wwwatanabe: Vivid Vocabulary, Common Core, & Tech Integration Tools

Tracy Watanabe always digs into topics needed for teachers to add to their tool belts. This one is a must read, hence the reblog!  I don't want to forget the information about:

VOCABULARY !

Each word we read or write is chosen for a reason -- and building a rich vocabulary is key to reading for deeper understanding of texts and writing with clarity to communicate.

Read and learn strategies build vocabulary.  I especially like the new Google Research Tool in Google Drive.

I would also add Merriam-Websters Learner's Dictionary, which includes definitions for students that are reader-friendly, using only 39,000 of the most common words. More features and an app are available.

Another resource is Word Sift, an ELL tool by Stanford and Visual Thesaurus. Here's a tour for how it works. You insert text, and it sifts through the vocabulary, to which you can link to find a word web and definitions. It also produces visual examples and a sentence from the source text.

Be sure to read the comments for other strategies and this link to a terrific vocabulary infographic and Vocabulary A-Z with Common Core Tier 2 lists.

Here's Tracy's post:

wwwatanabe: Vivid Vocabulary, Common Core, & Tech Integration Tools:

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Integrating the 16 Habits of Mind | Edutopia

So, in my previous post, critical thinking resources provided a background for developing "deeper learning." The following post offers another perspective, again with tips and links based on The Habits of Mind by Art Costa and Bena Kallick -- how to learn today; without these, we are not tuned in to "deeper learning."

Enjoy and apply the thoughts of TERRY HEICK  in this Edutopia post:

Integrating the 16 Habits of Mind | Edutopia:

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21 Century Classroom: The Amaryllis: Class 62 and The Thinking Matrix

In the new world of deeper learning via the Common Core State Standards, this post and its links to further resources provide teachers, parents, and students with a background on how critical thinking is needed for that "deeper learning."

Please read this by Heidi Siwak

21 Century Classroom: The Amaryllis: Class 62 and The Thinking Matrix:

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Do We Educate for Life? | EdReach

Do We Educate for Life? | EdReach:

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Educators are pulled and pushed in so many ways. As we teach, we touch hearts and minds, and the "standards" sometimes seem irrelevant to either the critical turn the conversation takes, or to the emotional and social needs of the moment. We only have so much time, and the minutes in the classroom can have an impact either way: academic or life lessons. Which will students remember?

Struggle For Smarts? How Eastern And Western Cultures Tackle Learning : Shots - Health News : NPR

Struggle For Smarts? How Eastern And Western Cultures Tackle Learning : Shots - Health News : NPR:

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Struggle. It's confusion. It's difficult. And in the end, it's rewarding. How do we recognize struggle in our classroom?  Recognize it as success? Recognize it as desired trait? Celebrate it?

Let me think... how did that happen here in this article?  What do you think?

Everyday: Learning is messy...

Teaching like it's 2999: Don't Trust Conference Presenters: The Teacher Beh...: Recently I've noticed something about conference presenters (myself included). We're a bit phony. How so? Well, we jump up in front of poor...

This blog reminds us again of the fluid and interactive nature of teaching and learning. It is also important to remember in light of the new teacher evaluation systems. Teachers, students, principals are all learners.

Learning is messy -- and teaching is too. Not everything works perfectly. If teachers are transparent in their successes and failures, it will help for reflection. But what about evaluation?

Are the new evaluation systems designed for reflection and growth?