Classroom Thoughts

My blog has moved!!

2011-01-17T15:09:00.000-08:00

As of January 1st, my blog posts have moved to Facebook (EnergizeTheClassroom). I hope you check it out! Thanks.

Week Fifteen

2010-12-20T06:19:00.000-08:00

Instead of the paper on assign on the First Amendment every year, I decided to have the students create glogs....digital posters (http://www.glogster.com/ ). I gave them a crtieria sheet and a week to design and create.
Click "here" to view examples of their work. The nice thing is the animation, audio/video, and links they can embed right into their work. After Christmas break, they will present them and their classmates can comment online about them!

In Economics, we conitnued planning for our final projects and competing in the smartstocks simulation.

Week Fourteen

2010-12-12T17:17:00.000-08:00

This Tuesday I received the Partners in Education Award from the Chemung County Chamber of Commerce. The honor is bestowed upon an educator that works to bring "real world" experience and the business world into the classroom. It truely was an honor to receive the award. Personally, it feels great to be recognized by the business community.

Week Thirteen

2010-12-05T18:39:00.000-08:00

A full week after a holiday is always a challenge! I always plan on activities that involve some multimedia and/or computer time. This encourages participation and focus from the students. By Wednesday, I was able to settle back in with some new content and notes. For example, in Economics class we watched a John Stossel video about Entrepreneurs being under attack by government regulation. Afterwards, when my students were fired up about it, I introduced their final project for the semester, a break even point analysis of a business they need to begin! In Government class, we watched a video on the suppressive tactics of Stalin, Hitler, Mao, and Che...and then began a unit on the First Amendment!

The clock is ticking until Christmas Beak so I need to stay focused myself!

Week Twelve

2010-11-28T20:36:00.000-08:00

Only two days of school this week beause of Thanksgiving Break. Economics students were busy with Stocksquest simulation (more on this later) and Government students completed a First Amendment newsletter that we titled "The Rabble Rouser". Each student created their own version of the newsletter by gathering Bill of Rights headlines from three websites; Freedom Forum, The Bill of Rights Institute, and the ACLU. They had to choose one main headline with a catchy name or phrase...like the Daily News does.
Besides those basic criteria I let the students shape the project with their creativity. It worked out very well!

Week Eleven

2010-11-20T04:25:00.000-08:00

This past Friday I was Master of Ceremonies at the Career Development Councils 35th Anniversary Breakfast at the Corning Radisson. I spoke about how schools need to do a better job at keeping up with students and the Web 2.0 world! I feel teachers want to and in some cases do but there seem to be some barriers that need to be brought down....or should I say some more "paradigm shifting" to accomplish! More on this in future weeks as I plan to see what can be accomplished in the classroom. In the meantime, here is a link to our local newspaper article about where I spoke: Star Gazette Link

Week Ten

2010-11-13T18:33:00.000-08:00

End of the first marking period!

This year is flying by. I have had several students sturggle this first ten weeks. Call it a combination of laziness, senioritis, futuritis, or anything else that comes to mind! It will work out. Now that we have grades in the books, my students ALWAYS come around. They have too much to look forward to.....in JUNE! I think everyone in education needs to remember that there are lessons to be learned in not succeeding (failing). Students, just like the adults that like to judge them, need to learn from their mistakes in order to avoid future repeats.

I look forward to starting the next marking period on Monday. As we slowly work toward that graduation day in June, my challenge remains the same.......find ways to encourage my students to tap into their curiosity and passion...so they can continue to learn!

Week Nine

2010-11-07T20:29:00.000-08:00

This past Tuesday was the election! I spent most of the week on this topic, answering ALOT of questions from my students. Several of them actually voted! It was good to see them passionate and curious about something!!!!

I also went to the GST Boces New Visions education classes and spoke to the students about my book. There teacher made it required reading. I enjoyed that.

Week Eight

2010-10-30T21:05:00.000-07:00

This week was my first "average" week of school this year! By this I mean no major events coinciding with my school day. Then again.....maybe my "average week" is one that has other projects, speakers, field trips, simulations, conferences, and contests that are happening simultaneously with class. I guess this week as actually not "average"!

Next week; student council sponsored blood drive signups and Tuesday's election. Back to "average"! Ha Ha!

Week Seven

2010-10-30T20:37:00.000-07:00

This past Friday (10-22), I presented at the New York State Middle School Conference ( http://www.nysmsa.org/ ). My concept of "Energize the Classroom" was well received. Over eighty educators packed into my session. There was standing room only. I discussed and gave examples of how I use multiple intelligences and paradigms to energize student learning. The best part.....the new ideas that are shared with me by the very people I am presenting to!

I really value the feedback I receive from any presentation or workshop I do. I work hard to make my material something that other educators find informative and hopefully useful. Presenting is a catch-22 as far as I am concerned. I really enjoy it and would like to do more of it, but I could never leave the classroom. On the otherhand, that is why I feel my material is useful to others because I am using the very methods and ideas that I talk about, in my own classroom!

