I thought readers might find it useful for me to list in one post some useful (at least in mind :)) pieces I’ve written about my own teaching practice over the past year. It was certainly a helpful exercise for me to review them.
There are some posts that could have been included here, but, instead, I’ve decided to add them to a future post titled “The Best Articles (And Blog Posts) Offering Practical Advice To Teachers — 2009.”
I have not included any additional description where the titles are self-explanatory.
Here are my choices for The Best Reflective Posts I’ve Written About My Teaching Practice — 2009:
“Data-Driven” Versus “Data-Informed” talks about my principal’s perspective on the use of data and my own response to lower standardized test scores in one of my classes.
What Do Pit Bulls & Cockroaches Have To Do With Learning & Teaching? shares my thoughts on what I view as my “teaching metaphor.”
Why I Support The Cellphone Ban At Our School
Results From Student Evaluation Of My Class And Me
Results From Student Evaluation Of My Class And Me (Part Two)
Have You Ever Taught A Class That Got “Out Of Control”?
“I’ll Work If You Give Me Candy” shares my response to a student who said that to me.
Results From My Year-Long U.S. History Tech Experiment is where I shared the assessment results and my reflections from teaching two U.S. History classes — one entirely in the computer lab and one in my classroom with my typical curriculum.
The Best Part Of The President’s Speech & How I’ll Use It shares how I use a different type of goal-setting lesson regularly with students in class.
In “Seeing The Forest Through The Trees” I write about my amazing ability to not see things that are so obvious.
I wonder about the Hopes and Dreams that my students share in a beginning-of-the-year exercise in The Hopes And Dreams Of My Students.
Reading Logs — Part Two (or “How Students Can Grow Their Brains”) shares some lessons I was planning to use with students to help them see that they could literally make their brains “stronger.” “Now I Know My Brain Is Growing When I Read Every Night” describes what happened when I tried them in the classroom. “This Is Your Brain On Learning” shares a follow-up lesson I did. “I Know My Brain Is Growing…” Slideshow Of Student Work displays work that came out of the lesson.
Helping Students Develop Self-Control shares another lesson in the same vein as the one on the brain.
“I Like This Lesson Because It Make Me Have a Longer Temper” (Part One) shares the actual lesson on I did on self-control.
“I Was Disappointed With What Happened Yesterday…” talks about some class management issues.
“I Made My Agreement With Mr. Ferlazzo And Kept It…” talks about about the importance of making individual “deals” with students.
Getting Our Students & Their Families Thinking About College
“Lean-In” is about a short lesson to help students become more attentive.
A Few Simple Ways To Introduce Reluctant Colleagues To Technology
The Best Piece Of Classroom Management Advice I’ve Ever Read
Helping Students Visualize Success
Feedback , as always, is welcome.
If you found this post useful, you might want to look at previous “The Best…” lists and also consider subscribing to this blog for free.
Hello Larry,
I’ve been a bad reader lately. Some of my favorite posts are your reflective pieces. I use Google Reader to share them and favorite them. Often, I have composed a response in my mind but hardly make the time to post a comment.
I wanted to say I do love these posts as well as your other posts. I often reference your site when creating presentations, because you do have the best links listed! However, with the reflective posts I am more reflective of my practice.
My favorite this month was “I Made My Agreement With Mr. Ferlazzo And Kept It…” I was deeply touched by the student who wrote he was proud to keep his agreement! I am now asking my students in every class what is the one thing they are proud to have accomplished in the room. I work with adults so I rarely have discipline issues there.