Instructor (1990) articles from March 2006

Instructor (1990) archives from March 2006

Teaching myths, debunked.(teaching professionals)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Few things are more exasperating than people's well-meaning observations on teaching: the next door neighbor who tells you, "It must be nice to be home early every day." The brother-in-law who shares, "I thought about becoming a teacher but I...

A few teacher friends try out the celeb life.(New York City Lab School for Collaborative Studies)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Teachers at every stage of their careers are over-booked, so we were thrilled when Veronica Rodriguez, Sanford Carguile, and Maggie Feurtado, colleagues at a nearby public middle school, The New York City Lab School for Collaborative Studies,...

Artistic inspiration.(Celebrate the Arts)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... After reading "60 Ways to Celebrate the Arts" (Jan/Feb 2006), I was inspired to share my latest idea. I've done puppet shows and plays with the kids for years, but as a new twist. I decided to emphasize decision making. When the students are...

Google is not the end-all.(your say)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... In "Teacher Tech Help: Googling Made Easy" (Classroom Tech, Jan/Feb 2006), you left out one essential resource for research--the librarian. School librarians are trained to find the best information. They also can help collaborate on your...

The merit pay debate.(Merit pay systems is a remedy for teachers)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... There are valid arguments on both sides of the merit pay debate ("Merit Pay: Good for Teachers?," Jan/Feb 2006). But when it comes down to it, I would prefer to be more highly paid as a professional because of my daily efforts, rather than...

You've gotta be in it to win it.(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... The contests you list on your Free Stuff page have been an inspiring writing hook for my fifth- and sixth-graders. One of my students was a finalist in The Legacy Project's Listen to a Life Contest last year when we entered her story on a whim....

Hooray for teacher help.(your say)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... Thank you for the article on Donors Choose ("Making a Difference," Oct/Nov 2005). I teach in a school with a 90% poverty rate, and thanks to Donors Choose, our after-school chorus now has songbooks.--Rhonda Hollingsworth, Monarch Elementary...

Ban boring handwriting.(your say)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... I have one tip to add to "Handwriting Made Easier" (Jan/Feb 2006). Make your own fun practice sheets. Leave space for pictures on the top of the page, and draw lines for writing from mid-page to the bottom. Then, write riddles or tongue...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
March 1, 2006... Correction: To find more information about the Go Write! dry erase sheets ("Best of 2005," December 2005), go to www.mygowrite.com.

Giving back to the community, in the streams and fields.(making a difference)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Nancy Elliott's middle-school students in Chillicothe, Missouri, sit in the near-darkness to record the sunrise whistling of the Northern Bobwhite. After three more crack-of-dawn awakenings, they'll have the data they need to determine the...

5 ... who belong in your hall of fame.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... 1 KRISTY YAMAGUCHI: Through her foundation, the Olympic gold-medalist funds "Classroom on Wheels," a program that brings free preschool to at-risk kids. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 2 DOUG FLUTIE: The New England Patriot and his wife,...

Getting students where they live.
March 1, 2006... There is nothing better than going to a kid's home to make them really believe you're really, deeply serious. It gives me license to suggest to students who have never worked before that they should begin now, that students who have never...

Try walking in your substitute's shoes.(learn to adapt for teachers)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Substituting for one year should be mandatory for all new teachers regardless of age. Substituting is like the hazing process before getting into the fraternity. It keeps you on your toes, shows you that not all classes are peaches and cream,...

At least no students walked the plank.(AS SEEN on teacher blogs)
March 1, 2006... Today, the assistant superintendent was escorted into my class roughly 90 seconds before I donned a pirate hat, hopped on a chair, and called out "Yar!" Tenure, anyone? www.roomd2.blogspot.com

Looking back on math class.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... When adults are asked about math class memories, all is not rosy. According to an Associated Press/AOL poll, 40% hated math when they were in school, twice as many as disliked any other subject. You win some, you lose some. Another 25% looked...

Looking abroad for teachers.(job vacant in abroad)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... With six positions vacant for nearly a year and job postings yielding no candidates, the San Mateo-Foster City school district in California decided to look farther afield--to the Philippines. In record time, they hired a math teacher and seven...

Student-teacher scams school.(loot the teachers' credit cards)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... A young woman posing as an education student needing classroom hours pulled off a scam at several San Ramon Valley District California elementary schools--making off with several teachers' wallets and credit cards. "She talked her way in, was...

