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	<title>Teach USA</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.calteach.org/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.calteach.org</link>
	<description>Educational Resource for Parents &#38; Teachers</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:02:05 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>Why Some Parents Are Opting for Home Schooling?</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/why-some-parents-are-opting-for-home-schooling.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/why-some-parents-are-opting-for-home-schooling.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 01 Aug 2011 10:01:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teaching Methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Child]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeschooling]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.calteach.org/?p=255</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#160; Image via Wikipedia Nowadays, many parents are opting for offering home schooling to their kids as they have lost confidence in private and public education systems. Some of the major factors that are forcing the parents to take such decisions include: unqualified teachers, overcrowded classrooms, outdated learning materials and text books and above all [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zemanta-img" style="float: right; width: 310px; margin: 1em;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Army_53073_Living_in_the_New_Normal_empowers_military_children.jpg"><img style="border: none;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/US_Army_53073_Living_in_the_New_Normal_empowers_military_children.jpg/300px-US_Army_53073_Living_in_the_New_Normal_empowers_military_children.jpg" alt="Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) Exec..." width="300" height="201" /></a>&nbsp;</p>
<p class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="font-size: 0.8em;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Army_53073_Living_in_the_New_Normal_empowers_military_children.jpg">Wikipedia</a></p>
</div>
<p>Nowadays, many parents are opting for offering <a href="http://www.homeschoolingusa.com/">home schooling</a> to their kids as they have lost confidence in private and public education systems. Some of the major factors that are forcing the parents to take such decisions include: unqualified teachers, overcrowded classrooms, outdated learning materials and text books and above all the safety concerns. Parents are significantly conscious about the growing cases of drug abuse among school children; another major factor reducing the popularity of school education is increase in the number of school violence.</p>
<p>Earlier a school used to be the place that offered children quality <a href="http://www.pahomeschool.com/benefits.html">education</a> and used to teach them the ideal way of leading life. Now, things have changed drastically. Today, children going to school often get introduced to the obnoxious adult world before actually attaining the biological age. Your <a href="http://www.silc.org/education-opening-doors-for-adults.htm" target="_blank">payday cash advance</a> will put to waste without good education.</p>
<p>Choosing home schooling for educating the kids rids the parents from all the problems discussed above. The most significant advantage of home schooling is its ability of offering a stress free life to the parents. With home schooling, they can now concentrate only on the child’s advancement in the field of education rather than wondering about the bad influences on him.Home schooling also allows the parents to appoint teachers of their preference. Some parents also opt for teaching their children themselves. There are also educational services available, which operate via closed circuit televisions or internet.<br />
Home schooling is also a great option for parents with children having physical or cognitive disabilities. As this mode of schooling allows them to learn staying in a familiar environment, they can learn more quickly compared to what they would have done in a private or a public school.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Giving Yourself All the Good Things in This Life</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/giving-yourself-all-the-good-things-in-this-life.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/giving-yourself-all-the-good-things-in-this-life.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 Jul 2011 20:48:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Lesson Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Online Resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Student]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teacher]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.calteach.org/?p=251</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[People who have the ability to help someone learn a specific subject are teachers. These special people have what it takes to teach children and adults different things; however, teaching can be a stressful career. If you want to enjoy the good things in life, incorporate some of the following suggestions into your job. Be [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; display: block;">
<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Student_teacher_in_China.jpg"><img title="Student teacher in China teaching children Eng..." src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Student_teacher_in_China.jpg/300px-Student_teacher_in_China.jpg" alt="Student teacher in China teaching children Eng..." width="300" height="224" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Image via Wikipedia</p></div>
</div>
<p>People who have the ability to help someone learn a specific subject are teachers. These special people have what it takes to teach children and adults different things; however, teaching can be a stressful career. If you want to enjoy the good things in life, incorporate some of the following suggestions into your job.</p>
<p>Be a mentor. A <a href="http://www.whittierdailynews.com/sports/ci_18492675">mentor</a> takes teaching to a different level. Instead of just supplying information to students, you will actually be able to connect with them on a more intimate level. When you become a mentor, you&#8217;ll often stay in touch with your students long after they move to a different teacher. This will allow you to see how your work influenced students throughout their lives.</p>
<p>Continue your education through online courses. Most schools encourage continued education, and many will increase your pay for each new certification you add. Having a Master&#8217;s Degree in Education or in a specific topic can increase your pay several thousand dollars, depending on your school district.</p>
<p>Enjoy time off. Not all jobs allow you to take off every weekend and major holiday. When you <a href="http://www.independentmail.com/news/2011/jul/17/teacher-pay-raises-school-building-anderson-distri/">teach</a>, you&#8217;ll have time to enjoy whatever things you want to pursue. Start a hobby, travel during your breaks or volunteer for a cause you support.</p>
<p>Few careers are as rewarding as teaching. If you really want to be able to enjoy the good things in life, consider a career as a teacher. This will allow you the chance to enjoy life while helping future generations learn the skills they need to be successful in life.</p>
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		<title>Four Online Courses That Help The Disabled</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/four-online-courses-that-help-the-disabled.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/four-online-courses-that-help-the-disabled.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 05 Jul 2011 08:23:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Online Resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teaching Methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Disabled]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Internet Research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Online Courses]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.calteach.org/?p=249</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When you first hear that your child is disabled, no matter what the disability, you may feel that the world has come crashing down around you. Physical, emotional, sensory or mental disabilities can and will change every aspect of your life. By providing your disabled child with access to education geared towards their issue, you [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When you first hear that your child is disabled, no matter what the disability, you may feel that the world has come crashing down around you. Physical, emotional, sensory or mental disabilities can and will change every aspect of your life. By providing your disabled child with access to education geared towards their issue, you can help them overcome their disability. There are four great classes that can help prepare disabled children for the future and help them know the statement “earn my degree” will apply to them too.</p>
<ol>
<li>College Prep Online: Having disabled children take a      college prep course is the best way to say “yes” to “earn my degree”. The      online class will cover study skills, time management, and the difference      between high school and college.</li>
<li>Speed Reading: One of the biggest problems facing all      college age children is the sheer amount of reading material. Enroll your      child in an online <a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Learn-Speed-Reading">speed      reading</a> course to help them prepare.</li>
<li>Grammar: You want your child to have all the tools they      need, and a basic grammar class will help them be successful in every      class they take.</li>
<li>Internet Research: Internet research is becoming the      bedrock for research at the college level. When your problem child tells      you that he wants to &#8220;earn my degree&#8221; be sure to have them take      an <a href="http://firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/942/864">Internet      Research</a> course.</li>
</ol>
<p>You may also want to consider working with a teacher or counselor familiar with your child’s specific disability for other online course suggestions to better prepare them for the college world.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>Keeping Order in the Classroom</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/keeping-order-in-the-classroom.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/keeping-order-in-the-classroom.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:01:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teaching Methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Classroom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Student]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teacher]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.calteach.org/?p=241</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#160; Image by Getty Images via @daylife Keeping an orderly and functioning classroom is ideal, but not always realistic. This is especially true when you have disabled children in your class. If you are a teacher who struggles with discipline in your class, there is hope. You can have a classroom that fosters a positive [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div class="zemanta-img zemanta-action-dragged" style="margin: 1em; float: right; width: 99px;"><a href="http://www.daylife.com/image/0ca29ZI0oV4mO?utm_source=zemanta&amp;utm_medium=p&amp;utm_content=0ca29ZI0oV4mO&amp;utm_campaign=z1"><img style="border: medium none;" src="http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0ca29ZI0oV4mO/89x150.jpg" alt="BRISTOL, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 24:  Primar..." width="89" height="150" /></a></p>
<p class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="font-size: 0.8em;">Image by <a href="http://www.daylife.com/source/Getty_Images">Getty Images</a> via <a href="http://www.daylife.com">@daylife</a></p>
</div>
<p>Keeping an orderly and functioning classroom is ideal, but not always realistic. This is especially true when you have disabled children in your class. If you are a teacher who struggles with discipline in your class, there is hope. You can have a classroom that fosters a positive learning environment, without sacrificing your sanity. Take a look at the tips below for keeping order in your classroom.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>1.       Find focus. It’s important to keep everyone in your classroom focused. Get the entire class’s <a href="http://k6educators.about.com/cs/classroommanageme3/a/attentiongetter.htm" target="_blank">attention </a>before you begin your lesson. Make sure everyone knows it’s time to start learning and that you are now teaching. If students start to chat or get disruptive, don’t attempt to teach over them. Re-focus and begin again.</p>
<p>2.       Monitor the classroom. When students are working on assignments, be sure to monitor the classroom and make sure all the students are working as they should. You simply get up from your desk and walk around the room to check on the students. Make sure they are each working on their assignment and are doing as instructed. You’ll want to start monitoring 2-3 minutes after work time begins.</p>
<p>3.       Personalize your classroom. As odd as this may sound, personalizing your classroom will help students to focus. Young students like to know about their teacher – her personal interests and hobbies. Display a few of your personal items around the classroom, like a family picture on your desk or a collection you have. This will help the students to get to know you better and will help them to feel more comfortable realizing you are in control.</p>
<p>It is possible to have an orderly classroom. Are you ready?</p>
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		<title>Planning the Financial Future of Disabled Children</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/planning-the-financial-future-of-disabled-children.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/planning-the-financial-future-of-disabled-children.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 May 2011 09:54:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Special Needs Children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Medicaid]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Medicare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parent]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.calteach.org/?p=239</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#160; Image by pynomoscato via Flickr Right from birth parents are planning for the financial future of the child.They will begin deciding who will be the guardian of the child if necessary and that the child&#8217;s financial needs are met. With these decisions come the necessity of writing out a will. For a parent that [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; width: 74px; display: block; float: right;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/86989558@N00/5722609171/"><img style="display: block;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5297/5722609171_1dd9f141fb_m.jpg" alt="aleard" /></a>&nbsp;</p>
<p class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="font-size: 0.8em;">Image by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/86989558@N00/5722609171/">pynomoscato</a> via Flickr</p>
</div>
<p>Right from birth parents are planning for the financial future of the child.They will begin deciding who will be the guardian of the child if necessary and that the child&#8217;s financial needs are met. With these decisions come the necessity of writing out a will. For a parent that has a disabled child has a greater responsible in planning the future of their child because they may need to take into consideration the need for the childs physical health.</p>
<p>Some parents where found in a study to not know where to seek the advice needed for their planning. They were asking their child&#8217;s doctor for not only medical advice but financial too. <a href="http://www.dcrf.com/ordereze/default.aspx">Medical</a> advice is best sought after by the child&#8217;s doctor but the financial advice should be gotten by a financial planner or Certified Public Accountant. They will be able to advise a plan that will help the parents be able to create a foundation that is solid.</p>
<p>A  <a href="ftp://ftp.iza.org/RePEc/Discussionpaper/dp757.pdf">health</a> care coverage plan that is adequate in meeting the child&#8217;s needs should be considered.This is important to have especially if the child has a physical impairment. In some cases Medicare or Medicaid may be helpful in providing coverage.It would also be good to obtain proper insurance coverage on any adults that are in the household.Any loss could take a devasting effect on the family&#8217;s condition whether it is emotional or physical. It can also be a economical loss to the family. A lawyer can also help in setting up a special needs trust fund to provide <a href="http://www.amfdc.org/">income</a> for a child&#8217;s future.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>Pros and Cons of Taking Teaching Courses Online</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/pros-and-cons-of-taking-teaching-courses-online.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/pros-and-cons-of-taking-teaching-courses-online.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 27 Mar 2011 14:51:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Online Resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[E-learning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Learning]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=146</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A lot of educational systems have surfaced online. Among the schools include earnmydegree.com, a web-based school that offers convenience, quick learning and even flexible financial options. But are these schools worth it? There are pros and cons to taking courses online for a teaching degree. When considering this option you may want to sit down [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A lot of educational systems have surfaced online. Among the schools include <a href="http://www.earnmydegree.com/" target="_blank">earnmydegree.com</a>, a web-based school that offers convenience, quick learning and even flexible financial options. But are these schools worth it?</p>
<p>There are pros and cons to taking courses online for a teaching degree. When considering this option you may want to sit down and really go over the pros and cons before making your decision. Although the particular pros and cons of this decision will be individualized to your specific situation, there are a few obvious ones we can look at together.</p>
<p>Pros: Taking courses online towards your teaching degree allows you the flexibility and convenience to continue working elsewhere while you are in school. You are able to take the time you personally need to complete assignments without interruption or lengthy lectures. You are able to learn at the pace and in the way that is best suited to your learning style. Although some people learn better audibly and need to be in a physical classroom with verbal instruction, others learn best in a quiet atmosphere where they can read, research, and absorb the information themselves without outside interference.</p>
<p>Cons: Taking courses online can be a lonely way to learn. Some people much prefer a brick-and-mortar school for their instruction which allows them the personal interaction with others. Learning in a traditional classroom allows for classroom discussions, instructor interaction and immediate responses to questions. In an online classroom you are not always able to interact with others at the time you are online and therefore may have to wait for answers to questions. Although most online schools offer chat rooms there may not always be good interaction between other students or instructors, therefore leaving you without a social network to help you through your schoolwork on your own. If you are more of a hands-on learner you may find you have difficulty learning by yourself online and that you need the learning experience of a traditional classroom. Some people just learn better when they are able to physically be in the presence of the instructor and have the information verbally presented to them.</p>
