Educational Activities Students Enjoy

Students of Nan Hua High School gathering in t...

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Planning activities for students is a complex process. Activities must have a learning objective, and they must teach the children something. In order to teach them, the activity needs to interest the children, and get them thinking. For this reason, the activities also need to be fun. Finally, they need to be safe, comply with school regulations and be easy to arrange. Teachers and student teachers spend a large portion of time planning activities that combine all of these aspects, and this can be very difficult.

One challenge teachers often come up against is getting their students involved in the lesson. To give each child a comprehensive understanding of a learning objective, the children need to be intrigued, and interested. They need to challenge ideas, ask questions and develop problem-solving techniques, which can be very difficult in a standard lesson setting. A possible answer to this problem is the introduction of kid’s costumes in the classroom.

Kids costumes come in a variety of forms, from historical figures to celebration outfits. For example, having male and female colonial kids costumes when teaching about Thanksgiving will change the dynamics of the classroom; remove anything from the room that wouldn’t have been available back then, or use a different, empty room, and allow the children to take it in turns to try on the costumes. Discuss why they are different to clothes now, and why they dressed like that.

Kid’s costumes will capture a child’s imagination, which makes teaching them much easier. A child who is already interested in learning will absorb and question information, and develop a well-rounded understanding.

Filed Under: Student Rights Tagged With: , ,

How Different Teaching Methods Work

There are many different teaching styles that individual teachers use and incorporate into their classrooms. There are many things that help educators determine which type of strategy is going to work best in their classroom. These indicators include skill and age level of the students. Another fact that comes into play is that not every student learns the same way. Many teachers, therefore, use several different teaching methods in the classroom. Here is a look at some of the different teaching methods.

Arts and Crafts
Those teaching younger students such as those under the second grade often use arts and crafts as a method because younger children are better able to focus when doing creative things.

Lecturers
As students get older and advance through the grades, teachers may start to use the lecture method. This type of teaching requires that the students have the ability pay attention and take notes.

Speakers
Using guest speakers can help students engage in the material being presented. These speakers can be professionals such as firefighters or physicians who will speak on their professions. An added bonus to using guest speakers is that these speakers can also provide a hands on look at different professions.

Group Discussions
The teacher or instructor basically leads the discussion, allowing for student interaction and input. This is an effective method because it allows for communication between the students.

Experiments
These teaching methods provide a platform that allows students to learn about a subject for themselves. Teachers using this method will provide needed information and instructions for the experiment. During the experiment, students discover findings and results, followed by a conclusion.

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Mortgage Programs: To be or not to be

Since being elected to office in 2008, President Obama has been working feverishly to improve the overall climate of the housing market. Although he has not managed to save everyone’s home the President, along with his administration, has helped many avoid foreclosure through loan modification. While mortgage programs implemented by the Obama Administration appear to be helping thousands, some critics argue that such programs are doing more harm than good.

Federal mortgage programs are constantly under attack in the House of Representatives. While the Obama administration claims that the programs are necessary for economic recovery, many Republicans refuse to believe such claims and suggest the programs be discontinued.

Although scrapping modification programs in the middle of an aconomic turnaround will have detrimental effects, it’s hard to explain such negative results when some bailout programs are not doing well. The Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) in particular has received poor reviews. In the most recent scorecard, the program showed a decrease in the number of trial and permanent modifications. Such decrease essentially implies that while home owners are given the opportunity to rectify mortgages, many are unable to maintain good payment history after being modified. Although these results may tell Democrats that more work is necessary to actually help owners rise above debt, the information tells Republicans that the program is not effective.

Regardless of the effectiveness of mortgage programs initiated by the current administration, it should be the federal government’s priority to attend to the needs of the country. Since the housing market caused a domino effect that led to economic distress, the government should be completely focused on fixing the problem. While some mortgage programs may be more effective than

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Good Teaching Methods: What’s your function?

When entering the classroom on the first day of school, the teacher has a plethora of responsibilities. In addition to ensuring that students respect one another in behavioral practices, teachers must also find ways to engage the class with the lesson plan that they have planned for the day. Although the traditional lecture with open discussion appears to be the only way to spark involvement in the classroom, there are many other methods of teaching that educators may use in the classroom.