"Teachers" on TV.(English teacher dealing with modern students)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... The lighter side of teaching is the subject of an upcoming NBC sitcom. Aptly titled "Teachers," the new show (debuting April 6th) focuses on an English teacher dealing with "modern students and their short attention spans." We'll wait until we...

New twists on your favorite fairy tales.(books we love)
March 1, 2006... Once Upon A Cool Motorcycle Dude (GR. 1-4) By Kevin O'Malley. Walker, 2005; 32 pages; $16.95. When two kid writers begin to work together in this clever story, their previously bland characters come to life. Try a round robin assignment to get...

Stellar science: from planets to hug to live ladybugs.(products we love)
March 1, 2006... HUGGABLE PLANET This squishy version of the Red Planet is the most detailed kids' globe of Mars available, with 400 places labeled. Comes complete with fact sheet. www.peacetoys.com; $16.95. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SCIENCE IN A...

Move over, iPod.(computerized pen)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... There's a new gadget topping tweens' lists--the FLY Pentop, a computerized pen from Leapster that "magically" understands what kids write and draw on special FLY paper. We're fans of the old-fashioned pencil, but when Hannah, our associate...

Lighten that tote bag.(classroom tech)(Pearson Knowledge Technologies )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Imagine leaving that stack of essays behind when you go home for the weekend--and coming back to find them graded. Sound like a dream come true? It may not be far off. Automatic grading software is getting better--for math tests and even that...

An a.m. eye-opener.(classroom tech)
March 1, 2006... Now when teachers at three elementary schools in New Jersey arrive in the A.M, they'll need to put down their morning coffees and look straight into the camera. The Freehold school district is test-driving a new iris scan identification system...

Learning in the palm of your hand.(classroom tech)
March 1, 2006... Handhelds: motivating to kids and cross-curricular in scope, but tough to integrate into a chalkboard-faithful classroom. With the help of several grants from PalmPilot, Oregon schools have found success. One handheld-newbie credits the devices...

Which technology will change teaching the most?(FUTURE report)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... We asked tech expert Bryan Alexander, of the National Institute for Technology and Liberal Education, which are going to have the largest effects on classrooms. * RICH MEDIA Forget book reports. Now kids can make their own movies,...

Dig out your A+ projects.(cool contests)
March 1, 2006... It's "Get Crafty" time again! Submit your most awesome educational projects to our second annual craft contest. PRIZES: Three grand-prize winners will snag $250 in goodies from sponsor, Elmer's Products; five runners-up will win $100 worth...

For sci-fi addicts and friends.(cool contests)
March 1, 2006... Have sci-fi buffs in your class? Invite them to put down their paperbacks--and write their own masterpieces! PRIZES: Gift certificates and admission to an upcoming sci-fi convention. DEADLINE: March 31, 2006 HERE'S HOW: Go online...

Melting potboilers.(cool contests)
March 1, 2006... Sharpen your fifth graders' pencils and imagination with an immigration-based creative writing contest. PRIZES: A trip to the American Immigration Law Foundation's Annual Benefit Dinner in Washington, DC. DEADLINE: Varies by state ...

Scholastic shopping spree.(cool contests)
March 1, 2006... It's a teacher's dream come true! Win a Scholastic Book Fair shopping spree. That'll beef up your classroom library! PRIZES: As many books as you can grab in 15 minutes (we bet it's a lot!). DEADLINE: March 30, 2006 HERE'S HOW:...

Data collection 101.(classroom resources)
March 1, 2006... Heard about data collection technology, but not sure if it'd work in your science classroom (or on your budget)? This spring, free workshops from Vernier take the mystery out of data collection tools and explain how to best use them. They're...

Understanding immigration.(classroom resources)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Promote understanding and empathy for immigrant students through lesson plans tied to Marie Fritz Perry's new picture book, A Gift for Sadia. HERE'S HOW: Download the plans at www.buttonweedpress.com.

Luck o' the Irish.(classroom resources)
March 1, 2006... No time for a leprechaun hunt? Tip your hat to the little guys (and motivate your writers) by downloading free, festive St. Patrick's Day stationery. HERE'S HOW: Go to www.billybear4kids.com and click on "Worksheets."