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		<title>Advice on Lesson Plans for Learning Disabled Children</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/advice-on-lesson-plans-for-learning-disabled-children.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/advice-on-lesson-plans-for-learning-disabled-children.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 21 Mar 2011 07:31:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lesson Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Learning disability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lesson plan]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=215</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Teaching learning disabled children can be challenging. No matter what you do, it seems that they do not catch on. Some teachers and professionals get so fed up with them that they refer to these children as stupid. This is unfair because these children are not stupid. They learn in their own way, and it [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Teaching learning disabled children can be challenging. No matter what you do, it seems that they do not catch on. Some teachers and professionals get so fed up with them that they refer to these children as stupid. This is unfair because these children are not stupid. They learn in their own way, and it is up to the teacher to make sure they learn what they need to learn to develop. If you are a teacher of learning disabled children, you will find the advice concerning lesson plans for learning disabled children to be quite helpful.</p>
<p>1. Hands On Lessons. Make as much of your lesson plans as hands on as possible. Learning disabled children learn very well when their lessons are hands on because they are actually living what they are learning. They are involved, interested, and having fun. Not to mention, hands on learning is much better for a learning disabled child than textbooks because reading is difficult to grasp.</p>
<p>2. Include Visual and Tactile. Many learning disabled children are visual and tactile learners. It is essential that you make the lessons as visual and tactile as possible.</p>
<p>3. Make Learning A Game. Learning through play is one of the best ways to help learning disabled children learn the things that they need to know. Through playing games, learning disabled children can learn to do math, read, and apply life skills.</p>
<p>When you apply the above advice when making lesson plans for the learning disabled children in your class, you will make learning more enjoyable for them. You will play a major role in their lives, as you will show that there is a love for learning and that can learn also.</p>
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		<title>How Teachers Can Motivate Learning Disabled Children</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/how-teachers-can-motivate-learning-disabled-children.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/how-teachers-can-motivate-learning-disabled-children.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 20 Mar 2011 07:31:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Special Needs Children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Child]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Disability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Learning disability]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=214</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Many teachers do not want to deal with children who are learning disabled. Teachers who feel like this feel that learning disabled children are a huge burden. These teachers feel that such children slow down the class and cause the learning environment to be unpleasant for children who are on a normal level or who [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Many teachers do not want to deal with children who are learning disabled. Teachers who feel like this feel that learning disabled children are a huge burden. These teachers feel that such children slow down the class and cause the learning environment to be unpleasant for children who are on a normal level or who are accelerating. What these teachers fail to realize is that learning disabled children have feelings like everyone else, and they also have a desire to learn, though, they may not learn in the conventional way. Should you have learning disabled children in your classroom, you will need to follow the below advice to keep these children motivated.</p>
<p>When the learning disabled children in your classroom make any sort of achievement, give them a lot of praise. Tell them how awesome that it is that they have done so well and that you are proud of their accomplishments. You will be amazed at how much praise will help them.</p>
<p>Be supportive of the learning disabled students in your class. Tell them that you are there for them whenever they need help. When you’re learning disabled students know that thy have a good support network, they will be more willing to try new things and will not be afraid to learn.</p>
<p>Finally, be patient. Learning disabled students need a whole lot of patience. When you are patient and calm, they will not feel as intimidated about trying to tackle the challenges of learning compared to if you do not exercise patience with them.</p>
<p>When you implement this advice concerning learning disabled children, you will be a teacher who changes lives. Such children remember teachers like these forever.</p>
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		<title>How Teachers Can Help Problem Children</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/how-teachers-can-help-problem-children.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/how-teachers-can-help-problem-children.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 17 Mar 2011 07:31:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teaching Methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Classroom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Learning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teacher]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=213</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Most teachers cringe when they know that they will have problem children in their classrooms. They have bad feelings towards these children, and they do not want to deal with them. Few teachers have any sort of compassion for these children because they would rather not deal with them at all. When some teachers find [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Most teachers cringe when they know that they will have problem children in their classrooms. They have bad feelings towards these children, and they do not want to deal with them. Few teachers have any sort of compassion for these children because they would rather not deal with them at all. When some teachers find out that they have these children in their classes, they immediately push to have them removed and placed elsewhere. If you are a teacher who wants to be different than the other teachers and help those problem children in your classroom, you will find the tips to be of help to you.</p>
<p>1. Learn All You Can. when dealing and working with problem children, it is essential that you get to know all that you can about them. The ore that you learn about these children, the better you will be able to help them. For instance, when you learn about what causes them to act out and be disruptive, you can eliminate those in their environment, which will enable them to remain calm and focused.</p>
<p>2. Get to Know How They Learn. When you are working with problem children, it is important that you get to know how they learn. When you get acquainted with their learning style, you will be able to play lessons around how they learn and will be able to help them to learn and grow. For instance, if you find that the children that you are working with are tactile learners, then you will want to focus your lesson plans around things that they can touch. If the children are visual learners, then your lessons will need to consist of things that are visual.</p>
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		<title>Helping Problem Children</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/helping-problem-children.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/helping-problem-children.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 10 Mar 2011 07:31:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Special Needs Children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Child]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=212</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Sadly, many people would prefer not to help problem children. They feel that problem children are a burden, and these children would be better off if they were locked up and the key thrown away. These narrow minded individuals do not understand that there are reasons why children are problem children, and these children deserve [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Sadly, many people would prefer not to help problem children. They feel that problem children are a burden, and these children would be better off if they were locked up and the key thrown away. These narrow minded individuals do not understand that there are reasons why children are problem children, and these children deserve a chance. If you are one who has compassion for problem children and want to help enrich their lives, check out the below tips.</p>
<p>When working with problem children, it is essential that you remain calm. Many people scream and shout at these children because they feel like they are trash and do not deserve to be talked to with dignity. Also, people feel that these problem children will not listen any other way, except for when they are yelled at. But what people do not understand is that when these children are handled in this way, they will become even more resistant. These children will also tune out the adults that are treating them this way.</p>
<p>You also need to get to know the problem children that you are working with. Find out what motivates them, as well as their likes, dislikes, strengths, and weaknesses. When you get to know all of these things, you can better help them. If you are a teacher, you can plan lessons based on this knowledge. If you are a parent or caregiver, you can use this knowledge to help these children grow.</p>
<p>Finally, give these problem children a chance to shine. You can do this by planning events or putting them in situations where they will be able to take control and feel good about it. In doing this, you will help these children to feel more confident, thus they will not feel the need to act out, be disruptive, and cause trouble.</p>
<p>Problem children may seem hopeless.</p>
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		<title>Helping Disabled Children to Succeed</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/helping-disabled-children-to-succeed.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/helping-disabled-children-to-succeed.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 Mar 2011 07:32:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Child]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Disability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parent]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=216</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Disabled children, like their counterparts, want to be loved and accepted. They want to have friends. Most of all, they want to succeed. If you are the parent or caregiver of a disabled child and you are not sure how to help him, it is vital for you to consider the tips provided here. 1. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Disabled children, like their counterparts, want to be loved and accepted. They want to have friends. Most of all, they want to succeed. If you are the parent or caregiver of a disabled child and you are not sure how to help him, it is vital for you to consider the tips provided here.</p>
<p>1. Include the Child As Much As Possible. When you are socializing, going to family events, or just doing things in the community, include the child as much as you can. Do not shun him off as if he were something to be ashamed of. Certainly, he is less than perfect, but he is your child and one who is worthy of your love. He is also a blessing because life in itself is a blessing. When you include disabled children, they will learn the necessary social skills for survival, and they will enjoy enriching interaction.</p>
<p>2. Teach the Child As Much As Possible. Just because a child is disabled, this does not mean that he is incapable of learning. Disabled children can learn quite a bit. Teach your disabled child everything that he can learn. If there are skills that he cannot grasp, that is perfectly fine. Don&#8217;t push them on him. If he is learning, then keep on going. Teach the child everything that he wants to know and that he is capable of learning. The goal is to get the child to grow and develop to his full potential.</p>
<p>3. Treat the Child As Normally As Possible. You may be tempted to baby your child; however, if he can be treated normally, then do so. Treat him according to his mental age. For instance, if the child is mentally on the level of a 3 year old but is 12, and then treats him as such. But if the child is simply disabled but can conduct himself.</p>
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		<title>Lesson Plans Adaptations for Blind Children</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/lesson-plans-adaptations-for-blind-children.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/lesson-plans-adaptations-for-blind-children.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 Mar 2011 07:32:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lesson Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Braille]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lesson plan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teacher]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=217</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Many teachers do not know how to teach blind children at all. As a matter of fact, when teachers get a blind child in their classroom, they become disconcerted and afraid. Some teachers will refuse to teach these children altogether. Blind children are not hard to teach. All that needs to be done is that [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Many teachers do not know how to teach blind children at all. As a matter of fact, when teachers get a blind child in their classroom, they become disconcerted and afraid. Some teachers will refuse to teach these children altogether. Blind children are not hard to teach. All that needs to be done is that the lesson plans need to be modified, so they are able to learn and process the material.</p>
<p>One way that modifications can be made to the lesson plans for blind children are that tactile can be included with the lessons. Are their pictures and graphs that are essential for learning the material? Providing tactile drawings will enable the blind child to feel what they need to learn.</p>
<p>Another modification to the lesson plans that can be made for blind children is that lessons can be made hands on. Blind children can learn via lectures and notes like any other child, but when lessons are hands on, they will grasp the material better.</p>
<p>Finally, you must insure that materials are provided in a format that the blind child can read. Blind children read Braille, and some use audio books. Electronic format is also preferred because blind children can read the materials on their computers.</p>
<p>When you follow these recommendations, you will find that it is not difficult at all to make the lesson plans accessible for blind children. In addition, you will not have to fear these blind children as if they are a serious threat. Blind children, like other children, are eager to learn and take on challenges. As their teacher, you can make it happen for them. Help these children reach their full potential.</p>
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		<title>Disabled Children In A Classroom</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/disabled-children-in-a-classroom.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/disabled-children-in-a-classroom.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 Feb 2011 13:02:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teaching Methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Classroom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Least Restrictive Environment]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=192</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Many times a class will have a disabled child in the classroom. There are things that a teacher can do to help aid this child or these children so that they can have healthy access to their learning environment. This is especially important if there are children in the classroom that are in wheelchair bound, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Many times a class will have a disabled child in the classroom. There are things that a teacher can do to help aid this child or these children so that they can have healthy access to their learning environment. This is especially important if there are children in the classroom that are in wheelchair bound, or require walking aids. Most of these children have aids that helps them with their things, but part of the IDEA, Individuals with Disabilities Act, is that students are to have the least restrictive environment possible. This means accommodating students so that they can be part of a mainstream classroom, and not feel like a disadvantaged student. For teachers this means that a complete rearrangement of the classroom desks and chairs to make room more accessible for these types of students. This also means that the student or students will need to be able to access reading materials and supplies. The best rule of thumb is to clear a pathway for a student about the width of a chair all the way around the room. Then you will know that your student will be able to have full mobility of their learning center.</p>
<p>These changes may be required by their IEP, Individual Education Plan, development program. When the school comes to together to formulate a plan to help a particular student there could be accommodations that are recommended that might seem odd, but are necessary for the optimal development of a child. For instance an IEP may require that teachers amplify their voices with microphones for hearing impairments, or create a new flow for the room for wheelchairs. Based on the law of IDEA, it is imperative that all the changes be made so that students can learn in the best possible situation.</p>
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		<title>How To Use Lesson Plans</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/how-to-use-lesson-plans.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/how-to-use-lesson-plans.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Feb 2011 13:02:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lesson Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lesson plan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teacher]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=191</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Every teacher has lesson plans, but it is a matter of how a teacher uses them that will determine if they will be effective or not. All school districts require formal lesson plans, and there is a prescribed way in which to handle them. They need to include the formal state and federal standards, as [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Every teacher has lesson plans, but it is a matter of how a teacher uses them that will determine if they will be effective or not. All school districts require formal lesson plans, and there is a prescribed way in which to handle them. They need to include the formal state and federal standards, as well as a list of strategies, materials, and time frame in which the lesson segments will be completed. For most teachers however, these plans are simply a formality, and not the actual framework that is used in class to keep thing moving on track. Many teachers make a secondary abridged set that will help them with their tasks, and they usually only include the absolute necessary details. For instance, the rules to a game, supplies, who the helpers will be, and how to arrange the room. This is the day to day reminders that teachers depend on until they are able to formulate a routine through years of experience.</p>
<p>These plans can be produced on a computer program that allows teachers to produce these note type lessons in bulk. This way they do not have to spend additional time creating personalized lesson plans. This also means that if there is an emergency, substitutes can have a formal set of plans, and an informal to help guide them throughout the day. For many substitutes, the informal plans are what is most handy as it provides a nice casual guideline on how to handle the day and all of the events in the day. For many teachers, the formal plans are more of a time consuming task, and many of them do not stick to plan. Classrooms are always changing, and teachers need to be sensitive to that change. The informal plans are easily changed to accommodate, and therefore are more beneficial for many educators.</p>