Week Six

2010-10-17T12:00:00.000-07:00

My Participation in Government students recieved a dose of reality this past week. They completed voter registration forms. My students that are already 18 will be able to vote in this year's election. I delivered them to the Chemung County Board of Elections headquaters before this week's deadline. They keep everyone else on file until they are eligible.

We also discussed and researched several political races. My favorite site to use is http://www.realclearpolitics.com/ . As we began looking at our race for U.S. House of Representatives (Tom Reed vs. Matt Zeller - District 29), I discovered they are having a debate at our local community college on October 21, at 12:15. I arranged to take my students to Corning Community College to watch it. What an injection of energy into the classtoom! We (myself included), are all excited for this Thursday...bottom line, everone likes to learn when they are curious and see the relevance in what they are studying!

Week Five

2010-10-10T15:51:00.000-07:00

As student council advisor, part of my responsibility is to plan, with my officers, homecoming activities at our school. This includes the nomination and election process for the court and eventual king and queen, spirit week, and festivities during the homecoming football game.

I am in my third year as student council advisor, and I try to keep the officers focused on relevance in everything they suggest. This year they actually broke a few traditions at our school.

The wonderful thing is that our school embraced this. Some of our new activities included having our pep assembly in the auditorium where the aacoustics were better, and a class tug-o-war competition at halftime of the football game. I guess it got to the point where we were doing some things just because "that's the way it was always done". Feedback from faculty and students helped student council realize just how successful they were in their planning this year.

My website has a section about managing change ( http://www.energizetheclassroom.com/changenowork.asp ). The changes we implemeted through student council were successful because we had a vision, listened to everyone's input, and most importantly, followed through with a clear plan. I know the events I am talking about do not seem that important to everyone, but that is the point...they should be. This past week we had a united school, full of energy and spirit. To almost all parties, the activities and events made sense. If we can make our homecoming more relevant, I am excited what other processes in our school we can make more relevant in the future!

Week Four

2010-10-03T17:51:00.000-07:00

We covered supply and demand this past week in Economics. Several days of activities and notes and my students were full of information. With that said....I had them prove it on Friday with a simulation. Actually a very addicting computer game at the website http://www.lemonadestandgame.com/ . The concept is simple. Each student has 30 days to sell as much lemonade as possible. They start with $20.00 and need to buy lemons, ice, cups and sugar. The next step is to figure out the mix of ingredients that they think will work, set the price, then press go. Customer satisfaction and varying weather conditions result in students needing to factor in other variables besides price. After each day they also have the opportunity to replenish their supplies and change the price accordingly. At the completion of 30 days they print out their income statment and hand it in for me. I ask for two completed income statements where a profit was made. They can play as many times as they like outside of class and the student with the highest profit and the end of next week will be crowned the "Lemonade Stand King..or Queen". That means they get a t-shirt from me!

This simple game really does do a good job reinforcing all the notes/activities that we learned in class.

Week Three

2010-09-26T18:03:00.000-07:00

This school year I started placing a riddle of the day again on the dry erase board in the front of my classroom. Last year I abandoned this practice based on how my room was setup. I dug up a book I have called Critical Thinking (The Daily Spark): 180 Easy-to-Use Lessons and Class Activities. The problems/riddles in it really make my students think. The best part…..if no one gets the answer, I don’t tell them until the next day. Ha Ha! If you don't have or want the book, there is a website http://www.riddles.com/ that is fun to use as well!

Week Two

2010-09-19T18:40:00.000-07:00

This was my first FULL week of school. Both students and myself are settled in, forms filled out and turned back, expectations understood, and of course.....assignments underway! My students this year have an energy for learning that I haven't seen for a few years. This is no coincidence. I have changed a few things in my curriculum based on what I feel was relevant or not.

We all need to be challenged. Both students AND teachers. When an individual, class, or educator doesn't see the relevance in something, there is no curiousity. What is the incentive to perform?

The more I teach, I understand that while each year my classes have unique characteristics, they all have one thing in common....they enjoy learning and have the energy to do so when they understand the relevance of the material.

I will continue to figure out ways to keep my students curious. It is a difficult challenge, but very rewarding when I am successful!

Week One

2010-09-12T18:57:00.000-07:00

This past Wednesday, I began my fourteenth school year as a teacher. As always, I spent the first few days getting to know my students and explaining how class will function. I also stress my philosophy of keep it fun, keep it relevant, and keep learning. It is important for both my students and myself. Each year is a challenge because as I grow older, my students remain the same age, ha ha! I work hard to learn their interests and pop culture. It is necessary in order to relate my lessons to them, hence making them relevant and fun. I always tell myself, if I am not having fun in the classroom, I can guarantee my students are not having fun either! No learning takes place in such an environment. My favorite quote from author Thomas Friedman further reiterates my thoughts, "Nobody works harder than a curious kid". It is my job to find out how to unleash the curiousity in my students. Another great year is underway!

Daily Recap

2010-08-22T04:29:00.000-07:00

I have decided to transfrom my blog into a yearly journal of my classroom experience of the upcoming school year. Beginning September 7th, I will post a recap of my classroom activity for the week. An energizing lesson, thought, question, or even an entertaining moment that may have taken place! I am hoping that my posts will enlighten, educate, or simply humor those that read them.

