Recognizing learner types

We know that each student is different and as teachers we should be able to recognize our students individual personalities.  Knowing how our students learn will also help us devise lessons that would be most suitable to them and thus maximizing their learning capacity. But how exactly do you spot them?
THE VISUAL LEARNER
Uses his imagination [...]

Classroom bulletin board

Classroom bulletin boards are useful teaching tools.  It does not only help with the learning process but it also help to make the children involved.
Divide your bulletin board in parts. Have one remain unchanged throughout the school year. As children enjoy some level of consistency, having something that remain constant will help the students’ comfort.
You [...]

Calling your students’ attention

Calling attention to students is not as easy as it seems. Yes, my dear teachers, there is both a science and art to it. You have to be concise since extended signals may only make the students’ reaction time slow.
Be clear with your instructions. Confusion will only produce more chaos. Short and direct are the [...]

Encouraging students to write

Here are some tips for English composition teachers:
Always remember that when a student appears uninterested in his own work, it just means that he is putting on a bravado to hide is anxiety over how his work is going to be perceived.  Read your students’ works with care. Acknowledge the students’ efforts. Avoid marking the [...]

Teaching computer to absolute beginners

Funny thing is students can now actually teach their teachers a thing or two about computers as they’ve been growing up alongside these contraptions. But if teachers were to introduce computers to absolute beginners of any age, how would they do so?
Try to adapt a down-to-earth attitude. There is nothing worse than someone [...]

Preventing plagiarism

Plagiarism is considered  a crime in most countries, as it is after all intellectual property theft. Students early on should be made aware of this, and it’s the teachers responsibility to make them aware and re-enforce a strict no plagiarism policy in the classroom.
First, you, as a teacher, should make the students understand what plagiarism [...]

Developing reading comprehension

Reading is only reading without understanding. Developing comprehension skills of children is vital as these skills are the backbone and purpose of reading. It is not the speed that counts,  but how well the text is understood.
There are several ways in which to develop your students’ reading comprehension:
Asses the reading level and the interests of [...]

Making Math meaningful

Let’s all admit it, many students hate Math and who can blame them? Mathematics is often misrepresented as a very complicated and boring subject. Kids just dread all those endless drills and memorizations of equations. And the sad part is that they all think these are all pointless and useless.
It is important to [...]

Create lesson plans and activities online with Lesson Writer

If you think only students are getting the most out of Web 2.0, think again. Here’s one web service that I think every English teacher would be happy to use - Lesson Writer.
I know how much an effort a teacher puts into preparing for classes - writing lesson plans, obtaining engaging materials, assuring their own [...]

How to use Google Search to check for plagiarized content

Technology is surely helping our students to get the latest information freely. However, because of Wikipedia and other online resources, the temptation for them to resort to academic dishonesty is also present all the more.
If you suspect that a student of yours has (copied and pasted, perhaps)
Here is how you can simply use Google Search [...]