Dive and discover.(classroom resources)
March 1, 2006... So you're not Ms. Frizzle--who cares? You can still take your kids on a wild oceanic expedition. They'll love these under-the-sea lesson plans that explore the world's oceans and rifts. HERE'S HOW: Go to www.divediscover.whoi.edu.

Secrets to winning sweepstakes.(free stuff)
March 1, 2006... There are so many cool sweepstakes out there for teachers (six in this month's Instructor alone!). But if you think they come down to the luck of the draw, think again. If you have a system, you'll be much more likely to get entries in the mail...

Where in the world ...(great grants)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... Including a map lesson in your unit on the colonists? The National Council for the Social Studies funds teachers who promote geographic literacy. PRIZES: A $2,500 grant. DEADLINE: March 21, 2006 HERE'S HOW: Go to...

Their knowledge will blossom.(great grants)
March 1, 2006... With warm weather around the corner, take learning outside. Win Dutch flower bulbs and get your kids into the dirt with a hands-on gardening experience. PRIZES: Two hundred Dutch flower bulbs and related educational activities. ...

Funding for fitness.(great grants)
March 1, 2006... Are your kids tired of playing on bare blacktop at recess? Apply for the "Let's Just Play" grant from Nickelodeon to add a jungle gym, a swing set, and more. PRIZES: A $5,000 improvement grant. DEADLINE: Rolling until May 31, 2006. ...

Get some fresh air.(great grants)
March 1, 2006... Why talk about photosynthesis when your class could soak it in outside? Put the hands-on into science class with an outdoor classroom for your students. PRIZES: A $2,000 grant. DEADLINE: Rolling. HERE'S HOW: Go to...

It's a bull's eye.(great grants)
March 1, 2006... We know you love the deals at Target, but we bet you'll love their grants for education even more! PRIZE: $1,000-$3,000 grants. DEADLINE: May 31, 2006 HERE'S HOW: Go to www.target.com.

For our ocean unit, we dive right into the water.(kids swim with the dolphins )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... We always take the kids to Dolphin Encounters, a local attraction. It's an incredible end to our year-long study of the sea. The kids swim with the dolphins and walk away with a love for--and a desire to nurture--these gentle creatures. The...

We learn about blood types with this simple experiment.(idea swap)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... Students fill four plastic cups with water and put a different dye in each to represent the different blood types: red for type A, blue for type B, red/blue (or purple) for type AB, and plain water for type O. Then, I ask, "Can a person with...

How is our Earth like a hardboiled egg?(idea swap)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... Given that our planet is not a perfect sphere, but is instead some-what ovate with distinct layers, I have students compare the temperature, density, and composition of the Earth with that of a hard-boiled egg. First students measure the...

I don't think my students will ever forget our unit on ocean animals.(idea swap)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... Each student selected a different animal and researched facts about it. Then, they made sandwich boards that they could wear in the shape of their animals, which they presented to the class. I set up my classroom like the ocean, with the kids'...

After discussing the flooding during Hurricane Katrina.(super-absorbent polymer )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... After discussing the flooding during Hurricane Katrina, I posed a challenge to my students: Is sand, super-absorbent polymer (SAP), or vermiculite (the powdery material packed around chemicals and available at garden supply stores) best at...

Celebrate the arrival of spring by growing bulbs.(idea swap)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2006... Celebrate the arrival of spring by growing bulbs in clear plastic bottles. Place a bulb into the top of a clean bottle filled with water. Soon, the roots will be visible and continue to grow, filling the container. You'll get a beautiful...

Super-hero scientists.(to do experiments on lab)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... I turn my students into "Super Kid Scientists" by sending them to younger classrooms to do experiments--they even wear lab coats with ID badges! First, we learn how to do the experiment on our own. Then, kids take turns going to other classes...

Try teaching the scientific method using peanuts!(Teaching aid)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Try teaching the scientific method using peanuts! Here's how I do it. First, I invite students to research "background information" about peanuts. Next I pass out a peanut in its shell to each child. This is when the fun begins. I challenge the...

To get kids excited about space, I have them write letters to real astronauts.(www.nasa.gov)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... To get kids excited about space, I have them write letters to real astronauts. Students start by choosing an astronaut from the biographies at www.nasa.gov. They research the person and then write a business-style letter (a format we practice)...

