TheApple

Very few gestures are universally understood and interpreted. What is perfectly acceptable in the United States may be rude, or even obscene, in other cultures. It is important for mainstream teachers to understand how the gestures they use unconsciously may be misunderstood. This activity allows participants to look a little closer at how body language might be interpreted by English Language ...

Principal Confession #1: Dear Parents: "I will not move your child from class to class until he finds a teacher he likes. Sometimes we have to deal with things we don't like- it's part of a larger life lesson." Next page: Confession #2 [page] Principal Confession #2: Dear Teachers: "All of our jobs are hard. The grass is not greener in ...

This year, we have done things quite a bit differently in our band classes. We have not spent any time really outlining classroom rules. In fact, we really have been operating on a rule-free teaching model. Earlier this week, I clarified my don’t talk to me policy. Beyond that though, we really haven’t gone over anything specifically. No lists of rules ...

I did a writing across the curriculum exercise where students described what their perfect school would be like. Some of the students had really good insights and I thought I would share my student quotes with you. Quote #1 "My perfect school would be a night time school." Next page: Quote #2 [page] Quote #2 "Kids will be given a laptop ...

If you're a teacher and a parent, you might have the kind of perspective that makes you a better teacher. If you're not a parent but a teacher, it's helpful to get some input from the other side. I asked parents (who are not teachers) to share what they wished they could say to their childrens' teachers - but didn't have ...

All teachers need a user-friendly system to help stay on top of the endless marking, checking and workpages. Plan as thoroughly as you can and if you don’t already have one, develop a system of organization. It’s truly amazing how much paperwork and marking goes into the first year. It’s easy for a new teacher to feel overwhelmed and confused. Try ...

Just as published rules are the values, attitudes, and expected behaviors that influence our actions, hidden rules also play a significant role in our professional lives. To the uninitiated, they are the unspoken expectations that can erode confidence when naïve teachers misread situations and are blindsided by their own ignorance. An example of a hidden rule is a directive that appears ...

In this month's Wired magazine, Daniel Roth wrote an article entitled Making Geeks Cool Could Reform Education, in which BetterLesson founder Alex Grodd takes center stage. A venture capital firm in New York recently hosted an education conference (why is not explained) that started out with discussion of tech innovations, but took on a different tone when Grodd explained why most ...

According to MSNBC’s article More school? Obama could trim summer break, the President wants schools to have longer classes, longer days, and have students on weekends. I have said this before and I’ll say it again, though many might disagree with me. It is about Quality, not Quantity! It seems like so many non-educators think if we stuff kids in classes ...

_*Hello and welcome to TheApple!*_ TheApple is a diverse community of aspiring and current educators that want to support each other and advance their careers. Think of it as social networking with great career resources. We have a very active group of members from the veteran teacher, career changer, and even the pre-college student. Mentoring and career building is a good ...

1. Grammar instruction is most naturally integrated during the revising, editing, and proofreading phases of the writing process. During writing conferences, use various strategies to teach the concept(s) or skill(s) that would enhance the piece that the student is working on right then. Don't overwhelm them with too many errors; focus on the most the corrections that will do the most ...

The most frequently asked question of ESL professionals by mainstream teachers, administrators, and even politicians concerns how long it should take English language learners to acquire English. The Research How long does it take to learn English? How long should students receive support in language? These are the most frequently asked questions by administrators, school board members and classroom teachers. The ...

Do you really want to know what you're students are holding back? Whether you're a new teacher or an experienced veteran, these 10 things serve as strong reminders for how to connect with students and make the most of learning experiences. The is the first in a series of articles exploring communication (or lack of) within a school. Begin Reading:#1 Thing ...

1. Word Wall Example: How to Use a Word Wall 2. Weekly Contest 3. College corner (featuring your alma mater) 4. Examples of great work from your former students 5. Artwork, pictures and notes from your former students 6. Class job postings 7. Subject-related news articles 8. Subject-related career articles 9. A PostSecret-style project - My students came up with something ...

I consider these items to be absolutely indispensable in the classroom. They have multiple uses and help you avoid problems that you probably haven't thought about. 1. Painter's Tape This special tape doesn't stick to anything permanently, but sticks strongly enough to leave until you're ready to take it off. You can use this to section off your board, floor, walls, ...

With standard assessment based practices, it’s not always easy for teachers to monitor the learning and growth of their students. When students are given a “C,” or a comment like “good work” - how is it possible for them to know what they did well versus what they didn’t? How can students improve their work and how can teachers improve their ...

I am not ashamed to admit that The Golden Girls is one of my favorite all-time shows. It still stands as one of the funniest, sharpest sitcoms ever, and was successful with a cast and premise you would never see on today's shows. As I do with everything, I have been watching this show through the eyes of a teacher. Not ...

One of the most helpful activities you can do with your students this month is to make a Word Wall. Although this is a popular activity with young students, it can be easily adapted to the needs of older ones. First, determine the terms in a unit of study that you want your students to know. Then, display them in a ...

Many children have difficulty making friends for a variety of reasons. Children may be have poor social skills, be shy, be hyper, have atypical interests, or come from a different background than their classmates which may challenge them socially. Unfortunately, your ability to help students make friends at school may be limited by time and activity constraints. Parents have an opportunity ...

This week's question for Julia is from a member who has just begun a teacher certification program and isn't sure what happens when you first become a teacher. *_Dear Julia,_* I have just begun a teacher certification program. What I want to know is what happens after you are hired and before the school year starts? Are you shown to your ...