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		<title>Learning Styles</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/learning-styles.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/learning-styles.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 10 Feb 2011 13:02:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teaching Methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Learning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Learning styles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Student]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=190</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are different learning styles for students, and teachers can use different methods in order to work with all of them. The three key styles include audio, which is when students thrive with listening to material. Visual is the second type of learning style that means that students do well with viewing and seeing new [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There are different learning styles for students, and teachers can use different methods in order to work with all of them. The three key styles include audio, which is when students thrive with listening to material. Visual is the second type of learning style that means that students do well with viewing and seeing new information. There is usually a combination with most students in that they are Audio-Visual learners, or vice versa with the first mentioned being the dominant learning style. The third learning style is the most difficult for teacher to handle, and that is the Kinesthetic learner. There are so many ways to help this type of student. You will know when you have a Kinesthetic learner as they are the ones in class that cannot seem to sit still, they are fidgety, making noise, chewing, or constantly doodling. These student make up about three percent of all classrooms, yet seem to cause about 90 percent of the commotion.</p>
<p>Teachers can do many things to help create a conducive environment for every learning style. For audio and visual types, and all of their combinations, teachers can present material in a verbal and written form. This means showing a presentation, then restating what the presentation just stated. This helps to solidify the learning occurring with the students. For the Kinesthetic learners, there are some tricks that you can use so that they are able to maintain focus in class. For instance, having that particular student or students move to a new corner of the room every five minutes. Give them a shoelace to play with or chew on. This is a quiet way for them to manipulate something, and it will not drive the rest of the class nuts. Try placing marbles under their fee and telling them to balance the marbles. You will be shocked by the results ofstudy habits, and test scores by keeping your Kinesthetic learners entertained.</p>
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		<title>How To Handle Problem Students</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/how-to-handle-problem-students.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/how-to-handle-problem-students.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 Feb 2011 13:02:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lesson Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Behavior]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Student]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=189</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Problem students are a teachers number one frustration. If handled correctly these students can become some of the best students and most endearing out of all the students that come through your class. One of the biggest reasons, aside from having special needs, for students to exhibit problematic behaviors is because they are having a [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Problem students are a teachers number one frustration. If handled correctly these students can become some of the best students and most endearing out of all the students that come through your class. One of the biggest reasons, aside from having special needs, for students to exhibit problematic behaviors is because they are having a hard time at home, or with other relationships with their peers at school. This can be a difficult thing to overcome, and many teachers make the mistake of trying to befriend the student in order to get their cooperation in the classroom. Befriending is essentially telling the student that you are equal to him or her, so when you try to exercise your authority in the classroom it can backfire and create a bigger issue than the initial problems.</p>
<p>Having respectful control of the situation is the best solution. Students needs to see that you are in control, that you are consistent, and that you care. This can be quite a challenge as you are truly walking a fine line of friendly and parental. The best way to go about this is by developing communication rules. This will allow you to speak without argument from the child. Red card Greed card is great for this exercise. When the red card is up you are allowed to speak, and no one else. When the green card is up you are to listen to the student. The other philosophy that works well with these types of students is the five positives for every one negative. Chances are that this particular student in question does not hear very much praise, and this could make a big difference. The process for this approach is to start off with saying five positive things that the child has done correctly or is doing right, then address the behavior, if need be follow up with the five things. This will help the student realize that you are not attacking him or her, and can create a nice situation in which to deal with the behavior.</p>
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		<title>Special Education Teachers</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/special-education-teachers.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/special-education-teachers.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 Feb 2011 13:02:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lesson Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Special education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Special needs]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=188</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Special Education teachers are required to have a lot of education and knowledge before working with students that have special needs. The reason for this is because it is absolutely imperative that they be masters at their craft in order to truly provide help for their students. Many of these teacher have not one, but [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Special Education teachers are required to have a lot of education and knowledge before working with students that have special needs. The reason for this is because it is absolutely imperative that they be masters at their craft in order to truly provide help for their students. Many of these teacher have not one, but two Bachelors degrees, and many have multiple higher education certifications, as well as graduate work. Couple that with the integration of new technology, research, and situations that students present, and you can realize how stressful being a special education teacher can be. As far as working with students with special needs, this is an art all its own. After a teacher has prepared, learned, and researched all the right materials, the time to present is the key. Presentation of material, and handling students with disabilities can be a daunting task. In fact, the burn out rate for many of these specialized teachers is not due to the educational requirements, rather due to the students behaviors and the stress of maintaining an organized and conducive classroom. This is one reason why the inclusion model has been so successful, as it is takes the primary burden off of the special education teacher, and allows students to enjoy a mainstream environment.</p>
<p>The other aspect to teaching special education is the legal issues that surround students with special needs. These students are protected under law that all their information is to be kept secret. This is for the safety and protection of the student, but it creates a challenge when there are those involved in the situation who are not eligible to be informed, but it would be of a great benefit to be so. This is a tough struggle for many as they are bound by law to protect the students privacy. It is only when the child either creates a situation, or is involved in a situation where knowing his or her information become vital.</p>
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		<title>Lesson Plans</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/lesson-plans-2.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/lesson-plans-2.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 01 Feb 2011 13:02:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lesson Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lesson plan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Student]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teacher]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=187</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Lesson plans are more than notes for teachers. It used to be that lesson plans were almost a script of what teachers would say during a class period, and they came in the form of notes on lined paper, or even scratch paper. Today, school districts are responsible for presenting formal lesson plans to the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Lesson plans are more than notes for teachers. It used to be that lesson plans were almost a script of what teachers would say during a class period, and they came in the form of notes on lined paper, or even scratch paper. Today, school districts are responsible for presenting formal lesson plans to the state board of education, and there is little room for negotiation. In fact, teachers are required to provide lesson plans up to two weeks in advance, and they are required to provide alternate plans if there is any deviation. Teacher tend to have a mold that they follow for these plans, and all teachers deviate from them because students could have needs that arise during a lesson that requires a change of pace, technique, or strategy.</p>
<p>Lesson plans have to incorporate a lot of material in order to qualify as formal planning. This means that they must list the strategy or philosophy used for a particular lesson. That would include Piaget, Vygotsky, Bloom&#8217;s Taxonomy, and so on. They must also include materials used, materials needed, the state and federal standards, and all must be broken down into time limits. The lesson plan must be a complete framework for a lesson and must be feasibly completed within a class period. This might sound like a lot of work, and it is. In fact, most teachers say that lesson planning is the most time consuming part of their job. For most teachers the lesson plan is almost a secondary reference for them, as they are well versed on the materials, and are fully competent on the needs of their class. The formality with the lesson plans came about when many teachers did not have any, their students were not successful on standardized testing, and many thought that to be a startling correlation. Today, every teacher preparation program includes a significant segment on how to prepare lesson plans.</p>
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		<title>Having Fun In Class</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/having-fun-in-class.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/having-fun-in-class.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 30 Jan 2011 14:51:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teaching Methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jeopardy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Student]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=148</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It is commonly know that high school students really don’t want to be in school. What can you do as a teacher to make it more enjoyable? You can help brighten their day by making the class more fun. Have the students get up and walk around. You can do this by creating a lab [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It is commonly know that high school students really don’t want to be in school. What can you do as a teacher to make it more enjoyable? You can help brighten their day by making the class more fun.</p>
<p>Have the students get up and walk around. You can do this by creating a lab or other simple activities such as this. If at all possible, try to get them outside. Students sit in the classroom all day. If you can help by getting them moving and outside, they may appreciate this more than reading from a textbook.</p>
<p>Go outside to teach. This is more recommended for a small class. When it is warm outside, have your students take their textbooks and notebooks outside and sit in the grass if the school will allow it. Just being outside in the sun will help make the class more fun. Your students will appreciate the change and the chance to stretch their legs out in the grass and to get out of the classroom.</p>
<p>Play games. There are plenty of games you can play that are educational. For example, if you are a geography teacher, arrange teams and play Seterra, which is a geography game on the computer that tests your ability to locate states and countries.<em> Jeopardy</em> is always a good review game and can be played in any class. There are plenty of other educational games that you can find.</p>
<p>Do group activities. Your students will appreciate working with other students in class rather than working by themselves. You don’t have to let them choose their groups either, just as long as they get someone else to socialize with.</p>
<p>These are simple suggestions, and not for every day activities. Try to incorporate something fun into a lesson every once in a while. Your students need to get up and move around and interact with other students rather than sitting at a desk all day.</p>
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		<title>Becoming Organized</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/becoming-organized.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/becoming-organized.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 29 Jan 2011 14:51:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teaching Methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homework]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Student]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=147</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There is plenty that you can do to become a better teacher. You can learn how to best teach your student and how to effectively convey a point. A very important aspect of a good teacher is organization. How do you become better organized as a teacher? If you are a high school teacher, you [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There is plenty that you can do to become a better teacher. You can learn how to best teach your student and how to effectively convey a point. A very important aspect of a good teacher is organization. How do you become better organized as a teacher?</p>
<p>If you are a high school teacher, you can create folders for each class. This way you don’t mix different classes work together. Have them hand in their work in separate baskets, or when you receive their homework, immediately put it away from other papers. You don’t want to lose students assignments. You may want to try having more than one folder for each class, also. For example, have one folder for homework assignments and one for tests so that you can grade by priority.</p>
<p>Organize your time wisely so that you can efficiently grade homework and quizzes. Students don’t want to wait until report cards come out to see their scores on their work. Try to get their work back as quickly as possible. It is easy to sit at your desk and grade papers while they’re taking a test. Grade papers from the longest time ago to the most recently handed in.</p>
<p>Have a solid grading scale for everything. You don’t want to confuse yourself. Most schools have a universal grading scale, but some schools let teachers decide on their own grading scale. Know the grading scale you use so that you don’t confuse yourself when grading papers.</p>
<p>Hand out homework assignments in order. You don’t want to confuse the students by giving them things they haven’t learned or going backwards. Make sure the assignments line up with what you’re doing in class and that you aren’t randomly throwing out a page number.</p>
<p>There is plenty you can do to become organized. The more organized you are, the easier it is to teach, grade papers, and hand assignments back to the students.</p>
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		<title>Why Teachers Should Continue Their Education</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/why-teachers-should-continue-their-education.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/why-teachers-should-continue-their-education.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:51:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teacher]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=145</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[What benefit does going back to school do for you as a teacher? How will it improve your teaching? There are several reasons to go back to school. First off by working on obtaining a higher teaching degree you are opening yourself up for greater teaching opportunities. You may find that going back to school [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>What benefit does going back to school do for you as a teacher? How will it improve your teaching? There are several reasons to go back to school. First off by working on obtaining a higher teaching degree you are opening yourself up for greater teaching opportunities. You may find that going back to school gives you a fresh perspective on teaching and renew your interest or increase the desire you already have to teach. Even just taking a course here and there can give you the boost you need to continue on the path you are already on.</p>
<p>Teachers with higher degrees are offered higher paying positions or positions in schools that may be more difficult to get positions in. You may find that you have a school that you would really like to work in but you do not have the experience or degree level that they require. The sooner you work on obtaining a higher teaching degree the more marketable you will be when the right opportunity presents itself.</p>
<p>The more education you receive the better prepared you are to teach others. Maybe you find that you are not as educated in one subject area that you would like to be. Go back to school and take some courses in that particular subject to become more familiar with it and therefore increase your confidence in teaching it to others.</p>
<p>Even if none of the scenarios above are your motivation for going back to school, consider this&#8230; the only thing you take with you when you leave this life is your knowledge. Furthering your education will never hurt you, it will only help you and increase your overall knowledge. We all know that knowledge is a good thing. If you didn&#8217;t agree with this statement you wouldn&#8217;t be a teacher!</p>
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		<title>Teaching Children With ADD/ADHD</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/teaching-children-with-addadhd.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/teaching-children-with-addadhd.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:51:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Special Needs Children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teaching Methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Child]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=144</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Children with attention-deficit disorder (ADD) or attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be especially difficult to handle in the classroom and can be a challenge to teach. There are ways to accomplish this, though, without too much disruption to the rest of your classroom. Children with ADD/ADHD need to be challenged and reminded to stay on task. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Children with attention-deficit disorder (ADD) or attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be especially difficult to handle in the classroom and can be a challenge to teach. There are ways to accomplish this, though, without too much disruption to the rest of your classroom. Children with ADD/ADHD need to be challenged and reminded to stay on task.</p>
<p>Most likely you will have several children in your classroom with these disorders, and therefore you should be planning your lessons and activities with this mind. Lengthy lectures or long speeches are difficult for most students to stay focused on but can be absolutely impossible for a child with ADD/ADHD to stay focused. Keeping your lessons simple and to the point, adding fun activities and hands-on learning opportunities whenever possible are excellent ways to keep a child with ADD/ADHD focused and interested in what you are teaching without disrupting the rest of the class.</p>