Each year our school works together to create a special Earth Day bulletin board.(theme for special Earth Day)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Each year our school works together to create a special Earth Day bulletin board. One year, after studying the life cycle of Luna moths, we came up with the theme, "All Things Bright and Beautiful, All Creatures Great and Small, Celebrate Earth...

We created a planetarium from a cardboard voting booth.(creativity of a students)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... We created a planetarium from a cardboard voting booth by spraying the inside with black paint. The children decorated the outside with planets and stars. Then, each child created a pin art constellation, such as the Big Dipper, by laying a...

The age of discovery: new research tells us that "young kids are far smarter than we ever thought," says expert Alison Gopnik. Then why are so many kids falling behind?(interview)(Interview)
March 1, 2006... Whether it's volcanoes or video games, as teachers we know that when children enjoy a subject, they are far more motivated to take charge of their education. But what we're learning now is that offering high interest topics may be less...

Can we be friends? Helping your special-needs kids build social skills is essential to their academic success.(classroom activity)
March 1, 2006... One warm afternoon, special education teacher Linda Cohn returned to her classroom after stepping out to copy a paper. "When I walked in, all the kids were giving me that mischievous look," she recalls. Cohn asked the class what was going on...

Our straight-talking, insider's guide to loving your job at every stage.(your career guidance)
March 1, 2006... Welcome to Instructor's first-ever career issue. It's about time, you know! Whether you're a rookie or a vet, you've helped redefine what it means to be a professional (and just maybe, society is catching up). Inside, you'll find the scoop on...

Making 100 grand: isn't it time teachers heard some good news?(teacher salary)(Cover Story)
March 1, 2006... We've all heard the depressing statistics about teacher salaries. In recent years, the average educator's salary--never lavish--has grown at a far slower rate than those of other professions, often even lagging behind inflation. And as we know...

20 superstars of education.(Hillary Rodham Clinton)(Jonathan Kozol)(Oprah Winfrey)
March 1, 2006... In our 2005 survey, we asked you to name those you most admire in the world of education--and you didn't hesitate to share! We received votes for celebs, authors, and--over and over--your fellow teachers. That's when we picked up the phone to...

Drivers, start your engines!(balloon car experiment)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... In this exciting balloon car experiment, kids learn about force, motion, and more. 1 MEASURE TWICE, CUT ONCE: A lidded plastic tray (from a deli or grocery store) forms the base of the racer. Have kids measure 2" in from each corner on the...

Seven ways to make sight words stick; Kid-friendly ideas that work. Plus: the 100 words 2nd graders should know.
March 1, 2006... Your kids can read "Spiderman" and "Nickelodeon" backwards and forwards, but have they mastered the basic (and difficult to decode) sight words they'll need to know as they enter the higher grades? These days, you're preoccupied with the...

Out of their seats! Push back the desks. These learning games link movement with crucial cognitive skills.(activities: grades 3-5)
March 1, 2006... Imagine throwing out the flashcards and learning multiplication facts through movement. Doesn't that sound more fun than memorizing them? It is--and not just because kids are wired to move. Adults and children alike learn better by doing...

Crime scene science; CSI: middle school? Inside the craze that's sweeping our science labs.(activities: grades 6-8)
March 1, 2006... There's been a murder in Fort Myers, Florida, and Marilyn Slusher's gumshoes are on the case. Some are searching for fingerprints. Others are looking for clues. Later, the rookies will size up bones to learn the gender of the victim. ...

Spring cleaning? Make room for cool prizes.(giveaways)
March 1, 2006... MARCH SWEEPSTAKES RULES How to Enter Send a postcard with your name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address to Instructor March Sweepstakes (Page #), P.O. Box 713, New York, NY 10013. The page number should correspond to the desired...

Catalog showcase: a showcase for your catalogs, products and brochures.
March 1, 2006... ONE-STOP SHOPPING FOR SCIENCE AND MATH! * 450+ new and exciting products to supplement your science and math curriculum! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Complete learning systems that offer a hands-on approach to teaching science! *...

Jay Leno: on life as the class clown, "kids today," and the teacher who turned him on to comedy writing.(pop quiz)(Interview)
March 1, 2006... What were you like in school? I had a pretty good relationship with my teachers. I grew up, thankfully, in the era before Ritalin. I was always the class clown. I prided myself on doing the kind of things that would make teachers go, "All...