http://712educators.about.com/ Secondary Education http://712educators.about.com/b/2009/07/08/lectures-vs-discussions.htm New teachers are warned against giving lectures all the time. However, it is important to note that there is a time and a place for a good lecture. With that said, however, most lectures can benefit from the addition of questions leading to a Group Discussion situation. I've written two articles that look at the pros and cons of both lectures and discussions. Hopefully each of these can help you as you make choices for lesson plans throughout the year. <ul> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://712educators.about.com/od/lessonplans/p/lecture.htm">Lectures: Pros and Cons</a></li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://712educators.about.com/od/lessonplans/p/discussions.htm">Whole Group Discussions: Pros and Cons</a></li></ul> http://712educators.about.com/b/2009/07/08/lectures-vs-discussions.htm 2009-07-08T00:02:48Z http://712educators.about.com/b/2009/07/05/importance-and-uses-of-pretests.htm <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://712educators.about.com/od/assessments/a/pretests.htm">Pretests</a> are an extremely effective tool that should be used a lot more often than they are. Pretests help teachers in many ways, not only by helping inform teachers of how much students know before they begin a lesson or unit but also by helping them see how much students actually mastered at the end of a lesson. Further, pretests can help teachers in other ways. Read this article to find out how they can help and what to consider before designing them for your own use. http://712educators.about.com/b/2009/07/05/importance-and-uses-of-pretests.htm 2009-07-05T00:22:04Z http://712educators.about.com/b/2009/07/02/top-10-tips-for-successful-classroom-management.htm Classroom management and discipline causes the most fear and consternation in new teachers. However, classroom management is a skill that is not only learned but practiced daily. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://712educators.about.com/od/discipline/tp/disciplinetips.htm">Here are ten tips</a> that can lead to successful classroom management and discipline. http://712educators.about.com/b/2009/07/02/top-10-tips-for-successful-classroom-management.htm 2009-07-02T00:31:54Z http://712educators.about.com/b/2009/06/29/blooms-taxonomy.htm <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://712educators.about.com/od/testconstruction/p/bloomstaxonomy.htm">Bloom's Taxonomy</a> categorizes levels of the level of questions that are commonly asked in classrooms. Here is a look at the taxonomy along with help for implementing each level in your lessons and tests. http://712educators.about.com/b/2009/06/29/blooms-taxonomy.htm 2009-06-29T00:48:05Z http://712educators.about.com/b/2009/06/25/what-is-your-teacher-personality-type.htm Want something to do on that long summer day? Find out what your teacher personality is. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://712educators.about.com/library/quizzes/blteacher_personality.htm">This fun and definitely unscientific quiz</a> can help you find out whether you're a ditto master, strict disciplinarian, coach, popular teacher, fair and balanced, or walking carpet! Have fun and enjoy! http://712educators.about.com/b/2009/06/25/what-is-your-teacher-personality-type.htm 2009-06-25T00:42:01Z http://712educators.about.com/b/2009/06/22/co-teaching.htm Overcrowding in schools is becoming more of a problem every year. To combat this some schools are using a <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://712educators.about.com/cs/specialeducation/a/coteaching.htm">co-teaching</a> technique that adds co-teachers to classes that have numerous ESE students. Read more... http://712educators.about.com/b/2009/06/22/co-teaching.htm 2009-06-22T00:39:52Z http://712educators.about.com/b/2009/06/19/teaching-kids-to-write-essays.htm Looking for a few tips on how to teach or write essays? I've got a solution. This <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=/library/howto/ht5essay.htm">step-by-step guide</a> will assist you in writing an effective five paragraph essay. Once students have this down, they can move on to more complicated essay formats. http://712educators.about.com/b/2009/06/19/teaching-kids-to-write-essays.htm 2009-06-19T00:13:28Z http://712educators.about.com/b/2009/06/16/top-10-mnemonic-devices.htm <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://712educators.about.com/od/creativethinking/tp/mnemonics.htm">Mnemonic devices</a> are excellent ways to teach students important facts that they need to memorize. Here are <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://712educators.about.com/od/creativethinking/tp/mnemonics.htm">10 top mnemonic devices</a> from courses across the curriculum. Enjoy! http://712educators.about.com/b/2009/06/16/top-10-mnemonic-devices.htm 2009-06-16T00:21:38Z http://712educators.about.com/b/2009/06/13/top-six-keys-to-being-a-successful-teacher.htm Want to know what it takes to be a successful teacher? If you work on and nurture these<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://712educators.about.com/od/teachingstrategies/tp/sixkeys.htm"> top six characteristics</a>, you will be on your way to success. The fact is that success in teaching, as in most areas of life, depends almost entirely on your attitude and approach. Practice these six keys and you will find your self not only effective but also fulfilled. http://712educators.about.com/b/2009/06/13/top-six-keys-to-being-a-successful-teacher.htm 2009-06-13T00:31:43Z http://712educators.about.com/b/2009/06/10/using-brain-research.htm Studying the human brain is a very useful field of study. By studying the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://712educators.about.com/od/brainresearch/">brain</a>, we can learn why we do or don't do the things we do. Relating it to a teaching standpoint, we can learn different ways that the brain learns things and reacts to them. http://712educators.about.com/b/2009/06/10/using-brain-research.htm 2009-06-10T00:58:11Z