As aforementioned, lecture is the standard tool that educators use to convey an idea. In the lecture setting, teachers present factual information to students in a logical order. A history lecture, for instance, will begin at the beginning of time instead of in the middle of time. While lectures typically presents the teacher as an expert in the field, they do not always encourage discussion for a number of reasons. First, experts are not always the best motivational speakers. The ability to convey information in a logical manner does not make a teacher interesting, and a boring classroom renders uninterested students. There is also a lot of preparation time involved with lecture that some teachers may not be able to cope with.

An alternative to the classic lecture setting is brainstorming. Although this method can prove ineffective without proper supervision, a good brainstorming session will engage the minds of students and prepare them to actually take part in the lecture. A five to seven minute sharing of ideas before lecture can do wonders for any classroom.

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Standardized Tests: What are they good for?

Every year students in the United States of America and all over the world are subjected to at least one standardized test. If it’s not taking the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) for college admittance, it’s engaging in the Exit Exam to graduate from high school. Although many Americans are accustomed to standardized testing, very few have questioned the purpose of such tests. What are standardized tests really for?

While the list of answers may be endless for the majority of society, the very elite and professionals say testing is used for curriculum decisions. According to education administrators the performance of students on standardized tests in one year determines the type of lesson plans that will be presented the next year. If a fourth grade class scores in the fortieth percentile in algebra in 2011, then the incoming class will more than likely be taught less difficult equations the following school year.

Regardless of an individual’s opinion about standardized testing, one has to admit that solely basing curriculum on a single test is both biased and irresponsible. It is unfair to students for administrators to dismiss all of effort contributed because of one bad test. What is the purpose in sending children to school everyday if big decisions concerning curriculum will be determined by a standardized test? Although standardized testing is an excellent tool that may be used in conjunction with other factors, it should not be the sole benefactor that decides if an eleventh grade class will be taught trigonometry next year.

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No Child Left Behind: Title Change

The Obama administration has authorized a title change in the No Child Left Behind Act. Instead of having a dull title, one of the sections will specifically be named “Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged.” The Obama administration hopes that the new title change will ensure that all children are given an equal opportunity to receive high quality education. According to the administration, such education may be achieved in a number of ways; one being the closing of the achievement gap.

The achievement gap is a concept that haunts all educators and parents alike. While educators are working hard to beat the statistic that says wealthy children reach higher heights in academia than impoverished children, parents with lower incomes are constantly encouraging their children to not take part in such statistic. Many problems with the education system would be solved of the achievement gap were closed or at least minimized. The Obama administration is showing parents and educators their concern for children by changing the title of a section in the No Child Left Behind Act.

Although the change is optimistic, it is hardly believable that such action will close an entire achievement gap. For decades disparities in education have stemmed from the attitude that some children are privileged over others. While low income students living in the ghetto may be more intellectually inclined than the child living in a mansion, the child of luxury is given more opportunity because his or her parents can afford to pay more in taxes for better schools. Americans must come away from the mind frame of self-gratification and into the concept of sharing the wealth in order to substantially minimize the achievement gap. Impoverished children should be given the same opportunities as wealthy children and should not be punished with poor education practices just because they live on the other side of the train tracks.

Filed Under: Parental Involvement Tagged With: , ,

You Can Make A Difference

Every day, all across our nation, there are children struggling with many issues. They may be living in deplorable, poverty-stricken conditions or they may be facing a serious, life-threatening illness. They may be struggling in school trying hard to get a better education.

There are many ways that we can help these children. You can help through donations to reputable charities to volunteer efforts. Realize that no matter what you do, no matter how insignificant you may think it is, it will make a difference.

For instance, donating your old car to Kars 4 Kids will help children attain some of their educational goals. Kars for Kids provides children who may be struggling with education mentorship opportunities.

Other ways you can help include volunteer your time and services to youth organizations. While these organizations may differ in areas such as activities and programs, they all share the desire to help children succeed. You can do a little research and find an organization in your community that you can help. You may be able to help with an after-school literacy program, or coach a youth athletic team.

