World Connections and Classroom Clickers

Works4Me presents weekly practical classroom tips from real experts -- your colleagues!

1. Connection to the World Using GPS

From Sharon Fedoruk:

"This year a few of my students and I tracked the participants in the Iditarod Sled Dog Race from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska. Each team is equipped with a tracking device. We would log in several times a day to track the mushers' progress. There is also a web cam set up at the finish line. It is updated each minute so we could plan when a musher was going to finish. We saw the anticipation at the finish line, and the next minute the crowd congratulating the finisher."
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2. Clickers in the Classroom

From Michelle, a sixth grade science teacher:

"I have been using clickers [sometimes referred to as an 'audience response' system] now for about 2-3 months and have seen a vast improvement in my students' test scores. At the end of each lesson, I have a 5-8 question clicker quiz. This assessment allows me to generate the much needed data that we as teachers are being called upon to have, and it allows me to tailor the review for each unit to the specific class. My students who struggle in other ways in the classroom have become more confident about science because they know we have a daily review. We also used the clickers with the math review we did leading up to our state testing with a small group of identified students from our roster. The students looked forward to having their quiz once a week in small group, and it allowed us to regroup the students as needed. All in all, the system is a great tool for me as a teacher."
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3. Question of the Week: Free Stuff and Money Savers

From the Works4Me Worker Bees:

"We're always looking for ways to cut down on classroom expenses, whether that's by getting free supplies, recycling used items, or re-purposing old items for new uses. How do you cut down on expenses for your classroom decorations, supplies and/or equipment?"
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4. Heard on the Message Board: Something Better Than Busy Work

"As a substitute teacher, I would love to see ideas to bring with me to the various classrooms. I teach K - 8 so I am always looking for fun things to do when the students have done the work left by the teacher. I find that it is usually busy work which gets so boring for the kids and for me!"
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