[Replicable Practices] I need more time, the semester can't be over, what exam? (Study Guides I)

Inevitably there is always a sense of despair, anxiety, nervousness, and anger. You might even begin to feel nauseous with a tinge of hope. You are sitting there wondering where all the time you thought you had went and where can you find some to finish that assignment or study for that test that was suppose to be handed in last month or written next week.

There are many topics that we discuss in the GLE class. No one GLE class that I ever taught did any one student take time management, study habits, avoiding procrastination, test preparation, prioritizing and memory aids seriously. According to the students they know how to use their time efficiently, agenda purposefully, study for tests, and remember equations dates and facts. Oh really, is that why your palms are all sweaty and your doing everything but preparing for the exam.

Study Guides and Strategies

In 1996 Joe Landsberger created the site. Mr. Landsberger has granted permission to freely copy, adapt, and distribute individual Study Guides in print format in non-commercial educational settings that benefit learners. Linking to the Guides is encouraged! The Study Guides and Strategies website covers many more topics that those listed above. Take the time to review it for yourself.

[Replicable Practices] NOT another bristol board or powerpoint presentation I

Publisher: Microsoft
Software: Microsoft's Photo Story 3 for Windows
Requirements: Link
Download: Link or see it in Action

While taking an AQ course (Special Education Part 2) I was introduced to Photo Story. One of the class assignments was to create a commercial. During the process I discovered that my colleagues were using this program with their class by allowing their students to create a presentation via photos. Great idea! (Since the method is as if not more important than the message). Being uninspired and tired of seeing the same run of the mill presentations PhotoStory adds a new dimension to the already tech study students.

What I did was I gave them the assignment and told them to use Photo Story. They figured it out, asked one another for help and showed each other the features they discovered. I was inspired!

[Replicable Practices] Webmath

Webmath.com by Discovery Education

Webmath is a website that generates answers to specific math questions and problems, as entered by a user, at any particular moment. The math answers are generated and displayed real-time, at the moment a web user types in their math problem and clicks "solve." In addition to the answers, Webmath also shows the student how to arrive at the answer.

[Replicable Practices] WorksheetWorks.com

WorksheetWorks.com

At times we all need a little help finding some extra time. I specifically the available graphic organizers. Worksheets are available for Mathematics, English Language, Geography, Puzzles, and Miscellanea.

Graphic organizers have become a valuable tool for helping students learn to analyze and process information. The visual format makes organizing, interpreting and understanding new material quicker and more successful than simple memorization alone. The graphic organizers on our site were selected for their value and broad appeal to many different educational situations.

 

[Replicable Practices] Create A Graph

Create A Graph

Throughout the course of the year I like having the students collect information about themselves. It can either be through self assessments or surveys or personal inventory quizzes. My reasoning behind that is that the more information the students have about themselves the more tools they have to advocate for themselves. As an extension I have the students graph their results and through a student-teacher conference I have them speak to me about their results (rather than having them write a reflection paragraph).

For the first few graphing extensions I have them use Create A Graph. We then move on to using Word or Excel to graph. To throw it back to the old school I will at times have the students use the graph paper technique.

[Replicable Practices] Learning Styles Quiz II

Original Post: Learning Styles Quiz I

What's Your Learning Style?

Another excellent Learning Styles Quiz (PDF Version) that can be used as a basis for your own replicable practices. This quiz is provided by © Marcia L. Conner.

[Replicable Practices] TeacherSupport.ca

TeacherSupport.ca

Yesterday I had blogged about the Learn Smart: Strategies to Succeed in School and Life textbook. Emond Montgomery Publications has also created one of the best teacher resource websites in cyberspace. Resources are available in Word and PDF formats, and are also bundled as zip files.

Resources include:

• unit and lesson plans
• worksheets
• assignments
• organizers
• rubrics
• checklists and scales
• tests and exams
• maps

Here is a direct link to the resources provided for the Learn Smart: Strategies to Succeed in School and Life textbook.

[Replicable Practices] Learn Smart: Strategies to Succeed in School and Life (Textbook)

ISBN/ISSN: 978-1-55239-169-3

Learn Smart: Strategies to Succeed in School and Life is an approved book from the Trillium List. In my opinion it is the best textbook to use for any GLE class. Many of my replicable practices are inspired by this text book.

Quoted directly from Publisher: Emond Montgomery Publications.

Learn Smart: Strategies to Succeed in School and Life is the first resource created that is in complete congruence with Ontario's learning strategies courses, GLS1O and GLE1/2. The text can serve as a complete program or be used to support an existing program plan. Learn Smart includes 20 high-interest texts of graduated length and difficulty (200–450 words). Each text is accompanied by a glossary, Web links, reading strategies, and three kinds of activity blocks focusing on the application of skills in the following areas: prior knowledge activities; reading comprehension and writer's craft; literacy and numeracy; and personal management, interpersonal skills, and teamwork skills.

Content Resource Links
Table to Contents (PDF)

Part 1: Learn It, Don't Sweat It
Chapter 1 (PDF) - It's Your Style
Chapter 2 (PDF) - The Manager of You Is You

Part 2: Practise Your Skills (Graduated Texts)
Chapter 3 Module 1 (PDF) - Out There
That's Entertainment
Green Growers
Stand Up, Speak Up
Your Wired World

Part 3: Explore Your Opportunities
Get the Information You Need
Be Your Own Advocate
Portfolios That Work

Part 4: From There to Here (Summative Activities)
Four Doors

[Replicable Practices] metronews.ca (Toronto)

Metro is Canada’s #1 free national daily newspaper publishing coast to coast in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax!

