Picture-based note taking helps students’ comprehension

When teaching content area topics, students are often expected to take notes. During this note taking time, it is huge for students to have more than just the names, dates, facts, and details written down. More that just memorizing the information, we want students to understand the significance of the information. We want them to synthesize and see the bigger picture.    read more...

3-D study guides make note taking fun

No matter what age you are teaching, everyone can find a use for a hands-on graphic organizer. After students have been introduced to a concept, the teacher would facilitate the students' construction and application of this three-dimensional organizer. Students can organize their newly learned information. Not only do these "foldables" provide students a hands-on study guide of their learning, but creating them is fun.    read more...

Key questions in the content areas

When you plan your next set of test or assignment questions, consider paralleling your state’s standardized exam. Here are three ways:    read more...

Jumpstarting a nonfiction/research unit

Jumpstarting a nonfiction/research unit is a popular topic with many teachers. Several of you emailed excited to dive into a nonfiction writing unit, so I thought I'd give you a couple additional ideas this fuel the fire.    read more...

Preparing for research papers

For intermediate and secondary teachers, second semester curriculum often includes the "research paper unit." With this comes the usual woes of teaching students how to organize note cards, paraphrase, and draft a strong thesis statement.    read more...