Motivational Books

Motivating pupils in the classroom is a vital part of teaching. Below are some books that will be helpful if you are looking for ideas to motivate your pupils.

25 Tools

Continuing from my two earlier posts about emerging technologies in education and digitalising the classroom, I came across a website that collects applications for academic and professional use. Most of these applications are free and very useful to professionals and academicians including teachers. Go to 25Toools to find out more and start using cool applications in your classroom. Happy Teaching.

Digital Students

"Since most of today's students can appropriately be labeled as "Digital Learners", why do so many teachers refuse to enter the digital age with their teaching practices?

This presentation was created in an effort to motivate teachers to more effectively use technology in their teaching."
Many thanks to jsdt4 for creating this video.

(Please click here to learn how you can become a better teacher.)

Blooging for the classroom

If like me you are all for using blogging in the classroom, here is a video clip that may help you to convince others in your department on the benefits of using blogging as learning tool.

Design Technology

Sometime back I had a request from my DT colleaguess to find links to DT websites. I found a few and had them posted on a separate blog. I am now reorganising my blogs and thought it wouldbe better to have the DT links here. So if you are a DT teacher the links below might be helpful.

Electronics

Inventions and Inventors

Thermoplastics Quiz

Resistant Buildings

Structures

Technology Student

Year 10 Resistant Material Projects

AQA GCSE Revision

Maths video clips

Click here to view some vidoe clips for learning chosen maths topics. These clips were produced by a maths teacher and can be introduced to pupils for independent learning or reviewing/revising maths at home.

Do your part for charity.

Web Links for education

Here is a collection of links to useful educational sites. The webpage is divided into several sections and you can get to the section you want by clicking on the link at the top of the page.

Spend time in the staffroom

Some teachers in my school do not frequent the staffroom that much. They only get there to collect stuff from their pigeon holes. I think spending time in the staffroom is really important for teachers. I make it a point to spend either my breaktime or lunchtime in the staffroom.

I am aware that some teachers don't go to the staffroom because most of the talk in the staffroom is about teachers moaning about their difficult class or students. But that is the point. Teachers must find a way to release their frustrations and stress. The staffroom is a good place to do just that. I have observed over the years, that teachers who frequently spend time in the staffroom tend to be more cheerful and less prone to be off sick.

We can also learn about how individual teachers deal with different classes or students. Surprisingly, I found that some of the students I find difficult in my lessons are not a problem in other classes. This will then lead to discussions about how best to deal with these students. Moreover knowing that other teachers are finding the same class or student difficult takes some of the stress from yourself.

There are other benefits for spending time in the staffroom but it can be very personal and invidualised. The main point is teachers must spend some time in the staffroom just chatting or socialising. It is theraputic.

English 4 U

English Grammar online - This website caters for people wishing to learn English from the basics including using English in Business. Learn all the gramartical rules and exceptions in English. You will also find games, fun activities and test to help you improve your grammar.