May 03 2008
Upcoming “The Best…” Lists
I have a lot of new “The Best…” lists coming-up. The next two will be “The Best Sites To Learn Practical Money Skills” and “The Best Sites To Learn Lifeskills.” They will complement my previously posted The Best Websites For Students Exploring Jobs & Careers.
Feel free to offer suggestions. As in my previous lists, I’ll include your recommendations in my post — whether or not they make it on my list.
In addition to continuing to post “The Best…” lists focusing on Web 2.0 applications and on content sites, now and then (as I did in my recent classroom management posts) I’m going to experiment with writing lists that highlight what I think are the “best” in-class activities. These might come-out once-or-twice each month.
Like my classroom management posts, these occasional lists will share what I have found to be effective “non-tech” learning activities. I’m also not taking the phrase “in-class” literally, and will include activities outside of the classroom. I’m expecting that each activity on these lists will be described in a maximum of four sentences. Again, please see my class management posts for a model of what these might look like. (Some might even include images, which would certainly be a change for this blog!)
I’ll be concentrating on lessons that have a particular application for English Language Learners, but most, if not all, I’m sure will be able to be adapted to mainstream classes.
The ones I’m considering include:
The Best Classroom Learning Games
The Best Classroom Reading Activities
The Best Classroom Writing Activities
The Best Classroom Speaking Activities
The Best Classroom Vocabulary-Building Activities
The Best Classroom Geography Projects
The Best Classroom Government Projects
The Best Field Trips & Assignments To Do On Them
The Best Classroom History Projects
The Best Student Projects (these would be different kinds of student-produced books, displays, “foldables,” etc. that students would create — I’ve got to figure out a better title)
I hope readers of this blog will contribute both ideas for additional list topics as well as specific suggestions to include in them. Of course, some of these list names are artificial distinctions — many excellent activities cover more than one, if not all, of these topics. As I mentioned, this will be an experiment.
I know creating these kinds of non-tech lists would be very useful to me. I’d be interested in getting feedback from readers — would you find an occasional non-tech list helpful, too?
2 responses so far
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My students have done several projects that you could add to you “best history projects” or “best student projects” lists.
Guardians of Freedom http://connections.smsd.org/veterans
CSI: Cemetery Scene Investigations http://connections.smsd.org/csi
Titanic in the Classroom (in progress) http://connections.smsd.org/titanic
Larry,
More ideas for LISTS:
Career Awareness: Best Questions to Ask Yourself As You Choose Careers, Best Classroom Projects in (and out) of Art Class, Innovation and Invention in Student Projects,
(My students did the most amazing books called,”Published Personalities.” They ‘ll be posted eventually on: http://www.artworkontheweb.com
Chris Morley said,”There are three ingredients in the good life: learning, earning, and yearning.”I ‘m yearning to see all of these lists. Thanks!