline generator. Not quite as fancy, but serviceable nonetheless!

Graphic Organizers

What's that? Did I hear you say you need a graphic organizer but can't find just the one you need? Um....here. All you thought you'd need and more.

Create a timeline

OK...there are lots of places to make timelines out there. This is one of my favorites.

Readability

If all the ads and junk on websites are distracting (or occassionally inappropriate), this site can remove all the extra junk and leave a clean readable website. Good for those that get distracted easily, also useful for printing *just what you want* without all the other stuff. You choose the setting, margins, and size of text then save in "favorites". When you get to a page you would like to view with readability, Just click readability in your favorites bar and the webpage you were viewing is rendered clean and easy to read.

Random

Need help choosing a random "volunteer" or making a group? This site has tools to do this and more: seating charts, scoreboards for games, spinners, word magnets, question dice, even timers! Seriously - you need to check it out.

edit 11/1/10 - site has been taken down by web host. I will repost when it is back up.

Meanwhile, try this site.

Typing Tutor

This website has online "learn to type" streaming software. If registered, user can save their progress. May also be used without registering.

Typing Web