Toronto Edition of MetroNews

One of the unique features is that MetroNews offers an option to read the print edition (archived) online in a PDF format. What I normally do is print the article that I want to use from the online print edition through a PDF reader. By doing it this way I save time from picking it up from my local MetroNews box, save paper, and I get to preserve the newspaper format.

The section I grab articles from for a class discussion or assignment is the Workology section. In addition to getting tips on resume creation, it gives the students ideas of possible careers that they can pursue.

RSS Workology Feed

[Replicable Practices] Dropbox (Storage Provider)

Dropbox is an online web service that claims that "it is the easiest way to store, sync, and, share files online. There's no complicated interface to learn." The file hosting service is operated by Dropbox, Inc. It was founded in 2007 by MIT graduates Drew Houston and Arash Ferdowsi.

In trying to create replicable practices I adhere to my own set of standard lesson plan designs and associated notes. One of the easiest things (other than saving my work on a USB memory key) is to upload the file(s) to Dropbox (sign up required for a free account). There is also a paid service. More information.

[Replicable Practices] Multimedia, Technology and Multiple Intelligences

Apple IPhone

There is no doubt that multimedia and technology has infiltrated in our lives and to an even greater extent the students in my class. During my lesson lesson on multiple intelligences a student of mine was playing around with his IPhone (even though he should have known better). In reflecting I instinctively made a connection between some of the multiple intelligences and technology. I however did not realize that Howard Gardner has a collection of PDF files about the topic.

Multimedia and Multiple Intelligences (PDF)

Technology and Multiple Intelligences (PDF)

[Replicable Practices] The theory of multiple intelligences I

Howard Gardner

The theory of multiple intelligences was proposed by Howard Gardner. The multiple intelligences theory is an idea that maintains that people have different types of "intelligences". In 1999 Gardner lists eight intelligences as linguistic, logic-mathematical, musical, spatial, bodily kinesthetic, naturalist, interpersonal and intrapersonal. Gardner also emphasizes that developing an intelligence or a combination of is a lengthy process.

In my class I use the theory of multiple intelligences to help students develop skills that will help them succeed at school and at post secondary options. More importantly it helps students develop the confidence to begin understanding the importance of self advocacy. Follow the link to print out a multiple intelligence quiz to share with your students. I also use the follow up activity and have the students create a bar graph of their results.

Quiz © 1999 Walter McKenzie


For an interactive worksheet which produces a multiple intelligences wheel based upon Gardner's eight multiple intelligences. © 2002 - 2010 Birmingham City Council

[Replicable Practices] Resumes I

Student Success Credit Tracker (PDF, 121 KB)

One of the culminating activities that I have the students work on is a careers development portfolio. One of the sections of the portfolio is to have the students create a resume. Many newer word processors have a resume wizard that the students can work within however I often deliver lessons based on the following site and use the examples provided.

A resume is a very valuable valuable tool when job searching. Simply put it is an inventory of who you are and what you have accomplished. A resume is often the first contact with a potential employer, so it is important to have a good resume that will leave a good impression. Think of your resume as an advertisement of yourself.

Thank you to Community Employment Services of Woodstock Ontario. They have created an excellent site that covers the basics of building a resume as well as preparing an electronic one.

[Replicable Practices] Learning Styles Quiz I

Have you ever wondered why you do better in some classes than others? A possible explanation for this might be offered by determining your individual learning style (the way in which you learn is called your learning style). Your individual learning style might also affect your ability to absorb information. There are three primary learning styles; visual , auditory, and tactile. Some learn best with one other learn best in a combination of styles. To give you a clearer picture of how you take in new information and to help you become a better student follow the link and take the 10 minute survey (© American Education Services).

Image via

[Replicable Practices] The Discovery Wheel

The discovery wheel is an opportunity  to tell the truth to yourself about the kind of student you are and what kind of student you want to become. The discovery wheel is not a test and there is no trick questions. Be honest with yourself since the answers will have no meaning to anyone, only you!

Think of it as a beginning or opportunity to change and improve as a student.

The Discovery Wheel (Adobe Flash Player Required)

© Cengage Learning

© Houghton Mifflin Company

[Replicable Practices] Curriculum Services Canada

About CSC

Curriculum Services Canada is an excellent website that has helped me develop some replicable practices. I mainly use the site to access the classroom resources. Check out the teacher developed resources, resources from the Ontario EDU Initiative and Course Profiles. The course profiles listed here are for publicly funded schools.

[Replicable Practices] Ontario Ministry of Education

The Ontario Ministry of Education has an excellent site devoted to Ontario's education system. On the site you can explore links to specific pages devoted to Students, Parents, Teachers, Administrators, About the Ministry and News.

I frequently visit the Teachers page. There I am able to find links to Special Education, Student Success, Literacy and Numeracy, Teaching Tools, and General Information.

In order to keep up with Ontario's educational pulse I suggested you look at the Top News Stories, Popular Topics and Frequently Asked Questions page.

Minister of Education

Join OPEN (Ontario Provincial Education Network)

[Replicable Practices] This is exactly what you need. Another Blog!

Optimus meditor es replicable meditor - Best practices are replicable practices.

Welcome to my Replicable Practices Blog. Here you will find a collection of resources that can be modified and used to help inspire you with ideas, create lessons and generate discussion towards replicable practices. The best practices are replicable practices because they obtain a consistent result. Happy learning!