Tag: Struggle

What Am I Missing Here?

I need a fresh perspective on something I’ve been struggling with this school year. My reason for gamifying my courses was to motivate and engage more of my students whether they are gamers or not. Last week I reiterated something in blog post that I’ve learned in over 22 years of teaching, that no ONE …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2014/03/25/what-am-i-missing-here/

Another Problem with Standardized Testing

Our 6th graders are tested once a year, usually in the Spring around April or May, on Reading and Math. Our 7th graders are tested once a year on Reading, Math and Writing. Our 8th graders are tested once a year on Reading, Math and Science. We get the results of those tests usually in …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2014/01/30/another-problem-with-standardized-testing/

Is Variety Better?

Coming up on the last two weeks of school I started to reflect on something I’ve maybe been taking for granted. I’ve noticed that I offer my students variety. Variety in Science instruction (and curriculum to an extent), variety in integrated technology and variety in how students show what they are learning. Lately I’m wondering, …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2013/06/01/is-variety-better/

The Homework Dilemma

Homework is a tough one. We all have our opinions about it. Reading Alfie Kohn’s work on the subject reveals that the research can’t really agree on whether homework is valuable or not for young kids. For my son, who is 15, homework is not pleasant but with prodding he’ll do it. We make sure …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2012/10/04/the-homework-dilemma/

My Own Children

I blog and share posts about my dislike of standardized tests. I especially hate when these tests are made high stakes to determine what kids know and how well teachers are teaching. And yet both my kids take them. Why don’t I opt them out? My son is 15 years old, a freshman in high …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2012/05/22/my-own-children/

The Scaffolding vs. Struggling Debate

Ronnie Burt wrote a blog post about a debate he’s been having with Sue Waters, Edublogger Debate: Scaffolding vs. Struggling – Can You Be Too Helpful? I found the topic quite intriguing as it fits perfectly into what I spend a majority of my time worrying about, Student Engagement and Student Discipline. So the question …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2012/05/07/the-scaffolding-vs-struggling-debate/

Comparing Traditional and Alternative Grading Schemes

This is a guest post by Elaine Hirsch. Movements for change and reform in the US educational system challenge nearly every aspect of the student’s experience, and grading systems are certainly not exempt from this. In an ongoing struggle to best measure the effectiveness of our education system, traditional and alternative grading systems have been …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://educatoral.com/wordpress/2011/12/21/comparing-traditional-and-alternative-grading-schemes/