Graphic Organizer Tool

Worksheet Works allows you to create online worksheets using customizable graphic organizers!
http://www.worksheetworks.com/miscellanea/graphic-organizers.html
Thank you Liz for this one!

Teachers Pay Teachers

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/
This is an interesting site: it allows teachers to upload lessons and other teaching ideas, and they can make them free or charge a fee to get them (many are in the $1 to $2 range, though at the time of posting, over 40,000 resources are totally free).

I do have a few thoughts about the site:
(1) It offers a weath of ideas for sharing - especially among the free resources but in some cases just by reading the descriptions of the paid resources
(2) There's no real quality control, so if you are interested in something, do your homework and look at free things that writer/teacher has produced before you purchase
(3) From a socio-political standpoint, I do have some concerns about how it both financializes and commodifies teaching and learning. I share this resource with some reservations about what it ultimately promotes in the profession - which is not exactly communities of professionals who share to help each other and students. By the same toke, I do appreciate that teachers who produce good materials want to be recognized and remunerated for their efforts.

Just as an example, I was quite impressed to find a free PowerPoint deck on the use of Agusto Boal's forum theater (something I've used in the past, but a little differently than the person who posted it).

I was interested in the degree to which equity-related classroom resources were available, and while there are some, I would definitely encourage people to "cast a broader net" in their quest for these things for alternatives (there are lots out there that I feel are more grounded in evidence and theory). I suspect this is true of many resources on TPT, since there is no real editing or quality control mechanism.

If you decide to participate in the site (as producer or consumer), do so thoughtfully, and consider the implications of your particiaption!!!!

Laura

Teaching Ideas -

Came across this great blog with lots of photos - the teaching ideas a great, and are a good jumping-off point to adapt for different grades and subjects. The examples are elementary, but secondary teachers can be creative and make them work for older learners: http://tunstalltimes.blogspot.ca/

Tons of puzzle ideas

Discovery has free puzzle makers - ranging from crosswords, to cryptgrams, mazes, and more

http://www.discoveryeducation.com/free-puzzlemaker/?CFID=762792&CFTOKEN=70427563

Paws in Jobland (grades 3-5)

Here's a very comprehensive resource with some great lesson formats: http://www.collegefortn.org/images/tn/pdfs/Paws_Lessons_3-5.pdf

Paws is a dog, and the lessons deal with careers. Now, as charming as the lessons are, career talk at the grade 3 to 5 level is questionable from a developmental perspective. Nonetheless, many ideas are transferable!

Learning styles are a myth

Great video here; Professor Daniel Willingham describes research showing that learning styles are a myth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIv9rz2NTUk&feature=related

Mystery snack bags: Wealth Allocation

Here is a great lesson idea that can be adapted: http://ecedweb.unomaha.edu/lessons/popcorn.htm
The basic concept is this: take a bunch of brown lunch bags, fill them with different things ranging from popcorn to crumpled paper, to perhaps even coins mixed with paper.
Then, distribute them under the guise that they are donated snacks. Once students open them, you can discuss resource or wealth allocation in a variety of ways; this can be extended for trade, etc.

Social Justice Lesson Plans

OISE's Centre for Urban Schooling has some great social justice lesson plans that could be adapted for different courses. The economic and supply chain ideas would be great for international business.
http://cus.oise.utoronto.ca/Lesson_Plans_Social_Justice_Issues.html

Online Flash Websites - Wix

This is a great site that allows you to create a flash website: www.wix.com

Learning, not teaching!

Great article: Lessons for helicopter parents from a 71-year-old educator by Sarah Hampson, Globe and Mail, Published Monday, Sep. 05, 2011 6:00PM EDT

A few quotes:
There are many gifted teachers in both public and private systems, she emphasizes, but what worries her most is the rigidity of the typical classroom teaching style. “Time in the classroom for actual learning as opposed to teaching is shrinking,” she says. “There’s a very high expectation on academics and testing. A lot of time is spent on drumming in lessons and worrying about kids who haven’t made it. Children should be given time to learn things, to not be pushed.”

“[Teachers] shouldn’t just be taught what to teach, but how children learn though play, through trying things out, though supposing and testing,” she says. “All the resources are at their fingertips. But if they did understand how children learn, you would not see classrooms running on half-hour periods, each with a different unit. You would see more integrative, collaborative learning.”
A good teacher creates an environment in which it’s safe for the child to take risks, she explains. “Children have to take risks and know they’re not necessarily going to be right.”

Neil Postman on the most important skills for students

This is an essay delivered by Postman in 1969 at the National Convention for the Teachers of English, titled "Bullshit & The Art of Crap-Detection".
http://stager.tv/blog/?p=753

Emond-Montgomery's teacher-submitted resources!

http://www.teachersupport.ca/ has many different resources across many subject areas. Thanks E-M for maintaining this great site.

Making Teachers Nerdy

This is a great site for tech integration Making Teachers Nerdy

The City Personal FInance (GC.CA)

Here's an interactive resource for financial literacy from the gov't of Canada
http://www.themoneybelt.gc.ca/thecity-lazone/eng/login-eng.aspx

Note that they have a superb teachers' package, though one may have to attend a workshop to procure it!

Intro to Phil Online Text

Great online text here - http://introductiontophilosophy.com/contents.html - basic, and not well-referenced, but a nice supplement for overviews of topics.