<p>When planning your lessons and activities keep in mind that children with ADD/ADHD have a very difficult time sitting through movies and may not be able to focus long enough for activities such as this, which may cause them to become fidgety and disruptive at some point. If you feel that the benefit of the class as a whole is to have activities such as this, you need to keep in mind that the children with ADD/ADHD may need to either find an alternate activity for these children or give them other activities such as a worksheet, crossword puzzle, or other quiet activity to do during the movie that allows them to change focus without disrupting the rest of the class.</p>
<p>Changing activities frequently to keep things moving along in the classroom will also help in keeping all of the children&#8217;s attention and focus in your classroom. By making a few simple changes in your teaching techniques to accommodate children with ADD/ADHD can benefit not only these children but your class as a whole.</p>
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		<title>Classifying Disabilities in Children</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/classifying-disabilities-in-children.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/classifying-disabilities-in-children.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 23 Jan 2011 14:51:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Special Needs Children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teaching Methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Child]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Learning disability]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=143</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The term &#8220;disability&#8221; can refer to many differing levels of impairment in children. Not all children who are labeled disabled are truly disabled to the point of needing one-on-one teaching. Some children simply need some additional help or some individualized instruction in how to help themselves. Children with some learning disabilities have no difficulties in [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The term &#8220;disability&#8221; can refer to many differing levels of impairment in children. Not all children who are labeled disabled are truly disabled to the point of needing one-on-one teaching. Some children simply need some additional help or some individualized instruction in how to help themselves.</p>
<p>Children with some learning disabilities have no difficulties in other areas and function well otherwise. Some of the learning disabilities that can affect children would be dyslexia, dyspraxia or developmental verbal apraxia, or attention-deficit disorder (ADD) or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).</p>
<p>A dyslexic child has difficulty with letter placement and recognition. Dyslexia is actually a very broad term used to describe someone with a learning disability that causes them to have a delay in reading, writing, and spelling ability. Those with dyslexia will not necessarily have difficulty with comprehension because reading skills and cognitive skills develop separately in dyslexic individuals.</p>
<p>Dyspraxia or developmental verbal apraxia is a speech impairment that causes a dysfunction in the ability to form speech correctly. Dyspraxia is a specific learning disorder that does not affect overall learning ability or functioning. Too often those with dyspraxia are assumed to have lower intelligence, which is not the case. Children will dyspraxia will need speech therapy to help them learn to form words correctly.</p>
<p>The most common disorder seen in children today is ADD or ADHD. Attention-deficit disorder (ADD) is usually characterized by serious and ongoing issues with reduced attention span, very poor impulse control, and in the case of ADHD extreme hyperactivity. There are differing levels of ADD and ADHD. Some children have only mild levels of inattention while others have extreme learning difficulties as a result.</p>
<p>Once you understand the disabilities the children you are teaching are faced with, you can better understand their specific needs. Understanding the specific needs of each child can better assist you in teaching them effectively.</p>
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		<title>Teaching Disabled Children</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/teaching-disabled-children.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/teaching-disabled-children.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 22 Jan 2011 14:51:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Special Needs Children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Learning disability]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=142</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Teaching disabled children involves a whole new perspective and a different set of teaching skills, plans, and ideas than teaching in the mainstream classroom. The Special Education program is set up specifically to teach disabled children in a way that will benefit the child and allow them to learn and grow. There are many differing [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Teaching disabled children involves a whole new perspective and a different set of teaching skills, plans, and ideas than teaching in the mainstream classroom. The Special Education program is set up specifically to teach disabled children in a way that will benefit the child and allow them to learn and grow. There are many differing degrees of disabilities in children that will change how each child is taught on an individual basis. Teaching a child with disabilities is a very individual process. Most children with disabilities need very individualized attention to keep them on task and to be able to teach them on their specific level of learning ability.</p>
<p>There are special schools specifically for disabled children, but more often than not most disabled children are being taught in public schools. Although, the severely disabled many times do go to a specialized school. When we are talking about children with disabilities this can refer to many different levels of learning disabilities. Some children just have a mild learning impairment but are still highly functional otherwise, whereas other children have severe learning disabilities as well as physical disabilities. Children with severe learning disabilities are usually learning at about half the rate of peers their same age. Although they do need more individualized attention with very specific guidelines set in place for them they most often can and do attend mainstream schools.</p>
<p>Children with profound learning disabilities as well as physical, emotional, and cognitive disabilities usually display these tendencies at birth or soon after. These children need to have special provisions provided for them to be able to be taught efficiently and will most likely attend specialized schools for the disabled.</p>
<p>Children with audio or visual impairments may not have any other learning disabilities other than the limits placed on them by their limited hearing or eyesight. Because of these limits, though, these children will still need individualized teaching and attention to help them attain their potential.</p>
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		<title>Being Taught While Teaching</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/being-taught-while-teaching.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/being-taught-while-teaching.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 21 Jan 2011 17:35:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lesson Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Online Resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Educators]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Employment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General Certificate of Secondary Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[K through 12]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michael Gove]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teacher]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=69</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Image via Wikipedia If you&#8217;re a teacher, you probably already have a degree. That doesn&#8217;t mean that you don&#8217;t want to continue your education, though, because having more education can help you get better jobs, raises, and promotions. It can also just give you more self-confidence, so there are all kinds of reasons you should [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; display: block;">
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<dl class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Classroom_at_a_seconday_school_in_Pendembu_Sierra_Leone.jpg"><img title="A class in a newly rebuilt secondary school in..." src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/Classroom_at_a_seconday_school_in_Pendembu_Sierra_Leone.jpg/300px-Classroom_at_a_seconday_school_in_Pendembu_Sierra_Leone.jpg" alt="A class in a newly rebuilt secondary school in..." width="300" height="196" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd zemanta-img-attribution" style="font-size: 0.8em;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Classroom_at_a_seconday_school_in_Pendembu_Sierra_Leone.jpg">Wikipedia</a></dd>
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<p>If you&#8217;re a teacher, you probably already have a degree. That doesn&#8217;t mean that you don&#8217;t want to continue your education, though, because having more education can help you get better jobs, <a href="http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2011/01/11/top-careers-pay-better-in-2011/">raises</a>, and promotions. It can also just give you more self-confidence, so there are all kinds of reasons you should be interested in getting more education. You don&#8217;t have to stop teaching to go back to school, either, because there are online schools you can attend. If you teach during the day and go to school at night and/or on the weekends, you&#8217;ll be able to get more education without taking time away from doing what you love.</p>
<p>If you get a more specialized degree and increase your skills, not only will you see better promotional chances but you&#8217;ll be a better teacher, and that will help out your students. Whether you&#8217;re teaching kindergarteners or college students &#8211; or anything in between &#8211; there are still plenty of opportunities to see promotion. You want to find the right school, though, and you should check out several before you make a decision. If you visit a site like elearners.com, you&#8217;ll have the opportunity to find out about many schools so you can make the right choice for yourself.</p>
<p>An online service like that is easy and convenient, and it doesn&#8217;t cost you a lot of money or time. That&#8217;s good news for someone who&#8217;s already busy &#8211; and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teacher">teachers</a> typically don&#8217;t make a lot of money to throw around. There are all kinds of great reasons to work as a teacher, though, so don&#8217;t assume that you shouldn&#8217;t pursue it and take it to its fullest potential by getting more education. You&#8217;ll enjoy your work more, your students will learn more from you, and when that promotion comes along you&#8217;ll be well qualified for it.</p>
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		<title>Becoming A Great Teacher</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/becoming-a-great-teacher.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/becoming-a-great-teacher.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 20 Jan 2011 14:51:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teaching Methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teacher]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=141</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Some people know from a very young age that they want to be a teacher. Others have something happen later in their lives that inspires them to become a teacher. Still others are inspired by a great teacher they have had themselves. Whatever the motivation you have had to become a teacher, it is now [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Some people know from a very young age that they want to be a teacher. Others have something happen later in their lives that inspires them to become a teacher. Still others are inspired by a great teacher they have had themselves. Whatever the motivation you have had to become a teacher, it is now up to you to be the best teacher you can be. Who knows, maybe you will be the inspiration someone else needs to becomes a teacher someday.</p>
<p>As the baby boomer generation reaches retirement age a vast number of teachers will be leaving th e teaching profession. This will leave openings for new teachers to step in. Teaching is an important profession. It is in the classroom that most children learn to accept and respect others outside of their families. Children learn about the world through the eyes of their teachers. This puts a lot of responsibility on the shoulders of a teacher. So, how can you become that great teacher you truly want to be?</p>
<p>To become a great teacher you first need to be good at explaining things. A really good teacher is able to keep their students&#8217; interest while teaching them important facts. All the great teachers have one thing in common&#8230; a good sense of humor! Can you honestly say that your &#8220;favorite&#8221; teacher had no sense of humor? I seriously doubt it! Teaching requires someone who is able to manage stress and chaos well. Keeping control of your temper and being able to manage a difficult situation well are imperative to becoming a great teacher. It may sound a little silly, but to be an effective teacher you must also have common sense. Of course, another important factor in becoming a great teacher is to have an excellent understanding of the materials you are teaching.</p>
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		<title>Teaching Guidelines For Presenting Activities Effectively</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/teaching-guidelines-for-presenting-activities-effectively.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/teaching-guidelines-for-presenting-activities-effectively.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:51:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Teaching Methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Learning Theories]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Methods and Theories]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=140</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Once you have determined the activity you want to present to your class, you have planned it out, gathered all the necessary supplies, double checked the safety of the activity, and worked out any issues it is now time to present the activity to your students. Now you need to determine the best possible way [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Once you have determined the activity you want to present to your class, you have planned it out, gathered all the necessary supplies, double checked the safety of the activity, and worked out any issues it is now time to present the activity to your students. Now you need to determine the best possible way to present your activity to your students in a way that it will be the most effective.</p>
<p>You cannot just assume that your students will all be eager to participate in whatever activity you have planned. You need to find a way to grab your student&#8217;s attention right away and keep their interest throughout. Activities and/or demonstrations that have dramatic results will grab the interest of your students and keep them interested.</p>
<p>Whenever possible you need to involve your students in your demonstration and/or activity. Hands-on learning gives the students the opportunity to learn by being involved in the process. The more involved the students are able to be the more interest they will have in what is being taught and the more learning will take place.</p>
<p>If something doesn&#8217;t quite turn out the way you had anticipated this can be a learning experience also. Use this opportunity as a teaching moment to point out why something did not work as planned. Not everything will work every time. Unexpected results can be just as educational as expected results.</p>
<p>Give positive feedback whenever possible. Praise your students whenever they get something right. Keep positive when students give incorrect answers or guesses. Remind your students that science is not always exact and that a lot of science is guesswork. The way to get to the right answer is by experimenting and getting some wrong answers before finding the right one.</p>
<p>Conclude your activity by emphasizing what was learned and the results of the activity and/or demonstration.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Guidelines To Be An Effective Teacher</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/guidelines-to-be-an-effective-teacher.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/guidelines-to-be-an-effective-teacher.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:51:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Lesson Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teaching Methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lesson plan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teacher]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=139</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Being a teacher can be rewarding but stressful at the same time. Being as prepared as possible is the best option to reduce stress and allow for the best possible teaching outcome. There are some basic guidelines that should be followed when organizing your teaching plan. Begin by planning activities that are not only educational but [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Being a teacher can be rewarding but stressful at the same time. Being as prepared as possible is the best option to reduce stress and allow for the best possible teaching outcome. There are some basic guidelines that should be followed when organizing your teaching plan.</p>
<p>Begin by planning activities that are not only educational but will grab the interest of your students. If you are just throwing out information, children will not learn. You must keep their attention and make the lesson as fun as possible while keeping it educational as well.</p>
<p>Next, take the time to prepare your lessons and activities. Be sure you are targeting the average student. If your lessons are focused on the high achievers in the class you will lose the interest of the rest of the students as they will not understand what you are teaching. By targeting the average student you will do better at keeping the interest of all of the students on a level the majority can understand.</p>
<p>Promote hands-on learning opportunities. Some people learn best by doing rather than just reading about something. Hands-on learning will give students the opportunity to learn by experiencing how things work. This method increases interest in a subject thereby increasing the level of comprehension for the students.</p>
<p><span>Use existing educational resources. By utilizing resources that are already existing teachers can reduce the amount of work involved in preparing lesson plans. This will also allow the teacher to utilize activities, programs, and resources that have benefited from the experience and ideas of others. </span></p>
<p>Try out all experiments and activities ahead of time to work out any bugs or problems. This will also give you the opportunity to determine the safety of the activity. Ensure that your activities are always safe for the age level of students you are working with. Ensure that you have the proper safety equipment and guidelines in place.</p>
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		<title>Problem Children In The Classroom</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/problem-children-in-the-classroom.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/problem-children-in-the-classroom.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 16 Jan 2011 14:51:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Special Needs Children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teaching Methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Behavior]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Student]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=138</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It can be difficult to deal with a problem child in the classroom. It can also be stressful when this child is disruptive and takes away from the other students’ education. There is much that can be done about this, but you have to learn how to properly take care of it. Learn the child’s [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It can be difficult to deal with a problem child in the classroom. It can also be stressful when this child is disruptive and takes away from the other students’ education. There is much that can be done about this, but you have to learn how to properly take care of it.</p>
