Jan
28

Vocabulary and Spelling Made Fun

Filed Under (Differentiated Instruction, Study Skills and Test Taking Strategies, technology education) by sfitzell on 28-01-2009

Wordle.net

 

I’m always looking for ways to make learning motivating and fun. Vocabulary development and even spelling are a passion of mine that has been building for the past year. I constantly hear teachers lament that students don’t remember vocabulary. Reading deficiencies, many times exacerbated by poor vocabulary development are impacting test scores – both state and SAT and ACT. In addition to that, students are developing their own vocabulary and Read the rest of this entry »

Jan
23

A Dozen Ways to Web Surf Efficiently!

Filed Under (technology education) by sfitzell on 23-01-2009
1-800-HELP-ME-WEBSURF-DOT-COM
or
A Dozen Ways to Web Surf Efficiently!

1) Use Google Alerts to save time with searches you do on a regular basis.

Step 1: Go to Google – www.google.com

Step 2: Click on “News” above the search box
Step 3: Click on “News Alerts” in the left hand column
Step 4: Click on “You can also sign in to manage your alerts”
Step 5: Either sign in with your ‘Google account” or click on “Create an account now.”
Step 6: If you created an account, accept the terms.
Step 7: Enter your search term, choose how often you want an alert and then click on “Create Alert.”

For example, create an alert for ‘math lesson plans’, or ‘response to intervention’, or ‘autism’, or ‘(your name).’  Now, every time someone posts something on the internet with that topic, Google will send an alert to your email box.

You can view a video tutorial for creating a Read the rest of this entry »

Jan
17

Wish You Could Adapt, Adjust, or Modify that PDF file for a Student?

Filed Under (technology education) by sfitzell on 17-01-2009

PDF Editor

Useful Program

Nitro PDF Professional allows you to edit text and images in PDF files. Textbook company worksheets will be malleable to your specifications. If you want to add or subtract questions, the basic structure is already there for you play with. With Nitro PDF you aren’t forced to choose between creating your own worksheets from scratch or submitting to exactly what the companies think your students should be focusing on.

It costs $99 to purchase the program. There is, however, a free 14 day trial available as a download here.

For a simple PDF viewer/creator/converter/printer, you can also download Primo PDF for free.

 

Jan
12

Interesting Research on Autism and Empathy

Filed Under (Caring Community) by sfitzell on 12-01-2009

Autism and Empathy and Mirror Neurons

These articles aren’t new to publication, however, I believe they still are worth reading.

From: Mirror cells’ fading spark: empathy-related neurons may turn off in autism. by Bower, B.
Source: Science News, 12/10/2005.
Via: HighBeam Research Logo HighBeam™ Research
COPYRIGHT 2008 Science Service, Inc.

From: WE FEEL YOUR PAIN. . . . . . AND YOUR HAPPINESS, TOO THE HUMAN BRAIN’S SOURCE OF EMPATHY MAY ALSO PLAY A ROLE IN AUTISM by Carey Goldberg, Globe Staff
Source: The Boston Globe (Boston, MA), 12/12/2005.
Via: HighBeam Research Logo HighBeam™ Research
Copyright 2009 The Boston Globe

From: Is the future of autism research to be found in the mirror. by Kessler, Richard J.
Source: Pediatrics for Parents, 9/1/2008.
Via: HighBeam Research Logo HighBeam™ Research
COPYRIGHT 2008 Pediatrics for Parents, Inc.

Jan
11

Quick Review- A Bell Ringer Strategy

Filed Under (Differentiated Instruction) by sfitzell on 11-01-2009
At the beginning of each class I use a warm up or “Quickstart”, that includes questions that refer to the lesson material from the day before. This method of review shows me if students understood what was taught the day before. If student’s don’t perform well on these Quickstart reviews, I know that I have to go back and make clarifications before moving on. Read the rest of this entry »