http://www.eyeoneducation.com RSS feeds for Eye On Education 60 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2910/Four-Activities-for-the-End-of-the-School-Year#Comments 0 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=60&ModuleID=874&ArticleID=2910 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2910&PortalID=0&TabID=60 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2910/Four-Activities-for-the-End-of-the-School-Year It is that time of year again—school is almost over and students are more excited than ever for summer break. At times, it may be difficult to get students to focus during the last few weeks of school. We've compiled four activities that will refocus your students and motivate them to finish out the year strong. Michelle Thu, 23 May 2013 09:31:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2910 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2920/Five-Tips-for-Effectively-Communicating-with-Families#Comments 0 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=60&ModuleID=874&ArticleID=2920 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2920&PortalID=0&TabID=60 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2920/Five-Tips-for-Effectively-Communicating-with-Families Educating Student in Poverty: Effective Practices for Leadership and Teaching, by Mark Y. Lineburg and Rex Gearheart provides essential strategies to help socioeconomically disadvantaged students achieve academic and lifelong success. This tip provides five tips for effectively communicating with all families, especially the familes of children in poverty. One of the most effective interventions for improving student performance and relationships with parents and families is communication. Each day school leaders and all school personnel have the opportunity to engage with families. The communicated message to the families is of paramount importance. Meryl Tue, 21 May 2013 10:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2920 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2908/Infographic-How-to-Help-Students-Meet-the-Common-Core-Standards-for-Math#Comments 0 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=60&ModuleID=874&ArticleID=2908 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2908&PortalID=0&TabID=60 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2908/Infographic-How-to-Help-Students-Meet-the-Common-Core-Standards-for-Math In Strategies for Common Core Mathematics: Implementing the Standards for Mathematical Practice, K-5, 6-8, and 9-12, Leslie Texas and Tammy Jones explain each of the eight mathematical practices and give high school educators specific instructional strategies that align with the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics. This infographic outlines the eight SMPs and what opportunities teachers should provide to students in elementary, middle, and high school to help them meet the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.. Meryl Thu, 16 May 2013 10:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2908 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2841/Game-Playing-in-the-Classroom-Tips-for-Successful-Classroom-Gaming#Comments 0 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=60&ModuleID=874&ArticleID=2841 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2841&PortalID=0&TabID=60 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2841/Game-Playing-in-the-Classroom-Tips-for-Successful-Classroom-Gaming The following guest post was written by Rebekah Stathakis, author of A Good Start:147 Warm-Up Activities for Spanish Class. This is the last in a three-part series on game playing in the classroom. . This post is the last in a three-part series. In the first part, I shared my top five reasons why I believe games are a powerful instructional tool. The second part included some common concerns with games and how I respond to those concerns. Here are seven tips for developing and utilizing games in the classroom. Meryl Wed, 15 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2841 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2907/Video-A-Five-Step-Decision-Making-Task-Critiquing#Comments 0 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=60&ModuleID=874&ArticleID=2907 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2907&PortalID=0&TabID=60 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2907/Video-A-Five-Step-Decision-Making-Task-Critiquing Assessing Critical Thinking in Elementary Schools: Meeting the Common Core and Assessing Critical Thinking in Middle and High Schools: Meeting the Common Core, by Rebecca Stobaugh, are practical, effective resources to help teachers and curriculum leaders develop the skills to design instructional tasks and assessments that engage students in higher-level critical thinking, as recommended by the Common Core State Standards. This tip, and the accompanying video clip, focus on one of those higher-level critical thinking skills: Critquing. Without practice, students often rank choices based completely on personal preferences instead of developing logical criteria, thus making poor conclusions and decisions. Failing to build Critiquing skills leaves students unable to grapple with the complexities of life or to reasonably select the best option. Meryl Wed, 15 May 2013 10:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2907 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2906/Project-Based-Learning-Taking-the-First-Steps#Comments 0 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=60&ModuleID=874&ArticleID=2906 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2906&PortalID=0&TabID=60 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2906/Project-Based-Learning-Taking-the-First-Steps In Authentic Learning Experiences: A Real-World Approach to Project-Based Learning, Dayna Laur provides step-by-step instructions on how to create authentiv learning experiences to engage students in critical thinking, teach important skills such as research and collaboration, and improve student learning. In this tip, she outlines the process of taking the first steps to designing an Authentic Learning Experience. To begin a Project-Based or Authentic Learning Experience, you must start with a way in which to engage your students. If you truly want to make this an Authentic Learning Experience, you have to move beyond mock letters written by a pretend interested party. Remember, if this experience is going to be authentic, you have to make the start of the experience real! Meryl Tue, 14 May 2013 10:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2906 