<p>Learn the child’s background. There may be a reason the child is disruptive and can’t focus. It could be something at home, with friends, or because they have a disorder such as ADHD. You can learn the child’s background by talking to their parents. Try to arrange a conference with them so you can discuss what problems this child is having in class and what the reasons behind the problems are.</p>
<p>Sometimes talking to the parents doesn’t help either because they won’t meet with you or they don’t give you any information to help you out. If a conference with the parents fail, you can try to talk to teachers the child has had before and ask them about the problems they had with them.</p>
<p>You can also try to talk to the student. Getting to know the student will help them also. They will be more comfortable in your class and you may be able to learn what their problem behind their behavior is. If you can befriend them they may feel like they don’t need to interrupt class and as if it’s important to do their work because it will make you proud.</p>
<p>If their behavior doesn’t improve from trying to befriend them, try to talk to them about their behavior. Tell the student that they are being disruptive and that they need to change their behavior. Try to make goals with them so that their behavior will improve. Meet with them regularly so that you can talk about how they’re improving and the best way to continue improvement.</p>
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		<title>Becoming a Better Teacher</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/becoming-a-better-teacher.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/becoming-a-better-teacher.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 15 Jan 2011 14:51:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teaching Methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teacher]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=137</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Being a teacher, you have probably noticed that a vast majority of your students don’t put forth as much effort as they could. Most students could do a lot more to become better students. Have you ever wondered, though, what you can do to become a better teacher? One of the best ways to become [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Being a teacher, you have probably noticed that a vast majority of your students don’t put forth as much effort as they could. Most students could do a lot more to become better students. Have you ever wondered, though, what you can do to become a better teacher?<br />
One of the best ways to become a great teacher — and a teacher students will love — is to focus your attention on the students. Know what is important to the students’ education and what they should be learning about. Try to get a feel for what past teachers have missed teaching them and what they have already covered.<br />
Learn your students’ names. If you are able to learn the name of all your students it will create a bond between you and your students, no matter how small that bond might be. A connection with your students will help to motivate their study habits and participation in class. It will also be easier for you in class and while grading papers to know who is who.<br />
Use a variety of techniques when giving a lesson. Not everyone learns the same. If you teach in only one way, some students will miss out on the benefits of being taught in a different way. Try to find the best teaching technique in your class.<br />
Try to correct assignments quickly. Students appreciate it if you correct tests and quizzes fast. The faster you can get them back to the students, the more they will appreciate it. Don’t try to correct them too fast so that you don’t correct them properly, though.<br />
There is a lot more you can do to become a better teacher. Remember to focus attention on your students. It will be much easier on your part, and your students will enjoy the way that you teach. You will find the most benefits if you focus your attention on your students.</p>
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		<title>Students with ADHD</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/students-with-adhd.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/students-with-adhd.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 13 Jan 2011 14:51:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Special Needs Children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ADHD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Child]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=136</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When you are a teacher dealing with an ADHD child, it can become very stressful and time consuming. If you haven’t dealt with an ADHD child before, it proves to be quite a challenge. There are several things you can do to help an ADHD child in your classroom. Children with ADHD are distracted very [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When you are a teacher dealing with an ADHD child, it can become very stressful and time consuming. If you haven’t dealt with an ADHD child before, it proves to be quite a challenge. There are several things you can do to help an ADHD child in your classroom.</p>
<p>Children with ADHD are distracted very easily and have trouble focusing. If they move around often they can more easily focus. Try to give them tasks that will get them out of their chair, even if it’s just going to get you an extra piece of chalk or to sharpen a pencil. Try to give them a stress ball, or something to play with to try to keep them focused, but if they are unable to focus with something to play with, don’t reward them with it.</p>
<p>Avoid letting the child miss recess or physical education class. Students with ADHD need to be able to move around, and if they don’t get the chance to, they will have more difficulty focusing in class. Make sure they get the chance to move around a bit because they need it.</p>
<p>Seat the child away from the doors and windows where they will become distracted by things going on outside of the classroom. Seat them in a spot where they will be the most focused. Try to assign them a seat away from piles of things that they will play with and become distracted by.</p>
<p>Students with ADHD need to be able to focus better. Let them move around more and they will be able to focus better when they are sitting still. Try to keep them away from distractions, and they will be less likely to distract the rest of the class. Don’t forget to pay attention to the rest of your class as well, but this child needs attention and help to stay focused.</p>
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		<title>Helping Students With ADHD</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/helping-students-with-adhd.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/helping-students-with-adhd.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 12 Jan 2011 14:51:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Special Needs Children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parent]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=135</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Having an ADHD child in your classroom can prove to be a challenge. If it is your first experience with a child like this, it may be difficult, stressful, and scary. When you have an ADHD child in your classroom, it does not take long to know that they have this disorder. A child with [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Having an ADHD child in your classroom can prove to be a challenge. If it is your first experience with a child like this, it may be difficult, stressful, and scary. When you have an ADHD child in your classroom, it does not take long to know that they have this disorder. A child with ADHD will be inattentive, disruptive, disorganized, forgetful, talking excessively, fidgety, and will procrastinate often. There are several things you can do to help a child with ADHD in your classroom.</p>
<p>Communicate with the child’s parents and try to set goals in which the child, their parents, and you can all work together to accomplish them. If the parents are helping you, the child will be exposed to the progress of the goal the majority of the time and will work on it better. Children’s parents have a great effect on them and they will be sure to help you.</p>
<p>Children with ADHD are distracted very easily. Seat them away from doors and windows so that things outside of the classroom don’t distract them as easily. Try to include physical activities into your lessons every once in a while so they get to move around. This doesn’t mean that they have to run around, just try to do something such as labs to get them out of their seats. This won’t only help the ADHD child, but your other students will appreciate this as well.</p>
<p>Children with ADHD tend to rudely interrupt often. Try to make a plan with the student so that they know what will happen when they do this. Communicate with the child and decide together how you will help fix their problems. Try agreeing on a consequence or something to remind them that they are doing something wrong so they are aware of it. Remember to praise them when they are doing something right, also. Try to work with the student rather than getting frustrated with them.</p>
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		<title>Dealing With a Problem Child</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/dealing-with-a-problem-child.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/dealing-with-a-problem-child.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 11 Jan 2011 14:51:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teaching Methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Head teacher]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Talk radio]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=134</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It is very stressful to be a teacher. You have to deal with the school board, hundreds of students, and the occasional problem child. When you have a problem child, it makes your job just that much more difficult. Now you have to figure out how to calm them down in class and help change [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It is very stressful to be a teacher. You have to deal with the school board, hundreds of students, and the occasional problem child. When you have a problem child, it makes your job just that much more difficult. Now you have to figure out how to calm them down in class and help change their attitude. How do you do that without getting mad at the child?</p>
<p>Try talking to the child privately. If they are a problem child, they may be acting out in class because they want attention. Try not to give them the attention they want in front of their classmates. Attempt to speak to them in private so that the two of you can really talk about the problem.</p>
<p>Be calm when you talk to them. You don’t want them to get angry with you or they will just act out more in class. Talk to them at a good time when you are calm, and try to remain calm throughout the entire conversation.</p>
<p>When you talk to them, try to get to the problem right away. Make sure they understand why you’re talking to them and that they know their attitude needs to change. Some children don’t understand that they are acting inappropriately. Let them know exactly what the problem is.</p>
<p>If they don’t get better after you talk to them, try arranging a conference with their principal. Make sure the principal knows exactly what the problem is as well. If it still doesn’t get better, you can attempt to arrange a meeting with the principal and their parents. Chances are if you, the principal, and their parents are there, they will begin to improve their attitude.</p>
<p>There are several other ways to deal with a problem child. The main thing is to remain calm while dealing with them. If you stay calm they will eventually match your mood.</p>
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		<title>Lesson Plans</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/lesson-plans.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/lesson-plans.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 09 Jan 2011 14:51:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Lesson Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lesson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Student]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=133</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There is a lot of work that goes into being a teacher. You have to work hard to get your degree, and afterward, you have a lot of work to do while teaching. Being a teacher isn’t just something that happens in the classroom, but you have to do a lot of work outside the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There is a lot of work that goes into being a teacher. You have to work hard to get your degree, and afterward, you have a lot of work to do while teaching. Being a teacher isn’t just something that happens in the classroom, but you have to do a lot of work outside the class. There are many things that you have to do in order to prepare for a lesson, and if you can master each step your teaching techniques will become more effective.<br />
Observe your students and set goals for them as individuals and as a whole. Set goals for the entire length of the class, and then set specific goals for each lesson. If you set goals for the class you will be able to easily know what to do in each lesson because you know what you want your students to learn.<br />
Consider what level your students are at. Sometimes students need to perform a lab as an introduction to a unit, using what they already know. Don’t try to throw things on them; you should gradually introduce new ideas.<br />
Draw a map of the lesson. You should include an introduction, which contains how you plan on introducing ideas of the lesson to your students. Then include the main idea where you explain how you will convey the idea of the lesson to the students to make sure they are learning what they should. And last, find a way to conclude the lesson so they have a complete understanding of what they are being taught.<br />
Make sure you explain the lesson to the students before they begin so that they understand exactly what they’re doing. Don’t ever explain so that they don’t have time, either.<br />
Evaluate the lesson. Make sure that the students are learning what you wanted them to. Collect their worksheets so that you have evidence that the students have done their work and understand the message.</p>
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		<title>Continuing Education For Teachers Online</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/continuing-education-for-teachers-online.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/continuing-education-for-teachers-online.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 08 Jan 2011 14:51:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Online Resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[E-learning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[University of Phoenix]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=132</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In the teaching profession it is mandatory to complete continuing education courses to keep your teaching credentials current. Although, when you are teaching full-time it may be difficult to find the time to get the training and/or certification that you need. With today’s technology and the use of the internet, teachers are now able to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In the teaching profession it is mandatory to complete continuing education courses to keep your teaching credentials current. Although, when you are teaching full-time it may be difficult to find the time to get the training and/or certification that you need. With today’s technology and the use of the internet, teachers are now able to complete their certification online. Many people prefer to get their continuing education online to allow them the flexibility to get their education how, when, and where it is most convenient for them. This allows the teacher to continue focusing on their lesson plans, schedules, and to continue doing what they do best…teach!</p>
<p>Online courses and programs for teachers are not just for continuing education certification, though. It is also possible to obtain your initial teaching degree, work on higher teaching degrees online, receive licensure, work on language development, and more. Some of the top schools offering courses for teachers include DeVry University, University of Phoenix, Strayer University, and Kaplan University. All of these Universities offer Associates, Bachelors, and Masters degrees; although, University of Phoenix also offers Doctoral degrees. Furthermore, Kaplan and Strayer Universities offer certification programs in addition to the above-mentioned degrees. Most local colleges and universities also offer online courses that can be used to qualify for continuing education certification or to work on a higher level teaching degree.</p>
<p>In addition to online colleges and universities there are many other resources available for teachers to access online for continuing education and teaching support. Some of these resources include websites offering online Webinars, professional development and keynote speakers, recommended authors, recommended links, teaching helps, and support groups. All of these resources are helpful for teachers to not only obtain their continuing education certification but to also continue to learn and have the support they need to be better teachers.</p>
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		<title>Dealing With Problem Children In The Classroom</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/dealing-with-problem-children-in-the-classroom.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/dealing-with-problem-children-in-the-classroom.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 06 Jan 2011 14:51:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Teaching Methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Behavior]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Classroom]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=131</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Many teachers have to deal with children that may have behavioral issues and/or psychological problems that can disrupt their classrooms. These children may also have difficulties learning. Most times this is an issue with elementary age children, although it can be a problem in older children as well and may be due to their issues [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Many teachers have to deal with children that may have behavioral issues and/or psychological problems that can disrupt their classrooms. These children may also have difficulties learning. Most times this is an issue with elementary age children, although it can be a problem in older children as well and may be due to their issues not being addressed adequately when they were younger. These problems can include disrespect of peers and/or teachers, bullying of other students, loud outbursts during class, and in some cases the problems may even extend to the parents and the way they deal (or rather don’t deal) with their child’s behavioral and/or psychological problems.</p>
<p>So, how does a teacher effectively teach these children while still maintaining a healthy teaching environment for the rest of the children in their classroom? It can be difficult but it can be done. It is important to start by taking some time to really observe the child who is having behavioral issues. Is there something obvious that may be causing the problems at school that can be dealt with such as issues between other children or possibly a learning difficulty which is causing the child to act out as a defense? Are the problems being displayed a deeper issue that may need to be addressed with the parents or with other professionals that may be able to help address the issues? Otherwise, could it possibly be deeper issues such as a psychological problem that needs to be addressed?</p>
<p>If it is a matter of minor issues of disrespect such as rolling eyes or heavy sighing it may be advisable to simply redirect that child or ignore the behavior. However, with more obvious disrespect such as loud or rude remarks it may be necessary to take the child aside and discuss proper behavior or even at times remove the child from the classroom until they are able to act in a more respectful manner.</p>
