Archive for December, 2010

Checklist For Teacher Resources

December 31st, 2010


Online Resources for Computer Learning

With the rapid pace of technology learning, teachers need to be familiar with all types of computer learning resources – such as learning games. In fact, this is one of the fastest growing, most dynamic types of classroom resource which potentially has a high learning appeal for students with many different kinds of needs.

Resources for Classroom Readers If you are an ESL teacher, a primary language arts, or reading teacher, you probably keep a wide current variety of classroom reading materials on-hand. These may include ESL readers, special education readers, phonic readers, fluency readers, oral readers, and readers for other educational level readers. It is important to keep abreast of what’s new and what different reading materials are available.

Visual Aids

Visual Aids for the classroom may include calendars, flashcards for early and emerging readers if applicable, ABC runners, mini and larger sized posters, learning aids – the list is endless!

Teaching tip! Avoid purchasing too many visual aids in your classroom. It can give your classroom a busy look. Students can easily loose focus.

In-Service and Professional Development Resources

In-service teacher development is critical for the new teacher’s growth. By learning new ideas in education and methodology and putting them into practice, the school also sends a message that administrators are willing to invest in its teachers, particularly with regard to supporting new teachers.

Is the material of this course suitable and up to date with current topics and methodologies? Does the teacher staff have a budget for personal development? Will the in-service course be taught during teaching days, school holidays, etc?

If your school budget includes individual teacher resources such as stickers, positive reinforcement, classroom planners and such, then you’re in luck!

It’s never too late to start brainstorming your needs for classroom resources. Avoid the last minute planning and hassle and get a fresh new perspective on planning your classroom resources as you begin the school year anew.

By: Dorit Sasson

About the Author:
To receive your free ebook, Taking Charge in the Classroom and other information for new teachers, visit the New Teacher Resource Center at http://www.newteacherresourcecenter.com

Dorit Sasson is a freelance writer, educator and founder and director of the New Teacher Resource Center.



Piano Teaching Software – Your Online Music Teacher Resources

December 29th, 2010


Have you heard about piano teaching software as well as its wonders and advantages on finding the most useful and effective music teaching resources available online? Well, you’ve just landed on the right page as this post aims to present, discuss and share some necessary information that you need in coming up with your own piano teaching software to help you manage your time, organize your lessons and schedules, and administer work-related tasks.

Music teaching can be both rewarding and challenging, a noble profession that is inspired by the passion a music educator has to his or her job, colleagues and dear students. This craft includes teaching students of all ages to play any musical instruments particularly the piano, the keyboards. Piano teaching can be more complex and quite difficult especially if the music teacher does not allow his or her students to venture into new things or activities.

Innovations on teaching piano like integrating technology as one of your music teaching resources and strategies to keep your students interested and motivated are truly important. In this manner, you can be able to provide them a wider scope of opportunities and various means of self-expression. Through piano teaching software, you can be able to have access to different learning packages as well as sets of activities, software and programs that can enhance your teaching techniques – going beyond the traditional way of teaching piano and music to individualized learners.

Your efforts to make these programs applicable and appropriate to your classroom or music studio needs must be well-compensated. So, you have to ensure that the software you download and install into your computers are indeed reliable and flexible – performing and accomplishing multiple tasks at a time. The next question lies in the idea on where and how you can find the best piano teaching software. Here are some of my suggestions:

* Browse, search and read online.

* Check the reliability and credibility of your targeted music teachers website that would provide you your preferred software for piano teaching.

* Join forums, discussions and other social networking sites or groups related to music and music education.

* Communicate with other music teachers on a regular basis.

* Take the suggestions and recommendations of the first-hand users as they experience it by themselves.

* Check out some demos, trials or tutorials on your own so as to familiarize and keep yourself abreast of its features, benefits and the likes.

* Make sure you are into getting the best program for your piano teaching needs – whether it is for free or you will need to shed a little amount of your hard-earned cash.

* Practice, adopt and evaluate so as to gauge whether you are on the right track or not.

Any music teaching software can be a very effective and useful tool in reinforcing lessons learned in the classroom, in strengthening the acquired skills and experiences, as well as in initializing new practices and techniques. With this, you can be certain that you add up to your students’ interests as they practice and do finger training as far as their piano lessons are concerned.

Different packages highlight various elements and aspects of music education, the learning process and many teaching methods. Employing a wider variety of piano teaching resources and other music teaching strategies, significant software can positively allow consistent interaction, understanding and motivation to each and every student in the classroom or private music studio.

So, grab these innovations on music education software and realize how it can take your teaching experience to the next level. See more reliable online programs on this page and jumpstart a better and happier teaching career today. Good luck!

By: Earl Marsden

About the Author:
Learn more on how to benefit from this piano teaching software; visit this music teacher resources blog. – Earl Marsden

Earl Marsden started developing a passion for music at the early age of twelve. He first learned to play the guitar at thirteen, and from there he pursued the study other instruments including the violin, piano and flute. Currently, he devotes some of his spare time to writing articles about music teaching while managing his own music studio.



Using Your Interactive Whiteboard by Implementing Free Teaching Resources

December 28th, 2010


One of the big questions that teachers have is how they can use these whiteboards in the classroom. The great thing is that the whiteboards can be used in many different ways. With all the free teaching resources available today, the sky is the limit. Here are a few great ideas that you may want to use to implement these resources into your lessons.

Video and Audio Clips:
You’ll find that there are many free teaching resources that provide video and audio clips to go along with your lessons. With programs on the computer like QuickTim and Windows Media player, it’s easy to use these clips within your lesson. As you are planning out the presentations, you can embed the audio or video clips right in with the rest of the lesson to be played at a particular time while you are teaching. This is usually much easier than having to bring in other equipment to play audio or video files in class.

Critical Thinking Activities:
If you want to use your interactive whiteboard and implement some of the free resources that are available, you’ll find many critical thinking activities available. You can use concept mapping software with the whiteboard to help with mind mapping and other types of brainstorming activities. This allows the entire class to work together and it is done in an organised way in which pupils can actively participate.

Special Needs Options:
There are many excellent resources that can be used in classrooms that have students with special needs. Software programs offer larger fonts and often colours that are bright, which is great for students that have a hard time concentrating or for those who may be visually impaired. If you teach students that have special needs, you’ll find that there are many resources that specifically cater for special needs students.

Websites and Applications:
Websites and website applications that are easily found online are great free teaching resources that you can use along with interactive whiteboards. Use actual websites within your lessons or use online applications such as Google Earth to illustrate concepts that you are teaching about. With the web at your fingertips, the resources available to you are limitless. Although there may be a few websites that will charge you for interactive whiteboard resources, most will offer you free resources that you can use again and again to make the most of the whiteboard that you have available in your classroom.

By: Thomas Radcliff

About the Author:
If you are looking for a wide range of Free Teacher Resources, please check out the Promethean Planet website. Teaching resources, teaching software and Interactive Whiteboard Resources are available.

The Promethean Planet site also contains a huge range of Free Teaching resources.