Printable Fact Vs Opinion Tool

This is a simple tool for students to use to help the record the facts and opinions from a text.  Please feel free to download and print them.

Click here to download

Keep Calm Teaching Posters Collection

Here it is. A collection of Keep Calm Posters for Teachers for you to download, print and display around your classroom or office.  Some are funny, Some are inspirational and all I hope, are useful.

Keep Calm and Carry On  was a propaganda poster produced by the British government in 1939 during the beginning of the Second World War, intended to raise the morale of the British public in the event of a Nazi invasion of Great Britain.

These posters might raise morale or just a few eyebrows.  They include.

• Keep Calm and Teach on
• Keep Calm and Stop Texting
• Keep Calm and Reboot
• Keep Calm and Enjoy Learning
• Keep Calm and Raise Your Hand
• Keep Quiet and Continue Working

Click here to download the collection as a printable PDF and if you have any Keep Calm suggestions for us please post them as a comment and I'll add them.

Surface Pro available for Education from Feb 9

Microsoft's surface RT  tablet has had mixed reviews since its launch some months ago. It has been caught in no mans land as it is does not yet have the depth and tech specs of an iPad nor is it a full fledged PC replacement.

It would be fair to say that very few schools have adopted the Surface RT as the educational tablet / PC of choice for those reasons.

However, from February 9 you can can buy the Surface RT's big brother.  The Surface Pro is a fully fledged Intel based tablet with enough grunt to run all your power hungry windows apps whilst still retaining the form factor of it's little brother (almost.)

For mine, the Surface Pro offers the best computer solution for teachers and students due to its mix of power and portability, that neither the iPad or android devices can match.

Pricing for the devices hasn't changed from what was announced in November, which is to say it's a bit steep. A version with 64GB of solid-state storage will set you back $899, while one with 128GB will cost $999.

Understanding Professional Learning Communities

In education circles, the term learning community has become commonplace. Used to mean any number of things, such as extending classroom practice into the community; bringing community personnel into the school to enhance the curriculum and learning tasks for students; or engaging students, teachers, and administrators simultaneously in learning 

AllthingsPLC site is a collaborative, objective resource for educators and administrators who are committed to enhancing student achievement.

AllthingsPLC invite you to share your knowledge, ask questions, and get expert insight into the issues teachers face each day in the classroom.

 Please be sure to take a look at this site to develop an understanding and gather resources for creating successful Professional Learning Communities

Lesson Plan: Identifying vocabulary mentors in your class

Thanks to Kecia Waddell for submitting this lesson plan. Remember if you would like to sell us your lesson plans also click here

Click here to download the free printable PDF of this lesson plan

This is a student-centered vocabulary activity to be used to identify peer tutors within the process of class discussion. In so doing, the identified Peer Tutors will HELP the Teacher reach the students while teaching vocabulary through active class discussion.

1. Procedures to Execute as a WHITEBOARD ACTIVITY with Note-taking
Provide students with the following info as a handout.
Use the following rating system below to indicate YOUR comprehension of the vocabulary that follows.
0 = Haven’t a clue 1 = Know I have heard it, but I can't define it 2 = Know I have heard it, have some sense of its meaning 3 = Have a good sense of its meaning when I see it or hear it 4 = Can define it and explain its meaning to someone else
2. Teacher presents each term in a PPT display; orally and/or written on board one at a time. Important: ONLY present terms in context of a specific authentic lesson, literature piece, etc. to increase student construction of meaning.

Click here to download the free printable PDF of this lesson plan

Printable Algebra Assessment Tool

This assessment tool allows students to reflect upon and display their understanding of Algebra.  You can download and edit the template to suit your needs as required.

I hope you enjoy it.

Explanation Writing Checklist

This explanation tool checklist is a great resource for students to evaluate their understanding of writing explanation texts through awareness of punctuation, vocabulary and layout of their writing.

This is a great tool students can use independently or even swap  with a friend and evaluate each other.

Thanks to Jarrod Sing for submitting this resource.  Remember if you would like to sell us your lesson plans ideas you can do so here. 

Click here to download the Explanation Writing Checklist.

Printable Teaching Resource: Algebra Assessment Tool

This assessment tool allows students to reflect upon and display their understanding of Algebra.  You can download and edit the template to suit your needs as required.

I hope you enjoy it.