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2918/Poetry-by-Annette-Breaux-Do-Not-Spill-Your-Problems#Comments 0 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=60&ModuleID=874&ArticleID=2918 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2918&PortalID=0&TabID=60 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2918/Poetry-by-Annette-Breaux-Do-Not-Spill-Your-Problems The following poem and tip were written by Annette Breaux and featured in her book with Eye On Education: 101 "Answers" for New Teachers and Their Mentors: Effective Teaching Tips for Daily Classroom Use, 2nd Ed. I once heard a teacher announce to her class, “Look, I’m having a bad day. I’ve been up all night with a sick child, so I’m not in a good mood. I’m going to try to concentrate on my teaching, but I’m tired. Also, we’ve fallen way behind in the textbook, so we’re going to have to move fast today. Stay in your seats, and don’t mess with me!” Michelle Sat, 11 May 2013 09:31:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2918 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2911/Video-The-Foundation-of-Critical-Thinking-Student-Engagement#Comments 0 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=60&ModuleID=874&ArticleID=2911 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2911&PortalID=0&TabID=60 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2911/Video-The-Foundation-of-Critical-Thinking-Student-Engagement Ben Johnson, currently a school principal in San Antonio, TX, has 28 years of experience in education as a teacher, district administrator and university program manager. He also teaches online for the University of Phoenix's teacher- and principal-preparation program. In this video clip from Thinking as the Main Learning Tool, Ben Johnson discusses the foundation of Critical Thinking: Student Engagement. Meryl Fri, 10 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2911 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2900/8-Characteristics-of-Successful-Collaborations#Comments 0 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=60&ModuleID=874&ArticleID=2900 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2900&PortalID=0&TabID=60 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2900/8-Characteristics-of-Successful-Collaborations The following guest blog post was written by PJ Caposey, author of Building a Culture of Support: Strategies for School Leaders. PJ is the principal of Oregon High School, an adjunct professor in the educational leadership department for Aurora University, and he is currently pursuing his Doctoral degree through Western Illinois University. He can be found on Twitter @principalpc, and he is a guest blogger for many websites such as ASCD, Edutopia, and Test Soup. Just because something is discussed does not mean that collaboration has occurred. I think this is one of the most common misnomers in education today. Teachers talk about curriculum and instruction an awful lot—but are these discussions really collaborative? Meryl Fri, 10 May 2013 10:30:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2900 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2904/Foreign-Language-Activity-Train-Tour#Comments 0 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=60&ModuleID=874&ArticleID=2904 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2904&PortalID=0&TabID=60 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2904/Foreign-Language-Activity-Train-Tour 100 Games and Activities for the Introductory Foreign Language Classroom by Thierry Boucquey et al. is filled with stimulating, engaging, and effective games and activities to offer students alternatives to learning by rote or performing drills. This activity, Train Tour, is designed to help students learn and remember travel vocabulary, geography, and iconic regional monuments. Meryl Thu, 09 May 2013 10:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2904 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2930/Infographic-5-Tips-for-Teaching-Close-Reading-and-5-Things-to-Watch-Out-For#Comments 0 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=60&ModuleID=874&ArticleID=2930 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2930&PortalID=0&TabID=60 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2930/Infographic-5-Tips-for-Teaching-Close-Reading-and-5-Things-to-Watch-Out-For The following blog post is part of a blog series called "Comments on the Common Core," written by Eye On Education's Senior Editor, Lauren Davis. For more insight from Lauren Davis, check out her book series Common Core Literacy Lesson Plans: Ready-to-Use Resources. Close reading is a hot topic these days. At IRA’s recent convention, there were countless sessions about teaching close reading for the Common Core. However, everyone seems to have a different understanding of what close reading entails. Here is how the authors of the Common Core describe it: Meryl Wed, 08 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2930 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2903/10-Practices-to-Make-Your-School-Family-Friendly#Comments 0 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=60&ModuleID=874&ArticleID=2903 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2903&PortalID=0&TabID=60 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2903/10-Practices-to-Make-Your-School-Family-Friendly Dropout Prevention Fieldbook: Best Practices from the Field showcases the collected efforts of dedicated educators from across the country, selected and presented by one of today's leading experts in dropout prevention, Franklin Schargel. Research consistently finds that family engagement has a direct, positive effect on children's achievement and is the most accurate predictor of a student's success in school. When family provides support to the school, a strong infrastructure sustains a caring, supportive environment where youth can thrive and succeed. Below are 10 practices designed to make your school family friendly. Meryl Tue, 07 May 2013 10:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2903 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2912/How-to-Celebrate-Your-Staff-During-Teacher-Staff-Appreciation-Week#Comments 0 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=60&ModuleID=874&ArticleID=2912 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2912&PortalID=0&TabID=60 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2912/How-to-Celebrate-Your-Staff-During-Teacher-Staff-Appreciation-Week Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week is scheduled for May 6-10, 2013, and May 7th is National