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		<title>Dealing With Disruptive Students</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/dealing-with-disruptive-students.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/dealing-with-disruptive-students.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 05 Jan 2011 14:51:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Teaching Methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Class (set theory)]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teacher]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=130</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are many difficulties that come along with being a teacher. You have to create lesson plans and find a way to effectively teach every student. You have to be able to help each child when they need it and focus your attention not only on the entire class but on each individual. You also [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There are many difficulties that come along with being a teacher. You have to create lesson plans and find a way to effectively teach every student. You have to be able to help each child when they need it and focus your attention not only on the entire class but on each individual. You also have to deal with the problem children.</p>
<p>Dealing with disruptive children can take a lot of time out of the other children’s schooling. A disruptive child stresses everyone in the room out, especially the teacher. Some teachers may not know exactly how to deal with a child in this situation.</p>
<p>Talk to the person disrupting the class while you are calm. If you talk to them while you are angry with them you may say something you regret or don’t mean. If you can wait until after class when you have both calmed down you will have a nicer conversation.</p>
<p>Talk to this person privately. If they are being distracting during class their reasoning might be to gain attention. If you can talk to them without an audience present they will be more focused rather than trying to impress their classmates. If you can’t get the message through while talking to them privately, try asking someone that is experienced with problem children to help you talk to them in order to solve the problem.</p>
<p>Try getting to the root of the problem. Let them tell you what the problem is. That way you can figure out better how to help them. You may not see the reason behind why they act out in class, and if they tell you, you may be able to help them better.</p>
<p>Sometimes there is no real reason behind their behavior. They may not even realize they are acting up. If this is the case, you can tell them the reason you are talking with them and that you would appreciate their attitude to change.</p>
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		<title>Discipline in the Classroom</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/discipline-in-the-classroom-2.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/discipline-in-the-classroom-2.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 04 Jan 2011 14:51:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teaching Methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Child discipline]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Classroom]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=129</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If there is one thing that no one seems to agree on in life, it is discipline. This is not only in the homes, but also in the classroom. Of course, it used to be that discipline was something that was harsh. We have all heard stories about knuckles being hit with rulers, and sitting [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If there is one thing that no one seems to agree on in life, it is discipline.  This is not only in the homes, but also in the classroom.  Of course, it used to be that discipline was something that was harsh.  We have all heard stories about knuckles being hit with rulers, and sitting in a corner with a dunce cap on.  Today, though, these things are not acceptable, and in many cases can get you in a lot of trouble.  So, something that many teachers are struggling with is discipline in the classroom.  It can be very difficult to strike the right balance.</p>
<p>When considering discipline in the classroom, there are many considerations.  For example, you have to think about what the problem is in the first place.  What is the student being disciplined for?  Are there different levels of punishment for different offences, or just for the frequency of them?  These are things that need to be thought about before the school year starts.</p>
<p>On top of that, you have to decide what exactly the punishment is going to be.  Are you going to make an unruly student write a paper?  How long, and on what subject?  Will you immediately send them to the principals office?  Will you write a letter to the parents?  Each of these things have their time and place, and it is important that you understand your own feelings on these punishments and more.</p>
<p>Some schools already have all of their discipline policies laid out, and you will have to abide by them.  If this is the case, the choice of discipline is taken out of your hands.  Other times, school districts will have guidelines that will allow you to make some of the decisions, but you will have to consider the specifics.  Either way, making it clear early in the class what the punishments may be, and what they may be given for, is crucial.</p>
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		<title>Book Club Pamphlets</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/book-club-pamphlets.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/book-club-pamphlets.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 31 Dec 2010 01:23:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Special Needs Children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Child]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Children's literature]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parent]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=62</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Image via Wikipedia For many years now, children have been bringing home flyers with a huge variety of different children&#8217;s books in them. Many parents tend to just throw these away, without really looking at them, so some teachers have started to wonder what the point is. These book clubs are very important for children. [...]]]></description>
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<dl class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Children_in_a_Primary_Education_School.JPG"><img title="Group of children in a primary school in Paris" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Children_in_a_Primary_Education_School.JPG/300px-Children_in_a_Primary_Education_School.JPG" alt="Group of children in a primary school in Paris" width="300" height="225" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd zemanta-img-attribution" style="font-size: 0.8em;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Children_in_a_Primary_Education_School.JPG">Wikipedia</a></dd>
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<p>For many years now, children have been bringing home flyers with  a huge variety of different children&#8217;s books in them.  Many parents  tend to just throw these away, without really looking at them, so some  teachers have started to wonder what the point is.</p>
<p>These book clubs are very important for children.  Even though the  majority of the time nothing happens with them, there is that small  percent that purchase books from these book clubs.  Many times, the  children are extremely excited to get the flyers, and even if they don&#8217;t  end up getting anything purchased, it is worth it for the children.   They enjoy looking at all the different books that are available.</p>
<p>Some parents wonder why these are sent home.  They feel that it is just  another grab for money.  This is something that should be made clear to  the parents &#8211; it is not.  This is a way for the students to get a great  variety of books for well under the retail cost.  Once parents start to  understand this, and see the excitement that their child has when they  bring home one of these pamphlets, they are much less likely to just  throw them away.</p>
<p>One thing that you can do, as a teacher, to help the parents understand  this, is to explain it at the beginning of the school year, and maybe  even send reminders every once in a while.  This does not need to be  elaborate, but instead, just something quick that reminds the parents  that though this is not a necessary expense, it is something their child  is excited about.  The frequency that these are sent out is also  important.  If it is a decision that is made by the principle or school  board, you may want to suggest that they are only sent out a few times a  year, rather than every month.  Some parents feel overwhelmed by  getting these book club offers every month.</p>
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		<title>How to Keep Your Students Engaged</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/how-to-keep-your-students-engaged.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/how-to-keep-your-students-engaged.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 28 Dec 2010 01:22:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teaching Methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Student]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teacher]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=60</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Keeping students engaged in what you are teaching can be one of the most difficult parts of being a teacher. No matter the age group or content that you are teaching, many times it is too easy to plan a lesson that allows the students to lose focus. Instead, you need to make sure that [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Keeping students engaged in what you are teaching can be one of  the most difficult parts of being a teacher.  No matter the age group or  content that you are teaching, many times it is too easy to plan a  lesson that allows the students to lose focus.  Instead, you need to  make sure that your students are interested in what is going on.  There  are many small things that you can do to help keep your students focused  and engaged.</p>
<p>For example, making part of the lesson interactive is a very good way to  go.  Many times, teachers forget that their students want and need more  stimulation than sitting in a chair and listening to a lecture.  So,  instead of just doing a lecture, find a way to get the students involved  in what you are teaching them.  Of course, this is much more difficult  in some subjects than in others, but it is by no means impossible in  any.</p>
<p>Make the facts interesting.  This may seem a little more difficult at  first, because you may know these facts inside and out, and feel that  they are a little bit boring, yourself.  Unfortunately, if you feel this  way, it will come across to your students, and they will find them  boring as well.  So, instead, find a new way to see the facts.  Find  something interesting about them.  Focus on the great part of the  subject, instead of the same things that both you and the students have  heard time and time again.</p>
<p>Do something crazy.  Surprise your students every once in a while.  If  you teach history, for example, come dressed up in the time period that  you are currently discussing.  Be a little wild (but not too wild, of  course), to grab your students attention.  Try to find something new and  crazy to do about once a month, to keep them on their toes.</p>
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		<title>Respect in the Classroom</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/respect-in-the-classroom.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/respect-in-the-classroom.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 26 Dec 2010 01:21:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Online Resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Classroom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Student]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teacher]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=58</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One thing that all teachers want in the classroom is respect. Sometimes, this is an easy thing to maintain, while at other times, it can be very difficult. For example, if you have a student in your class, or some times it may be a group of students, who are rowdy, loud, and a little [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>One thing that all teachers want in the classroom is respect.   Sometimes, this is an easy thing to maintain, while at other times, it  can be very difficult.  For example, if you have a student in your  class, or some times it may be a group of students, who are rowdy, loud,  and a little obnoxious, you may find it hard to keep control of the  classroom, and therefor the respect that you expect and deserve from  your students.</p>
<p>Keeping the relationships and respect well balanced in the classroom  starts from the first day of class, and extends through the end of the  semester, or at whatever point the class is completed.  Many times, the  biggest problem that a teacher will have with keeping the respect of  their students is that they don&#8217;t worry about it too much at the  beginning.  On the other hand, some teachers push for respect a little  harder than they probably should.  In this case, many of the students  find that they want to fight back, to gain a little bit of independence.</p>
<p>So, what is the best way to go about getting the respect that you feel  you deserve in the classroom?  First, set out clear rules.  Everyone has  different rules for what is and is not allowed in the classroom.  The  point of this, though, is not how strict your rules are or are not.   Instead, it is making sure that the students understand that there are  rules, and exactly what those rules are.  Providing a clear  understanding of what will happen if the rules are broken is just as  important.</p>
<p>Respect your students.  If someone does not feel that they are being  respected, they find it much more difficult to respect in turn.  Listen  to what your students have to say, don&#8217;t be rude to them, and just all  around give them respect, just as you expect them to give it to you.</p>
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		<title>Take a Class as a Teacher</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/take-a-class-as-a-teacher.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/take-a-class-as-a-teacher.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Dec 2010 01:20:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Educators]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Learning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Student]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teacher]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=56</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As a teacher, you may feel that you have gotten the education that you need. You are able to effectively teach your students, and at times, you may even feel overqualified for your job. This does not mean that you need to stop learning. In fact, for many people, the reason that you became a [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As a teacher, you may feel that you have gotten the education  that you need.  You are able to effectively teach your students, and at  times, you may even feel overqualified for your job.  This does not mean  that you need to stop learning.  In fact, for many people, the reason  that you became a teacher in the first place is because of your love of  knowledge and learning.  You want to instill that love in other people.   So, even if you feel like you are done being a student, you may find  that you aren&#8217;t.  At least, not quite yet.</p>
<p>One thing that many teachers do is take an extra class or two at a local  college or university.  Sometimes this is required by the school board,  or you need these extra classes for a certification that you are trying  to achieve.  Other times, you may find that you just want to keep  learning, or have a desire to take a particular class.  Either way,  taking some extra classes can be a very beneficial thing to teachers.</p>
<p>When you take extra classes, you are not only learning the subject, but  you are learning to be a student again, as well.  This can be very  helpful in the classroom.  Many students feel that their teachers can  not identify with them.  They feel that the teacher may have been  teaching so long that they have forgotten what it is like to have to  write a mid term paper, instead of just grade it.  When you are not only  a teacher, but a student as well, those feelings come fresh.  You are  able to easier identify with your students.</p>
<p>Taking a class or two through a college can also help keep you going.   Sometimes, it can feel like teaching gets stale.  Doing something  different for a while, and understanding that it is not always the same,  can be very helpful for many teachers.</p>
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		<title>Pros and Cons of Worksheets</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/pros-and-cons-of-worksheets.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/pros-and-cons-of-worksheets.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Dec 2010 01:19:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Class (education)]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Elementary school]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Student]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Worksheet]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=54</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In a large number of classes, no matter the age group or subject of the class, worksheets are used. This is frequently seen in things like English and math classes, though they are used in almost every class. There have been arguments over the last few years as to whether worksheets are really worth the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In a large number of classes, no matter the age group or subject  of the class, worksheets are used.  This is frequently seen in things  like English and math classes, though they are used in almost every  class.  There have been arguments over the last few years as to whether  worksheets are really worth the time, effort, and frustration that they  can cause.  So, what are the pros and cons of using worksheets in the  classroom?</p>
<p>Pros:</p>
<p>They provide structure.  Both you and the student know exactly what they  are working on, and there is a set basis of what they need to be doing.</p>
<p>They are uniform.  You are able to use these worksheets for many  different classes.  You can easily come up with multiple worksheets that  are very similar to each other, but with slight differences, and it  takes very little time to change them.</p>
<p>They are expected.  In many types of classes, worksheets are expected.   It would almost seem strange to find out that your algebra class didn&#8217;t  do worksheets, or that an elementary school English class had never done  them.</p>
<p>Cons:</p>
<p>They lack creativity.  In some classes, this may not necessarily be a  bad thing, but at the same time, students like to feel that they are an  individual, not a number.  Having worksheets to constantly be doing can  stifle this, and make these students feel like a number.</p>
<p>They frequently don&#8217;t get done.  If it is a worksheet that is being sent  home to do, there is a very good likelihood that it won&#8217;t end up  getting done.  The student may forget about it, or in some cases, just  throw it away.</p>
<p>Weighing the pros and cons of using worksheets is something that each  teacher needs to do for themselves.  It is a decision that is usually  very personal to the class.  Making your lesson plans can be easier with  worksheets, but that does not necessarily make it a better lesson.</p>
