The Dock School Leader Podcast

How do you decide what you will require students to learn? In English and math, these decisions are usually made by your curriculum, says Anthony. But there are so many things to learn in science class that the teacher must choose where to focus.

First, says Anthony, teach to the test. The assessment you use should reflect what you asked the students to master. Second, Anthony demonstrates learning maps, a simple and flexible method for outlining the content you expect students to focus on.

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Some students speed through their work. Others need extra coaching. How do you keep the faster students motivated while preserving the time you need to help others? Shannon and Cheri describe a simple practice that keeps everyone busy—and learning.

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How do you train 6-year-olds to sing well? How do you train high school students? While students' voices mature as they grow older, Jeff encourages teachers to use the same techniques—and expect similar performance—at all levels. In this video, he discusses the value of regular practices that incorporate music theory, vocal training, and singing technique.

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If your classroom has a projector, you can display PowerPoint and pictures. But does your projector get in the way of real, interactive teaching? Amy describes a tool that allows her the flexibility of writing, presenting, and demonstrating more naturally than most touch computers and much cheaper than a smart board.

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As a teacher or parent, you are concerned with your children's manners and conduct. How would the conversations about behavior change if the children were actively involved in reflecting on their own habits? Meghan shares the power of the self-evaluation tool she recently began to use, and offers guidance in applying it in your classroom or home.

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"I can't do this. This is dumb."

If your students keep getting stuck and needing the teacher's help, they are at risk of negative attitudes about themselves or their learning. But Spencer encourages teachers not to simply provide the answers to students' questions. Instead, teacher and students can journey together, learning to identify the specific gaps in their understanding and working towards solutions.

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With paper, rock, and a football galaxy, Wanda demonstrates visual and sensory activities for engaging students. Today's students live in an immersion of media. From glossy picture books to digital media, they have grown accustomed to learning visually. Wanda reminds us of the importance of engaging all of our students' senses in the learning experience—and offers examples from her own classes.

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If you teach algebra using the Cartesian plane method, your students are familiar with graphing paper. That is perfect for work at their desk, but how can you practice and check work together as a class? In this demonstration, Jason shows how he uses free web-based tools to keep everyone involved in class.

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Links to graphing tools used in the video

* Desmos for grading equations

* For student interactive graphing (available from Open Education Resources)

You've taught the lesson. Your students have learned the parts of speech, the parts of government, or the parts of a tooth. But have they learned? Will they use the information? Do they want to know more? Deana believes that, unless children are excited about learning, the teacher's job is not complete. In this video, she describes tools to communicate the information in the textbook in ways that engage your students' enthusiasm. And it's not merely a matter of having fun. When students are involved in the learning experience, their understanding of the subject increases.

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Checking: It's one thing you can save for after school. But should you? Javon Miller believes the immediate feedback of checking student work in class is worth the time it takes. He explains the benefits of checking in class, and offers guidance or avoiding potential problems.

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