Teacher Day. What are you doing to celebrate the teachers in your school or district? Recognizing teachers benefits the staff, students, and school environment. If you haven't thought of what to do yet, or are looking for a few extra ideas, here's a list we've put together: Michelle Mon, 06 May 2013 09:31:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2912 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2901/Video-Franklin-Schargel-on-Dropout-Prevention-and-School-Violence#Comments 0 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=60&ModuleID=874&ArticleID=2901 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2901&PortalID=0&TabID=60 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2901/Video-Franklin-Schargel-on-Dropout-Prevention-and-School-Violence Franklin P. Schargel is a graduate of the University of the City of New York. Franklin holds a master’s degree in secondary education from City University and a second master’s degree from Pace University in school administration and supervision. His career spans thirty-three years of classroom teaching, counseling, and eight years of supervision and administration as a school administrator. Additionally, Franklin taught a course in Dowling College’s MBA Program. In this clip from a recent segment on Eye On New Mexico, Franklin Schargel discusses school violence, school pride, dropout factories, the importance of attendance, and vocational training. Meryl Fri, 03 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2901 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2909/May-2013-eNews#Comments 0 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=60&ModuleID=874&ArticleID=2909 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2909&PortalID=0&TabID=60 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2909/May-2013-eNews In our monthly eNews, we bring you the latest education news, resources, and classroom ideas from the Eye On Education Blog and other blogs we read. Click below for our favorite educational blog posts from the past month. Meryl Thu, 02 May 2013 10:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2909 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2898/White-Paper-Five-Recommendations-for-Teaching-Common-Core-Grammar-to-Elementary-Students#Comments 0 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=60&ModuleID=874&ArticleID=2898 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2898&PortalID=0&TabID=60 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2898/White-Paper-Five-Recommendations-for-Teaching-Common-Core-Grammar-to-Elementary-Students The following blog post was written by Sean Ruday. To read more newsworthy blog posts from Eye On Education, subscribe to our Insights eNewsletters. Traditional grammar exercises, taught out of context from writing instruction, frequently reduce student interest levels (Woltjer, 1998) and have very little impact on student writing (Weaver, 1998). Because of this, it’s especially important for teachers to provide students with grammar instruction that keeps their interest while helping them understand how specific grammatical concepts can improve their writing. Michelle Wed, 01 May 2013 09:31:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2898 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2871/Poetry-by-Annette-Breaux-Avoid-Acting-When-Angry#Comments 0 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=60&ModuleID=874&ArticleID=2871 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2871&PortalID=0&TabID=60 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2871/Poetry-by-Annette-Breaux-Avoid-Acting-When-Angry We’ve all been there. We can remember the feeling of boiling blood pulsing through our veins, building, racing through our bodies, and then—BANG—an explosion! We got angry, and we lost control. We said things that, to this day, we still regret. Once again, we lament the fact that we allowed ourselves to give in to the anger. We are all human; we all have emotions; we all experience anger. But not everyone expresses anger in the same way. Our feelings don’t determine how others perceive us, but our actions surely do... Michelle Sat, 27 Apr 2013 18:36:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2871 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2902/Video-The-Common-Core-State-Standards-Do-This-Not-That-with-Lori-Wilfong#Comments 0 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=60&ModuleID=874&ArticleID=2902 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2902&PortalID=0&TabID=60 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2902/Video-The-Common-Core-State-Standards-Do-This-Not-That-with-Lori-Wilfong After having served in urban, suburban, and rural schools as a teacher and literacy coach, Lori Wilfong currently works with practicing teachers and those in training at Kent State University, Stark. She is the author of Vocabulary Strategies That Work: Do This—Not That! In this video podcast The Common Core State Standards: Do This—Not That, Lori Wilfong discusses her approach to professional development, which helps educators avoid common misunderstandings about the Common Core State Standards. Meryl Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2902 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2885/Eye-On-Education-Radio-PJ-Caposey-Podcast#Comments 0 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=60&ModuleID=874&ArticleID=2885 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2885&PortalID=0&TabID=60 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2885/Eye-On-Education-Radio-PJ-Caposey-Podcast PJ Caposey, an ASCD 2013 Outstanding Young Educator Award Honoree, is the Principal of Oregon High School in Illinois, named on of the nation's top high schools by US News and World Report. The author of Building a Culture of Support: Strategies for School Leaders, PJ is also an active blogger who can be reached at @principalpc on Twitter. In this podcast, PJ discusses the impact school leaders have on teachers. Michelle Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:31:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2885 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2886/Six-Activities-to-Support-the-Professional-Development-of-Faculty-and-Staff#Comments 0 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=60&ModuleID=874&ArticleID=2886 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2886&PortalID=0&TabID=60 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2886/Six-Activities-to-Support-the-Professional-Development-of-Faculty-and-Staff In Building a Culture of Support: Strategies for School Leaders, PJ Caposey shares insightful advice and meaningful examples for building a healthy school culture. In this tip, Caposey discusses strategies for supporting professional development of faculty and staff members.  