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		<title>Using Spell Check in English Class</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/using-spell-check-in-english-class.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/using-spell-check-in-english-class.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Dec 2010 01:18:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lesson Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[English language]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spell checker]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spelling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Student]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=52</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We have all used spell check at some point or another. In fact, it is something that is now built into many web browsers. So, it is very difficult in our day and age to ignore spell check as something important. In fact, it can be very frustrating, at times, when you get those squiggly [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We have all used spell check at some point or another.  In fact,  it is something that is now built into many web browsers.  So, it is  very difficult in our day and age to ignore spell check as something  important.  In fact, it can be very frustrating, at times, when you get  those squiggly red lines underneath the word you just wrote.  Most  especially when you know that it is spelled correctly, but for some  reason it isn&#8217;t in the dictionary that is being used.  There is some  controversy with spell check, though.</p>
<p>Today, some school districts and teachers are allowing their students to  use spell check on quizzes and tests.  Though this, at first, may not  seem like a big deal to some, to others it is an affront.  When you look  at what quizzes and tests this is being allowed on, it becomes an even  bigger issue.  Some feel that this could be acceptable in something like  a history class, or a science test.  Instead, though, this is being  implemented in English classes.</p>
<p>Many people feel that this is just silly.  Part of the point of an  English class is to learn proper grammar, spelling, punctuation, and  more.  If these students are allowed to use spelling and grammar checks,  then it defeats the purpose of the class.  It is said that many times,  these students are able to use these tools on their papers and  assignments, so it is only fair that they can use them on the test.   This is faulty thinking though.  A test and an assignment are completely  different.  The test is simply that &#8211; it is to test your knowledge.  If  a student is allowed to use tools like spell check and grammar checks,  then all that is being tested is that they are able to use these tools.</p>
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		<title>Is Calculator Use Ok?</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/is-calculator-use-ok.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/is-calculator-use-ok.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 19 Dec 2010 01:17:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teaching Methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Calculator]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mathematics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Student]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=47</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Image via Wikipedia With the arguments that are currently going on about whether or not a student should be allowed to use spelling and grammar checks for their English assignments, a more common practice comes to mind. Should students be allowed to use calculators in their math classes? For many years, calculators have been used [...]]]></description>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Calculator_Citizen_SDC-362.jpg"><img title="Calculator Citizen SDC-362" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/Calculator_Citizen_SDC-362.jpg" alt="Calculator Citizen SDC-362" width="224" height="349" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd zemanta-img-attribution" style="font-size: 0.8em;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Calculator_Citizen_SDC-362.jpg">Wikipedia</a></dd>
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<p>With the arguments that are currently going on about whether or  not a student should be allowed to use spelling and grammar checks for  their English assignments, a more common practice comes to mind.  Should  students be allowed to use calculators in their math classes?</p>
<p>For many years, calculators have been used and allowed in class.  Each  class is different in what they allow with this, though.  For some  teachers, they do not allow calculators at all.  Other teachers only  allow them at certain times, for certain assignments.  Some say that the  calculator is fine on homework, but not on tests and quizzes.  Still  others, though, believe that it is perfectly fine to use a calculator at  all times.</p>
<p>There are many reasons for this debate.  Some feel that in our day to  day lives, a person is likely to use a calculator if need be, so why not  allow the student the same courtesy.  When in a classroom setting  though, the point is to learn the material.  Is it ok to understand the  concepts, but use the calculator to get the right answer?  Or is there a  line that must be drawn?</p>
<p>No matter where you sit on this issue, one thing is clear.  This is an  argument that has been going on for a long time, and is likely not to  end soon.  When a student is taking a higher level test, such as an SAT,  they are rarely allowed to use a calculator.  Making sure that they  understand the principles, and that they are not solely reliant on the  calculator, is what is most important.  Whether you decide that  calculator use is banned or great, you need to take steps to ensure that  the students understand that calculators are not always allowed, and  that it is important that they understand what they are doing, and what  the calculator is doing for them.</p>
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		<title>The Need for New Text Books</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/the-need-for-new-text-books.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/the-need-for-new-text-books.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Dec 2010 01:16:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teaching Methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brooklyn]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[English language]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Textbook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=45</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Our world is changing at an alarming rate. Because of this, the things that you may find in school text books may be irrelevant, or even in some cases, down right wrong, by the time you get around to teaching them. Because of this, it can be difficult to keep up to date on things [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Our world is changing at an alarming rate.  Because of this, the  things that you may find in school text books may be irrelevant, or  even in some cases, down right wrong, by the time you get around to  teaching them.  Because of this, it can be difficult to keep up to date  on things that are going on in the world, especially if you try to do  this while following a text book.</p>
<p>One very sad thing in our world today is that most school districts,  with their budget cuts, can not afford to get new, up to date, text  books.  This makes it very difficult, not only for the teachers, but  also for the students.  The need for new text books, in many areas,  outweighs the need for almost anything else.  In fact, some schools in  the country are still using books that were used over twenty years ago.   Though for some classes, this may not seem like a big deal, in other  classes this is extremely detrimental.</p>
<p>For example, in a science class, some things will never change.  But,  there are always new discoveries, and if you limit yourself and your  students to things that have happened over twenty years ago, you are  both going to miss out on a lot of incredible things.  Principles in an  English class may not change over the years, but some of the stories and  poems that are read in class may feel dated.</p>
<p>We all know that there have been significant budget cuts to many schools  in the United States.  It seems that these cuts will continue to  happen, instead of get better.  Because of this, many teachers are  having to deal with out dated, old text books.  One way to combat this  is to start teaching beyond the text book, if this is allowable at your  school.</p>
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		<title>Keep Your Class Interested with Experiments and More</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/keep-your-class-interested-with-experiments-and-more.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/keep-your-class-interested-with-experiments-and-more.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Dec 2010 01:15:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teaching Methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Experiment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Science education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teacher]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=43</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you have ever had a class get extremely loud and obnoxious on you, or on the other hand, had them fall asleep, you may find that there are things that you need to do in the classroom to keep them interested. No teacher wants to feel like they are boring their class to sleep. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you have ever had a class get extremely loud and obnoxious on  you, or on the other hand, had them fall asleep, you may find that  there are things that you need to do in the classroom to keep them  interested.  No teacher wants to feel like they are boring their class  to sleep.  So, there are a few things that you can do to keep them  excited and interested in what is going on.</p>
<p>Conduct experiments.  In almost every class, you can do some sort of  experiment.  Most people think that this is something that can really  only be done in a science class, but this of course is not true.  For  example, in a history class, you could do a mock trial for something in  the time period that you are discussing.  If you are talking about the  Salem witch trials, do an experiment with your class.  See how they  respond!</p>
<p>Do something interactive.  Similar to doing experiments, you need to do  interactive activities to keep students occupied and interested.  Many  times, students have a fairly short attention span.  Of course, this  depends on the age group and the class that you are teaching, but in  general, they are there in your class because they need to be for their  diploma, degree, etc.  Though you may have some people in your class  that are always engaged and ready to learn, there will be an  overwhelming number of people that just want to make it through the  class.  Because of this, you need to make it fun, otherwise, you may end  up lecturing to one or two people.</p>
<p>Keeping your students interested is one of the hardest things that a  teacher has to deal with on a regular basis.  Look online for some ideas  for your particular class.  Talk to other teachers. There are a  multitude of ways to keep a class interested.</p>
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		<title>Testing Methods</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/testing-methods.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/testing-methods.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Dec 2010 01:15:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teaching Methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Multiple choice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Student]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teacher]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tests]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=41</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When you think about testing, most people think about one of a few things. An oral exam (this is generally used in language courses), a multiple choice test, an essay test, a fill in the blanks, or a combination of these. Luckily though, many teachers today are turning to new ways to test. Those previously [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When you think about testing, most people think about one of a  few things.  An oral exam (this is generally used in language courses), a  multiple choice test, an essay test, a fill in the blanks, or a  combination of these.  Luckily though, many teachers today are turning  to new ways to test.  Those previously mentioned are classic testing  methods, but many are finding that they are not always the best way to  test the knowledge of a student.</p>
<p>Instead, many times teachers are trying to come up with more creative  ways to test.  Depending on the age of your students and the subject  that you teach, different methods may work better for you.  For example,  if you have a class that is preschool age, and you are teaching them  different words, you may find that something like a flash card or memory  game for these words works well as a test.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if your class is older, you may need to be a little  more creative.  Making a test that is not a test can be difficult.  You  need to have the right balance of difficulty with creativity.  Luckily,  there are resources online for this.  You can find different games,  experiments, and more that can count as a test.</p>
<p>Some teachers do not feel that the classic way of testing needs any  improvement.  Because of this, classic testing is still the most  prevalent.  Another reason that classic testing is continuing to stand  the test of time is because your school board may not allow unique  testing.  It is something that you will have to look into on a case by  case basis.  Depending on what is allowed, you may find that your  students do better on new testing methods, and understand the material  better if they know that the test is not going to be the traditional  testing methods.</p>
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		<title>Curriculum Center vs Student Based Learning</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/curriculum-center-vs-student-based-learning.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/curriculum-center-vs-student-based-learning.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 11 Dec 2010 01:13:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Online Resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Curriculum]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Student]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teacher]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=36</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Image via Wikipedia Imagine you have a class that is very curriculum based. You go by the book, and everyone knows what is coming next. Your class is very structured, but you are also able to make it fun for everyone. Now, add into this thought a student, or even a few students who are [...]]]></description>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Village_school_in_Northern_Bahr_el_Ghazal%2C_Sudan.jpg"><img title="Village school in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Sud..." src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Village_school_in_Northern_Bahr_el_Ghazal%2C_Sudan.jpg/300px-Village_school_in_Northern_Bahr_el_Ghazal%2C_Sudan.jpg" alt="Village school in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Sud..." width="300" height="399" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd zemanta-img-attribution" style="font-size: 0.8em;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Village_school_in_Northern_Bahr_el_Ghazal%2C_Sudan.jpg">Wikipedia</a></dd>
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<p>Imagine you have a class that is very curriculum based.  You go  by the book, and everyone knows what is coming next.  Your class is very  structured, but you are also able to make it fun for everyone.  Now,  add into this thought a student, or even a few students who are  struggling, or failing, to keep up with your curriculum.  What do you  do?</p>
<p>On the other hand, imagine that your class goes by the needs of the  students.  You never let anyone get behind, and take extra time in class  to explain things that these students need help with.  Unfortunately,  this means that the students that grasp the concepts and understand the  lessons may feel like they are being held back.  Is this situation any  better than the first?</p>
<p>No matter which way your lessons and class tends to be &#8211; curriculum  based or more student centric &#8211; it can be taken too far.  The best thing  that many teachers have found is a balance between the two.  Though  this may sound obvious, it may end up being more difficult than you  think.</p>
<p>If you are the type that prefers structure, it can be very difficult to  let go a little and focus a little more on those that are struggling.   Breaking routine can feel very frustrating for many people.  If you are  the type to focus more on the students that are lagging behind, you may  find it a very hard to occasionally move the lesson on, even if they  don&#8217;t understand it.</p>
<p>One of the best things to do in this situation, many have found, is to  spend a little extra time with the struggling student, outside of class  time.  This may be difficult, as well, but this way, they don&#8217;t get left  behind, and others don&#8217;t get held back.</p>
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		<title>Why are Field Trips Important?</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/why-are-field-trips-important.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/why-are-field-trips-important.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 10 Dec 2010 01:12:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Online Resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Classroom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Field trip]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Learning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Student]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=34</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You will find that many times, field trips are necessary. Other times, they may be helpful to the lesson, but they are not needed. Field trips have been shown to be a great way to help students learn, and have fun while they are doing it. Of course, the school may have policies about field [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You will find that many times, field trips are necessary.  Other  times, they may be helpful to the lesson, but they are not needed.   Field trips have been shown to be a great way to help students learn,  and have fun while they are doing it.  Of course, the school may have  policies about field trips, or budget problems with taking them, so  before you plan one, make sure that you get it ok&#8217;ed.</p>
<p>Why are field trips a great way for students to learn?  There are many  reasons.  First, a field trip allows a student to get out of the  classroom.  This can help with any blocks that they may be having  because of being bored in the classroom.  Many times, students do get  bored with the same day to day routines.  Even something as simple as  going and sitting outside for the lesson one day can make a big  difference in how the students react.</p>
<p>If the students are learning about something specific, and there is a  way to take them on a field trip centered around this, it is always a  good idea.  For example, if you are teaching about a specific part of  history, and there is a museum nearby with an exhibit from that time  period, you may want to look into the possibility of a field trip.  Not  only does this get the student out of the classroom, but it also can  help show them what you are discussing.  This is very beneficial for  many.  Everyone learns in different ways, and at different rates.  Being  able to get out and actually see an example of what you are talking  about can help a large number of students grasp the concepts a little  bit better.</p>
<p>Field trips can also be great for the teacher.  Getting out of the  classroom is a breath of fresh air, not only for the students!</p>
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		<title>Changes to the Curriculum</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/changes-to-the-curriculum.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/changes-to-the-curriculum.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 08 Dec 2010 01:10:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Online Resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Curriculum]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[School district]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teach-in]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=32</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Depending on your school district, the age level of your students, and what you are teaching, you may find that the curriculum that you are supposed to tech just doesn&#8217;t quite cut it all the time. In fact, you may find that at times, you need to deviate a little from what you are supposed [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Depending on your school district, the age level of your  students, and what you are teaching, you may find that the curriculum  that you are supposed to tech just doesn&#8217;t quite cut it all the time.   In fact, you may find that at times, you need to deviate a little from  what you are supposed to teach in the curriculum.  Sometimes this is  fine, and even a very good idea.  Other times, you may find that you  could get in trouble for this.  So, if you are considering going off of  the curriculum, what are some things that you should do?</p>
