If you’ve read any of my teaching tips, ebooks, or blog posts then you know that I am a big fan of playing review games in the classroom.

One game that is a lot of fun for students (and teachers) is BINGO! However, until recently, playing Bingo has involved entirely too much preparation on the part of the teacher. I say “until now” because this cool new software, Bingo Card Printer, has made creating multiple bingo cards so simple.

Now teachers can create, a set of 30 different Bingo Cards (or more) in just a couple of minutes.

Watch the short video and see just how easy it really is…

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This week ended the second quarter and I gave each student their 2nd quarter grade. Along with determining whether they met their 2nd quarter goal, as well as setting goals for 3rd quarter, I made sure to emphasize to them that the #1 factor determining student success is EFFORT!

You see, research shows that students generally attribute success to one of four factors:

1. ability
2. luck
3. other people
4. effort

Unfortunately, three of these four beliefs ultimately inhibit achievement.

If a student believes he has the “ability” he can accomplish the given task. However, there will certainly be times when the student believes he does not have the ability…

Belief in “luck” has obvious problems…what happens when the student’s luck runs out?

Belief in “other people” also has obvious drawbacks…what happens when the student finds himself working alone?

However, if a student believes that “effort” is the most important factor in determining success, then that student can apply that belief to ANY given task…

Bottom line: Belief in “effort” leads to an increase in student success and achievement.

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It’s that time of year again…

Then read Your Basic Guide to Acing ANY Teacher Interview @ www.TeacherInterviewTips.com

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As teachers, we do a tremendous amount of reading in our classes. That’s why I’m always looking for new reading strategies and different ways to improve reading comprehension.

Research shows that one of the best ways to improve reading comprehension is to tap into and build upon a students prior knowledge of the content BEFORE reading.

A great way to do this is for teachers to show short video clips BEFORE introducing the reading.

The problem is where does one find short video clips on specific content that is age appropriate?

The answer: Unitedstreaming.

Here’s a video I just put together on how teachers can use Unitedstreaming video clips to improve reading comprehension…

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Adam Waxler is a middle school social studies teacher, adjunct education professor, and author of eTeach: A Teacher Resource for Learning the Strategies of Master Teachers @ www.TeachingTeacher.com

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This week many teachers are returning to school after a well-deserved winter break. And, many teachers will want to dive right back into their content.

This is understandable as many teachers have mid-terms exams coming up and many teachers have their dreaded state exams coming up as well. Therefore, it is easy to see why many teachers would want to dive right back into their content.

However, in my opinion I do not think this is the best way to get the second half of the school year off to a great start.

My approach to the second half of the school year is to basically start it the same way I started the first half of the school year…by teaching, or in this case re-teaching, the classroom procedures.

Personally, I do not think this is a waste of time. In fact, I believe that re-teaching the classroom procedures will pay off big in the long run.

As many teachers will agree, one of the best approaches to classroom management is to have your students consistently follow your classroom procedures. If you can do that then everything else becomes much easier. This is why so much time is spent on classroom procedures during the first week of school.

However, teaching procedures is not something that is done on the first day of school only. Remember, students usually have several different classes with different teachers, different rules, different expectations, and different procedures to follow.

So if you want your students to follow your procedures then you are going to have to re-teach those procedures from time to time. And, coming back from an extended break is the perfect time to do just that.

However, you must also remember, that teaching is NOT just telling. Teaching your classroom procedures is a 3-step process:
1. Tell the students the procedure.
2. Model the procedure for the students.
3. Have the students practice the procedure.

For example, when my students return to school next week we will go over my top five procedures. I will put them up on the board as well as give them a handout. We will read through each procedure. Next, I will actually pretend I am an 8th grade student and I will model the procedure so they can visualize it. Finally, I will have the students practice the procedures.

This can be done for any procedure whether it is how to walk done the hallway or how to take a seat when they enter the room.

When finished, there is no question that all the students know exactly what is expected of them in terms of following the classroom procedures. This works very well in establishing a classroom that runs smoothly and it is a great way to get the second half of the school year off to a great start.

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Adam Waxler is a middle school social studies teacher, adjunct education professor, and author of eTeach: A Teacher Resource for Learning the Strategies of Master Teachers @ www.TeachingTeacher.com

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Hi,

Just wanted to wish everyone a very Happy New Year!

I hope you’re enjoying your time off…you deserve it!

Also, I hope you like the new look and feel of the Teaching Tips Machine BLOG! Feel free to make a comment or send me an email telling me what you think.

Also, please let me know if you can’t view the video above. One of my goals this year is to do more work with videos, but I am still getting used to using this technology so please be patient.

Thanks and Happy New Year!

Best Wishes,
Adam Waxler

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