The only things that look the same in America today as they did in 1962 are schools. While the school calendar and buildings may look the same, leaders must work to make sure that the practices in schools are ever-changing and ever-growing. During an #edchat on Twitter recently, somebody tweeted, “As professionals, teachers should want to improve their practice on their own.” I agree with the sentiment, but the operative word in the above Tweet is “should.” For those who do not, it is the responsibility of leadership to engage them in their own professional development... Michelle Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:31:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2886 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2840/Game-Playing-in-the-Classroom-Common-Concerns#Comments 0 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=60&ModuleID=874&ArticleID=2840 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2840&PortalID=0&TabID=60 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2840/Game-Playing-in-the-Classroom-Common-Concerns The following guest post was written by Rebekah Stathakis, author of A Good Start:147 Warm-Up Activities for Spanish Class. This is the second in a three-part series on game playing in the classroom. . In the first part of this series, I shared the top five reasons I believe game playing is a powerful tool. However, I also recognize that there are people who have concerns or criticism about using games in classrooms. As I have worked with educators and other stakeholders, here are the questions I have heard most frequently and my responses to those questions: Meryl Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2840 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2893/Infographic-15-Helpful-Strategies-and-Unhelpful-Practices-for-ELLs#Comments 0 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=60&ModuleID=874&ArticleID=2893 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2893&PortalID=0&TabID=60 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2893/Infographic-15-Helpful-Strategies-and-Unhelpful-Practices-for-ELLs In Helping English Language Learners Meet the Common Core: Assessment and Instructional Strategies, K-12, Paul Boyd-Batstone offers a quick, easy-to-use tool (the Classroom Assessment of Language Levels, CALL) to assess the language levels of English learners in grades K-12. He also provides a variety of engaging, differentiated, Common Core-based strategies that can be used post-assessment to help students at each level improve their speaking and listening skills. This infographic provides 15 helpful strategies (and 15 unhelpful practices) for ELLs of all levels. Meryl Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2893 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2858/10-End-of-Year-Goals#Comments 0 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=60&ModuleID=874&ArticleID=2858 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2858&PortalID=0&TabID=60 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2858/10-End-of-Year-Goals The following guest blog post was written by PJ Caposey, author of Building a Culture of Support: Strategies for School Leaders. PJ is the principal of Oregon High School, an adjunct professor in the educational leadership department for Aurora University, and he is currently pursuing his Doctoral degree through Western Illinois University. He can be found on Twitter @principalpc, and he is a guest blogger for many websites such as ASCD, Edutopia, and Test Soup. We are nearing the end of the school year—and we have two options: grind to the end or think of new and exciting ways to challenge ourselves to continue to grow. As most schools are now approaching the final 45 days of school I would like to provide ten challenges to teachers everywhere to complete before the end of school to facilitate their personal growth and hopefully the process will ultimately benefit the children we serve. Meryl Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2858 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2894/Video-Deeper-Learning-Blooms-Taxonomy-Evaluate-Level-Strategies#Comments 0 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=60&ModuleID=874&ArticleID=2894 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2894&PortalID=0&TabID=60 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2894/Video-Deeper-Learning-Blooms-Taxonomy-Evaluate-Level-Strategies Rebecca Stobaugh received a PhD from the University of Louisville. As a middle-school and high-school teacher, she was named Social Studies Teacher of the Year by the Kentucky Council for Social Studies in 2004. In her position as a middle-school principal, she focused on aligning curriculum, increasing the level of critical thinking in assessments and instruction, and establishing a school-wide discipline plan. Currently, she serves as an assistant professor at Western Kentucky University, teaching assessment and unit-planning courses in the teacher education program. She supervises first-year teachers and consults with school districts on critical thinking, instructional strategies, assessment, technology integration, and other topics. In this clip from Deeper Learning: Bloom's Taxonomy Evaluate-Level Strategies, Rebecca explains a five-step strategy to teach students and important skill: Critiquing. Meryl Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2894 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2891/5-Strategies-to-Enhance-Mathematics-Instruction#Comments 0 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=60&ModuleID=874&ArticleID=2891 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2891&PortalID=0&TabID=60 http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2891/5-Strategies-to-Enhance-Mathematics-Instruction Mathematics Coaching Handbook: Working with Teachers to Improve Instruction, by Pia Hansen, serves as a reference to help prepare and support effective math coaches. It provides insight into the leadership skills necessary to mentor other teachers, establish collaborative teacher teams, influence school culture positively, and improve student achievent. This tip includes 5 strategies that coaches can present to teachers (or teachers can use directly in their classrooms) to enhance their mathematics instruction. Meryl Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2891