<p>First, understand your own reasoning for going off the curriculum.  Do  you not agree with it?  Is there more information that needs to be  presented to the students?  Has something that you are supposed to teach  been proven wrong, or inaccurate in some point?  No matter the reason  for deviating from the curriculum, you need to know your reasons before  you can talk to anyone else about them.</p>
<p>If your school requires authorization before deviation from the  curriculum, you will need to talk to the principle, and possibly even  the school board.  You will want to produce your reasoning in a well  thought out manner.  Even if you are supposed to teach something that  you do not believe in, or do not agree with, you need to make it a  logical argument.</p>
<p>Once a decision is made, continue your lessons.  Keep in mind that you  may not get your way with the deviation from the curriculum.  If this is  the case, you may still be required to teach the present material.  In  other cases, you may have won your argument, and get to change it up a  little bit.</p>
<p>In many schools today, this is not necessarily something to worry about.   Check into the policies before you worry too much about what you need  to do to change something in the curriculum.</p>
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		<title>Discipline in the Classroom</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/discipline-in-the-classroom.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/discipline-in-the-classroom.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Dec 2010 01:09:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Online Resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Classroom]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=30</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If there is one thing that no one seems to agree on in life, it is discipline. This is not only in the homes, but also in the classroom. Of course, it used to be that discipline was something that was harsh. We have all heard stories about knuckles being hit with rulers, and sitting [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If there is one thing that no one seems to agree on in life,  it is discipline.  This is not only in the homes, but also in the  classroom.  Of course, it used to be that discipline was something that  was harsh.  We have all heard stories about knuckles being hit with  rulers, and sitting in a corner with a dunce cap on.  Today, though,  these things are not acceptable, and in many cases can get you in a lot  of trouble.  So, something that many teachers are struggling with is  discipline in the classroom.  It can be very difficult to strike the  right balance.</p>
<p>When considering discipline in the classroom,  there are many considerations.  For example, you have to think about  what the problem is in the first place.  What is the student being  disciplined for?  Are there different levels of punishment for different  offences, or just for the frequency of them?  These are things that  need to be thought about before the school year starts.</p>
<p>On  top of that, you have to decide what exactly the punishment is going to  be.  Are you going to make an unruly student write a paper?  How long,  and on what subject?  Will you immediately send them to the principals  office?  Will you write a letter to the parents?  Each of these things  have their time and place, and it is important that you understand your  own feelings on these punishments and more.</p>
<p>Some schools  already have all of their discipline policies laid out, and you will  have to abide by them.  If this is the case, the choice of discipline is  taken out of your hands.  Other times, school districts will have  guidelines that will allow you to make some of the decisions, but you  will have to consider the specifics.  Either way, making it clear early  in the class what the punishments may be, and what they may be given  for, is crucial.</p>
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		<title>Helping Mentally Challenged Students in the Classroom</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/helping-mentally-challenged-students-in-the-classroom.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/helping-mentally-challenged-students-in-the-classroom.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Dec 2010 01:08:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Online Resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Class (education)]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Student]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teacher]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=28</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You will most likely, at some point in your career, find that you have a student that is mentally challenged. This can be difficult for some teachers to deal with, while others take it in stride. One of the hardest things, as a teacher, is making sure that these students do well in the class, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You will most likely, at some point in your career, find that  you have a student that is mentally challenged.  This can be difficult  for some teachers to deal with, while others take it in stride.  One of  the hardest things, as a teacher, is making sure that these students do  well in the class, and understand what is going on.</p>
<p>Sometimes, these students will have aides or helpers for each class.   Other times, you may find that they do not.  Either way, it is your  responsibility to make sure that these students, just like everyone else  in your class, are learning and understanding the material as much as  possible.</p>
<p>There are a few things that teachers have done in the past, that you may  want to consider.  First, you could spend a little extra time with  these students, if you notice that they are struggling.  During a lunch  break or after school, offer to help them with their homework, or to  understand what you went over in the lesson.</p>
<p>Another thing that you can do is to prepare different assignments  specifically for these children.  Many have found, though, that this is  not advisable in many cases.  There are a variety of reasons for this,  but essentially, you don&#8217;t want to come off as though you don&#8217;t feel  they can handle the class.  It can be a very delicate situation for a  teacher to be in.</p>
<p>If you feel that there is no way that these students can keep up in your  class, you may want to consider finding out if they can get an aide or  helper in the class, or if they are able to move to a class that can  help them move at their own pace.  Many feel that this is taking the  easy way out, but if it is what is best for the student, then it might  be the best answer.</p>
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		<title>Why are Lesson Plans Important?</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/why-are-lesson-plans-important.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/why-are-lesson-plans-important.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 05 Dec 2010 01:07:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lesson Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lesson plan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Student]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teacher]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=25</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When you are getting ready for the school year, you will find that you want to get some lesson plans together. Some teachers have everything planned out for the year long before the school year actually starts. Others plan as little as a week of lessons in advance. No matter which way you choose to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When you are getting ready for the school year, you will find  that you want to get some lesson plans together.  Some teachers have  everything planned out for the year long before the school year actually  starts.  Others plan as little as a week of lessons in advance.  No  matter which way you choose to go, one thing that most teachers  understand is that you have to have a lesson plan in place.</p>
<p>So, why are lesson plans so important?  First, they help you keep track  of what you are doing and teaching.  You don&#8217;t want to come in,  unprepared, and go over the same thing forever.  This can get boring for  the students, and you will probably miss a lot of important points.   Having a lesson plan is also helpful to the students.  If they know what  is going to happen, they will be better prepared for the class.</p>
<p>If you end up being sick, or having to miss class at some point, having  lesson plans already made up can help the substitute teacher, as well.   It keeps the class moving ahead and will keep them where you want them.   If you don&#8217;t have a lesson plan, many times these classes will end up  being a study hall, or going over something that you weren&#8217;t ready to go  over, or had already gone over.  This is frustrating to everyone.</p>
<p>In some school districts, you may even have to turn in your lesson  plans, either so that they can be approved, or so that it is known that  you have them.  If this is the case with your school, then lesson plans  are even more important to get done.</p>
<p>Going off of the lesson plan on occasion is perfectly fine, in most  cases. But having the structure of a plan is important for both you and  the students.</p>
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		<title>Bring Current Affairs Into the Classroom</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/bring-current-affairs-into-the-classroom.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/bring-current-affairs-into-the-classroom.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 04 Dec 2010 01:06:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Online Resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Classroom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[English language]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mathematics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=23</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are many subjects in school where it is easy to bring in current culture and events into the classroom. Other types of classes make it a little more difficult. Realistically, though, you can find a way to incorporate things that are going on in the world into your class, in any class. Sometimes it [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There are many subjects in school where it is easy to bring in  current culture and events into the classroom.  Other types of classes  make it a little more difficult.  Realistically, though, you can find a  way to incorporate things that are going on in the world into your  class, in any class.  Sometimes it just takes a little bit of creative  thought.</p>
<p>English</p>
<p>In an English class, this is fairly easy.  Discussing new authors, top  hits, and even books that have been turned into movies is a great way to  bring in a little bit of current information into the classroom.</p>
<p>Math</p>
<p>With a math class, you may find this a little more difficult.  It seems  like all of our math concepts have been around for ages.  But, you could  find information on current mathematicians, and what they are doing in  the world.  Though many may think that this is not particularly  interesting, it is a good way to show that the subject is used.</p>
<p>Science</p>
<p>There are new scientific discoveries every day.  Talking about these in  your classroom is a great way to help get students involved.  There are  so many different branches of science &#8211; you will want to find  information on the subject that you are teaching.</p>
<p>History</p>
<p>Though you think of history being in the past, many things going on in  our world right now will eventually make it into the history books.   These, though they are current events, can be discussed in class.  Talk  about how they will make it into our history, and what is important  about them.</p>
<p>Though these are just some examples of bringing current culture into the  classroom, it is possible with every subject.  Think about what is  going on in the world.  You will be able to find something amazing and  fun to talk about with your students!</p>
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		<title>Holidays in the Classroom</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/holidays-in-the-classroom.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/holidays-in-the-classroom.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Dec 2010 01:04:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Online Resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Classroom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[holiday]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Religion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=20</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Holidays. Do they have a place in the classroom? Do they have a place in schools at all? There are many different points to this argument, and many different opinions. Some of the problem comes in when you start talking about religious holidays. There are so many different religions in the United States, and many [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Holidays.  Do they have a place in the classroom?  Do they have a  place in schools at all?  There are many different points to this  argument, and many different opinions.  Some of the problem comes in  when you start talking about religious holidays.  There are so many  different religions in the United States, and many people are very  strict about their religion.  Because of this, it can be difficult and  frustrating to try to deal with all of the different opinions.  Also,  with so many different religions, there are going to be a large number  of different religious holidays. Because of this, if you are going to  celebrate one religious holiday in your classroom, it is going to be  seen as unfair if you don&#8217;t celebrate all of them.  This can be  extremely exhausting.</p>
<p>On top of that, many parents today are fighting the holiday fight.  No  matter what side of the fence they are on, a lot of parents are very  adamant about their point of view.  They could get very upset with the  school, and with you, for celebrating religious holidays.  In some  cases, they may even get upset if it is their own religious holiday.</p>
<p>Because of these issues, many schools today are taking a stance.  Most  of them are saying no to celebrating religious holidays in the classes.   This can be very frustrating to everyone, because at certain times of  the year, that is what people are focused on.  But in an effort to not  offend anyone, it is the best way to go.</p>
<p>If your school still allows religious holidays to be observed, you will  want to make sure that you find out if there is anyone in the class that  celebrates a different holiday than the one that the majority do.  This  is essential, as you don&#8217;t want to leave any of your students out.</p>
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		<title>Keeping Parents Involved</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/keeping-parents-involved.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/keeping-parents-involved.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Dec 2010 01:03:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Online Resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Student]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teacher]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=16</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Depending on how many students you have in your class, you may find it very difficult to keep up with everyone&#8217;s parents. You may find that the only time you talk to a parent is during parent teacher conferences, and sometimes not even then. Keeping up with parents of the students in your class can [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Depending on how many students you have in your class, you may  find it very difficult to keep up with everyone&#8217;s parents.  You may find  that the only time you talk to a parent is during parent teacher  conferences, and sometimes not even then.  Keeping up with parents of  the students in your class can be important.  There are some easy ways  to keep parents updated.</p>
<p>Send home a flyer.  Of course, these don&#8217;t always make it to the  parents, but it is worth it for when they do.  In this flyer, let them  know what is going on in class, what the students are working on, etc.   Though this is a very generic way to keep the parents up to date, it  will also allow them to feel a better connection.  This also can tell  them that you are available to talk, if they have any questions or  concerns.  This is something that many parents are frustrated with  today.  They don&#8217;t feel like their child&#8217;s teachers want to have  anything to do with them, no matter the issue.</p>
<p>Send out an email.  You can set up an email list at the beginning of the  class, and get interested parent&#8217;s email addresses.  This way, you know  that they are receiving the information that you are sending out.  This  is just as simple as sending out a flyer, and in fact, for many people  it is much easier.</p>
<p>Ask to have a conference with them.  If there is something going on,  request a conference with the parents.  This doesn&#8217;t always have to be  seen as a bad thing.  In fact, you could try to have a conference with  the parents to let them know how well the student is doing.  If there is  something negative going on in the classroom, though, it is always a  good idea to try to keep the parents informed.</p>
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		<title>Foster Individuality with Your Assignments</title>
		<link>http://www.calteach.org/foster-individuality-with-your-assignments.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.calteach.org/foster-individuality-with-your-assignments.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Dec 2010 01:02:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Classroom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Student]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teacher]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://calteach.org/?p=14</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Everyone wants to be seen as an individual. This includes in the classroom. One thing that many teachers do not understand is why some students act out in class. Some of this could be simply to make a name for themselves, and allow themselves to stand out a little. Though this is not necessarily the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Everyone wants to be seen as an individual.  This includes in  the classroom.  One thing that many teachers do not understand is why  some students act out in class.  Some of this could be simply to make a  name for themselves, and allow themselves to stand out a little.  Though  this is not necessarily the best way for these students to do this, it  is something that they understand.</p>
<p>So, as a teacher, how can you help your students stand out, and also  help them foster their individuality?  One way is with the assignments  that you give them.</p>
<p>Many teachers use predetermined assignments.  Worksheet, questions from  the textbook, and other manufactured assignments are all that are used  in many cases.  You can help break this cycle by coming up with more  personalized assignments.  One way to do this is with writing  assignments.</p>
<p>Of course, not all students enjoy writing assignments, and not all  teachers like dealing with them.  But, they can help your students be  able to express themselves a little better than worksheet.  This system  is ideal for certain classes, while it may not work so well for others.   For example, writing an essay may be easier for a history class than  for a math class.</p>
<p>Another idea is to let the students help make the homework and quizzes.   Ask them to come up with some questions, and you will use these ideas  for the assignment or quiz.  Though this may not seem like you are  giving them a whole lot of personalization, it does allow them to think  for themselves a little more than normal in a classroom.  Though you may  get a few people that come up with strange questions, or irrelevant  ones, you will also see that some of the students put a good amount of  time and effort coming up with their portion.</p>
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