"End of Year"

2008-06-03T19:11:00.000-07:00

Please post any comments about this week's article by Paul Richmond here! Remember to check out the website of the week as well.

"8th Grade Hummanities - Meeting Student Needs"

2008-05-03T19:19:00.000-07:00

Please post any comments about this week's article by Denise Wickham here! Remember to check out the website of the week as well.

"Six Sigma"

2008-04-06T19:41:00.001-07:00

Please post any comments about this week's article by Paul Richmond here! Remember to check out the website of the week as well.

"Home Schooling"

2008-03-16T20:33:00.000-07:00

Please post any comments about this week's article by Paul Richmond here! Remember to check out the website of the week as well.

"What kind of teacher are you?"

2008-03-02T16:40:00.001-08:00

Please post any comments about this week's article by Kelley Batrowny here! Remember to check out the website of the week as well.

"Why Teach?"

2008-02-23T14:01:00.001-08:00

Please post any comments about this week's article by Paul Richmond, here! Remember to check out the website of the week as well.

"Curiosity"

2008-02-10T19:17:00.001-08:00

Please post any comments about this week's article by Paul Richmond, here! Remember to check out the website of the week as well.

"JING"

2008-02-03T20:04:00.001-08:00

Please post any comments about this week's article by Mary Cole, here! Remember to check out the website of the week as well.

The "Dark Side"

2008-01-27T15:16:00.000-08:00

Please post any comments about this week's article by Jeff Lawrence, here!
Remember to check out the website of the week as well.

Guest Writers

2008-01-21T19:30:00.000-08:00

You may have noticed this week that someone besides myself wrote a weekly article under Education News. I now accept "guest writers". There have been several individuals expressing interest so I thought it would be fun...and relevant, to the site! Let me know what you think.

Half Way

2008-01-19T06:45:00.000-08:00

As a secondary education teacher, I always look forward to mid-terms. Mid-terms are an opportunity to put behind half of the year and start over, refreshed. Basically, it is down hill now until Spring, warmer weather, the end of the school year, and Summer!

I also use it as an opportunity for my students that have had a miserable semester. I talk with them individually and tell them that there is still hope! We setup a "plan" that can result in them passing. It doesn't always work, but I often get surprised by students!

Oral Quiz

2007-12-07T10:51:00.000-08:00

Idea number 23 under my 75 ideas is "oral quizzes". I used it today for the first time with my grade 10 Global History class ( I teach primarily grade 12). I was very pleased with the results.

What I do with an oral quiz it is a two day affair. During day one, I divide the class into groups and give them a topic to study (this time it dealt with democracy in France, 1850-1914). Each group had ten events during this time period to put in chronological order. They then had to write a brief summary for each explaining what it was and why it was important. They work on this in class and for homework. On day two, I quiz each group as a whole, orally. They must state all ten events, in order, and explain them, to receive credit. They must all contribute and I may or may not select who will answer each question I ask. They receive a group grade.

I do several things to make oral quizzes fun, worthwhile, and fair. Each group receives three lifelines to bail each other out. Meaning if someone cannot answer the question I asked, a group member may help them. Also, if you are not satisfied with your grade, you may come in the next morning and take it again.

My students usually enjoy the change in learning and this time it was no different with my global class. They enjoy the fact that I may rephrase the question or may provide additional clues for understanding. This can never be the case with multiple choice and/or essay-short answer.

I find when you keep things fun and relevent, both the teacher and students win!

Veteran's Day

2007-11-12T14:06:00.000-08:00

Our student council held a Veteran's Day assembly at school Friday. We had (I am the advisor) five Veterans from WWII, Vietnam, Desert Storm, and two with current experience in Iraq. They marched in with the flag, as our band played the National Anthem. We then stood for the Pledge of Allegiance. After that I gave an introduction speech, including a proclamation from President Bush. Our student council president introduced each of our guests and then they spoke.

It was amazing. When they were speaking about their experiences and what it meant to them in regards to fighting for America, you could have heard a pin drop in the auditorium. After each Veteran spoke, the applause seemed to get louder and louder. We then showed a slide show with footage from our current war on terror and ended with our band playing "taps", in honor of all past Veterans. They received a standing ovation.

Two thing excited me about our assembly.
1. Many of our student body came up and shook the hands of our guests and said "thank you"!
2. When speaking with some of the faculty after the assembly, some of them overheard students saying that they actually said the "pledge" today and it meant something to them.

We plan on a larger ceremony next year. My student council officers and thought it was a success for all parties involved. There was no politicizing war or debate about foreign policy.
It was Americans honoring Americans and it was awesome!!

Startup

2007-11-06T20:53:00.000-08:00

I was a presenter today at the Pennsylvania Conference on Integrated Learning at Penn State. My topic "Energize the Classroom", is always intended to promote the sharing of ideas among educators intended to energize both teachers and students. I found out about this blog site from a participant at my presentation. This proves my point that we all have so much we can share in regards to education methods, practices, etc. I am very excited!