Start a literacy program or book club for children. You can approach your local school, library or even a bookstore for a facility where you can hold these meetings. Because these types of locations are child friendly you’ll have no problem convincing parents to let their children participate.

You can also help by simply writing letters. Write letters to the editor of your local newspaper. Become an advocate for the causes you believe in and bring them to other people’s attentions, getting them involved. Make sure your letters are factual, yet emotional. This way you can help educate people about the issues as well as getting them to help by volunteering or donating time and money.

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Applause for Education Reform

Democrats recently applauded ESEA leaders for their efforts in education reform. According to Democrats, the central goal of focusing on students and identifying the country’s most effective teachers is a good start to reform. In the past, ESEA has not presented a concentrated report on what it plans to do about the achievement gap and other educational barriers present in the system. The recent report, however, has not only managed to offer a solution to education problems, but has also suggested strategies for funding. According to a letter written by Democrats applauding the program, ESEA has suggested that there be more transparency in budget plans. Instead of leaving society in the dark while money is being spent on goods, ESEA has proposed that public school administrations inform taxpayers of what their money is being used for.

Although the success of the program depends on academic improvement, providing more insight into the financial scheme of education will move plans forward. Many taxpayers would be willing to pay higher taxes to educate children if they knew exactly what the money was being spent on. Since the economy has suffered much heartache because of the housing market and employment decline, it is no longer satisfying for an individual to ask for billions of dollars and say “It’s for the children.” In the current economic recovery, people want to know the facts of the matter. Most taxpayers find it necessary to know how the increased finances will be helping the children, and of the amount asked for is absolutely vital. School administrators and political advocates for education will not get far without addressing these two issues.

While it is not certain that the new changes to ESEA will be permanent, it is definite that politicians working with the program are trying to make the system better.

Filed Under: Government Rulings Tagged With: , ,

Haiti: Education For All

The massive earthquake in Haiti killed hundreds and injured thousands. Many were displaced and exposed to homelessness after the natural disaster. Months after the quake, the Education For All (EFA) program is endeavoring to rebuild the school system in devastated areas.

To date, Education For All has allowed children in Port-au-Prince to return to school and has provided tuition assistance to over 100,000 students. Education For All has also distributed over 1,200 supplies to eight out of ten Haitian school departments. These supplies will allow students to engage with educational material, and learn through classroom interaction. In the near future, the program plans to improve the quantity and quality of education through teacher training. Such training will enable educators to better communicate and more effectively respond to the needs of students.

Education For All was established over two years ago when the Haitian government acknowledged the disadvantages of the educational system. The central problem that the program was created to address was the large percentage of private schools that charged high fees, which made it impossible for many students to attend school and receive a reputable education. The purpose of EFA was to better govern these schools, but the program has served as a catalyst to re-launch the education system after the devastating earthquake.

In an effort to assist with the endeavors of the program, the Canadian International Development Agency has assisted the Caribbean Development Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the World Bank in contributing $97 million to Education For All.

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Revamping No Child Left Behind

The White House is planning on having reworked the No Child Left Behind laws that legislate education before most of America’s students go back to school in August. Unfortunately, this measure will have to have serious support from the Republican party as well as the Democrats, and they do not seem to be willing make it a priority.

They are hoping to make the laws more flexible than they have been in the past and also help Washington take a step backwards from controlling the standards and how they are set. Many teachers and schools believe that the White House has made strict laws that they can not regulate without knowledge of the schools themselves. They are hoping that not only will the regulations be relaxed in regards to standardized testing, but also that there will be more local control of these regulations.

The plan to have it done by the regular August recess hinges on Republican lawmakers agreeing to work on the laws. Republicans made it clear to the country that their top priorities were both increasing the number of jobs and fixing the economy. Even if they were on board with the Democrats, getting this type of legislation through by August is not likely to be feasible.

The president has told those in the White House that he believes redefining the federal government’s role in education through No Child Left Behind is top priority for him. The biggest problem with this would be that Obama wants a large rewrite of all of the No Child Left Behind laws. This takes time and money. Also, Republican law makers are more likely to approve new legislation if it is a series of small laws that make changes to old laws already enacted.

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