The Third Teacher

This is a really interesting site recommended by Liz in my class - http://www.thethirdteacher.com/home/home-third-teacher
It's a collaborative project between Bruce Mao Design, VS America and OWP/P Cannon Design. The project is base on the Reggio Emilia Approach - an educational philosophy focused on preschool and primary education. It was started by Loris Malaguzzi and the parents of the villages around Reggio Emilia in Italy after World War II. The destruction from the war, parents believed, necessitated a new, quick approach to learning. It puts the natural development of children as well as the close relationships that they share with their environment at the center of its philosophy, and has the following guiding principles:
Children must have some control over the direction of their learning;
Children must be able to learn through experiences of touching, moving, listening, seeing, and hearing;
Children have a relationship with other children and with material items in the world that children must be allowed to explore and
Children must have endless ways and opportunities to express themselves.

The Third Teacher Project is focused on the role of the environment, and deals with design (though I haven't read it in its entirety, though Liz showed her book to me and I'm intrigued).

A professor gives an email lecture...

This is from Gilded Limits; not sure if it's an urban legend, but I find it quite interesting...is it rational, rude, or discriminating against the informal register?

FYI Scott Galloway is the founder of redenvelope.com. He was on the New York Times board of directors before resigning last week. He has a reputation for being a “self-important jackass” ( according to A.J. Daulerio via deadspin.com)

Sent: Tuesday, February 9, 2010 7:15:11 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific
Subject: Brand Strategy Feedback

Prof. Galloway,

I would like to discuss a matter with you that bothered me. Yesterday evening I entered your 6pm Brand Strategy class approximately 1 hour late. As I entered the room, you quickly dismissed me, saying that I would need to leave and come back to the next class. After speaking with several students who are taking your class, they explained that you have a policy stating that students who arrive more than 15 minutes late will not be admitted to class.

As of yesterday evening, I was interested in three different Monday night classes that all occurred simultaneously. In order to decide which class to select, my plan for the evening was to sample all three and see which one I like most. Since I had never taken your class, I was unaware of your class policy. I was disappointed that you dismissed me from class considering (1) there is no way I could have been aware of your policy and (2) considering that it was the first day of evening classes and I arrived 1 hour late (not a few minutes), it was more probable that my tardiness was due to my desire to sample different classes rather than sheer complacency.

I have already registered for another class but I just wanted to be open and provide my opinion on the matter.

Regards,
xxxx

—
xxxx
MBA 2010 Candidate
NYU Stern School of Business
xxxx.nyu.edu
xxx-xxx-xxxx

The Reply:

—— Forwarded Message ——-
From: scott@stern.nyu.edu
To: “xxxx”
Sent: Tuesday, February 9, 2010 9:34:02 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific
Subject: Re: Brand Strategy Feedback

xxxx:

Thanks for the feedback. I, too, would like to offer some feedback.

Just so I’ve got this straight…you started in one class, left 15-20 minutes into it (stood up, walked out mid-lecture), went to another class (walked in 20 minutes late), left that class (again, presumably, in the middle of the lecture), and then came to my class. At that point (walking in an hour late) I asked you to come to the next class which “bothered” you.

Correct?

You state that, having not taken my class, it would be impossible to know our policy of not allowing people to walk in an hour late. Most risk analysis offers that in the face of substantial uncertainty, you opt for the more conservative path or hedge your bet (e.g., do not show up an hour late until you know the professor has an explicit policy for tolerating disrespectful behavior, check with the TA before class, etc.). I hope the lottery winner that is your recently crowned Monday evening Professor is teaching Judgement and Decision Making or Critical Thinking.

In addition, your logic effectively means you cannot be held accountable for any code of conduct before taking a class. For the record, we also have no stated policy against bursting into show tunes in the middle of class, urinating on desks or taking that revolutionary hair removal system for a spin. However, xxxx, there is a baseline level of decorum (i.e., manners) that we expect of grown men and women who the admissions department have deemed tomorrow’s business leaders.

xxxx, let me be more serious for a moment. I do not know you, will not know you and have no real affinity or animosity for you. You are an anonymous student who is now regretting the send button on his laptop. It’s with this context I hope you register pause…REAL pause xxxx and take to heart what I am about to tell you:

xxxx, get your shit together.

Getting a good job, working long hours, keeping your skills relevant, navigating the politics of an organization, finding a live/work balance…these are all really hard, xxxx. In contrast, respecting institutions, having manners, demonstrating a level of humility…these are all (relatively) easy. Get the easy stuff right xxxx. In and of themselves they will not make you successful. However, not possessing them will hold you back and you will not achieve your potential which, by virtue of you being admitted to Stern, you must have in spades. It’s not too late xxxx…

Again, thanks for the feedback.

Professor Galloway

CEA - material for educators

The Canadian Education Association has some great research, blogs and other materials

http://www.cea-ace.ca/

The Trouble With Billionaires

Here's an interesting new book by Linda McQuaig - has class warfare hit the popular media? At any rate, I like that she calls society out for pretending to be a meritocracy, when really it's not.

See http://www.lindamcquaig.com/TheTroubleWithBillionaires/index.cfm
And an excerpt at http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/article/859721--excerpt-the-trouble-with-billionaires-by-linda-mcquaig-and-neil-brooks

"Teaching against idiocy"

This is a really interesting article! Teaching Against Idiocy, Phi Delta Kappa, 2005, by Walter C. Parker
Link to MS Word version http://www.shanoglesby.net/ParkerTeachingAgainstIdiocy.doc

He writes, among other things..
Idiocy shares with idiom and idiosyncratic the root idios, which means private, separate, self-centered -- selfish... When a person's behavior became idiotic -- concerned myopically with private things and unmindful of common things -- then the person was believed to be like a rudderless ship, without consequence save for the danger it posed to others. This meaning of idiocy achieves its force when contrasted with polites (citizen) or public. Here we have a powerful opposition: the private individual versus the public citizen...An idiot is one whose self-centeredness undermines his or her citizen identity, causing it to wither or never to take root in the first place. Private gain is the goal, and the community had better not get in the way.