Here are the top 10 SmartBlog on Education posts that have been making the rounds on Twitter this June via your colleagues’ tweets, likes and shares:
PREPS: 5 steps for electronic note-taking success
Students everywhere are taking pictures of the board. It is almost like a “get out of jail free” card when it comes to taking notes. Can they find them later? Do they ever look at them again? Do they review them for the test? Obviously, we need new note-taking systems to help students learn, recall and capture in this modern age. Read more.
How the maker movement is embracing education
I have a confession: I am not a “maker” in the conventional sense. I have no idea how to program in Arduino, no desire to 3D print anything, and I have yet to take advantage of the free soldering lessons offered at the Maker Faire each year. Regardless, I am enamored with this movement, its potential to revolutionize learning and what it can offer educators and students. Read more.
9 tips for transitioning teens from middle school to high school
Middle school has come to an end for many students as they graduate from eighth grade and anticipate moving on to high school. Transitioning from middle school to high school can be an exciting yet daunting time for teens. Read more.
Enhancing real-time learning with visual technology
For decades, in-class lectures have provided a serviceable way to relay information, but times are changing. Technology is shifting how we communicate information in the classroom and, more importantly, how our students comprehend and retain that information. Read more.
Tips for supporting instructional coaches
Have you ever been coached? Coaches can impact form, structure, content and meaning, regardless of the field in which they coach. Read more.
Using formative tools for better project results
Across the arc of a well-designed project, teachers build in frequent opportunities to assess for learning. Formative assessment opens a window on student thinking and, when applied frequently, sets the stage for timely feedback, just-in-time instruction, more productive classroom conversations and revisions that lead to higher quality results by the end. Read more.
Education builds character
[A] built-in or integrated approach to meeting basic needs can be applied to our schools, which is why I think that character education and social emotional programs would not be necessary if we were truly educating students instead of training them. Read more.
3 ways to make the common core work for special education
As teachers across the country implement the new standards, they face a critical challenge: How should the common core be integrated into special-education practices while ensuring students have individualized education plans tailored to their unique learning stage? Read more.
Transforming school culture through mutual respect
After nearly a decade as a classroom teacher in Oklahoma City Public Schools, I started feeling what all educators hope to avoid: burnout. Read more.
Genius hour: Making time for passion in the classroom
Genius Hour — a regular time in class during which students get to pursue their own passion projects — is a gift that opens students up to the world of their own talents and interests. It allows them to reach beyond the routine, unlearn the rules they’ve been programmed to follow and embrace the uncertainty of their own audacious dreams. Read more.
Mina Dixon is an editorial assistant at SmartBrief, where she helps write and edit content across industries, including education.