Best+Practices

Lessons I have used in my classroom...

2/18/10- in order to allow students to search content specific information about animals in Africa, incorporate a google specific search that allows the students to navigate on only the pages I prefer. The objective would not only be that the students must learn about the particular animal of their choice, but to search and navigate on the internet accuratly.

3/7/10- students are currently working on geology in 5th grade science class. I have contacted and spoke with the regular education teachers that I work with to provide support to incorporate Gooole Earth into their lessons. Currently we have displayed Google Earth to display and discuss volcanoes located around the world. This tool provided visual supports about volcanoes and the abundance of them in many countries. It caught the students' interest and supported their curiosity. The students were also encouraged to use Google Earth at home to learn more with their families.

3/23/10 I am currently using new gaming technology as a reward for my students in preparation for the PSSAs. I have found that the constant reminder of PSSA practice, tests, and homework is tiresome to the teachers and the students so I came up with an alternative. I found that my classroom, which is the special education resource room, is not a room that is hated by the students-they actually enjoy coming in. So to help the teachers give the extra testing practice, I have established a little game with my 5th and 6th graders. Each day I ask the students a reading or math related question. It is the student's choice to answer it and hand it in. The students not only are practicing skills, they are earning the chance to play Wii as a reward in my classroom. Luckily the school where I work just purchased a Wii game system and it seems to be the big "hit" in the building. The kids love it and will do what they can in order to play. This strategy is great because it allows kids to practice their skills, without the stress of testing time crunch!