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tips on using the internet for research

Posted Sunday, January 27, 2008 3:27 PM by jtspencer
The internet is a virtual anarchy of information. There is no sense of peer review, which means anyone can publish anything. Critics, seeing that students often plagiarize or accept any information as valid, simply dismiss the internet as a bad idea for Read More...
1 Comments

outsourcing my job

Posted Tuesday, December 25, 2007 6:35 AM by jtspencer
The term "outsourcing" has such a negative connotation, but it is the best word I can use to describe what I do to save time. There are many jobs that I either hate to do or am not well-qualified to do that are a part of the regular teaching profession. Read More...
8 Comments

making a class website more interactive

Posted Friday, September 07, 2007 8:25 PM by jtspencer
When I first began teaching, I used the class website as a way to communicate with students. It was very teacher-oriented and I was proud of the work I had accomplished. When I realized that I wanted student involvement, I decided that I would allow them Read More...
4 Comments

time-saving ideas

Posted Saturday, August 25, 2007 4:52 PM by jtspencer
I'm not naturally excited about practical aspects of teaching. Yet, I believe that little things can often make a difference. True, they may be a Band-Aid solution, but when we think about bandages, they are really effective. Such a small thing can help Read More...
4 Comments

getting organized

Posted Sunday, August 05, 2007 5:58 AM by jtspencer
The phone rings as I'm sifting through papers. I catch a glimpse of a post-it note reminding me of a meeting that was apparently scheduled in the morning. I pick up the phone and listen to a lecture from the school counselor about why it's important for Read More...
12 Comments

preventative classroom management

Posted Tuesday, July 31, 2007 8:38 PM by jtspencer
Classroom management, to me, is a bit of a misnomer. The term manager conjures up a man clad in a shirt and tie, sitting behind a cubical (sp?) attempting to maintain the status quo. A manager keeps things under control. A leader, however, is proactive Read More...
3 Comments

if you give a man a fish

Posted Thursday, July 26, 2007 5:18 AM by jtspencer
Being a social studies teacher, I assume automatically, that people know the difference between political parties. Yet, most of my students have no idea. I grew up in a family where we debated issues at the dinner table. So, for me, it was almost intuitive. Read More...
2 Comments
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giving gadgets to underdeveloped countries

Posted Friday, July 06, 2007 3:29 PM by jtspencer
Lately, the One Laptop Per Child group has recieved a good deal of attention for their plan to give away two hundred dollar laptops to children in developing and underdeveloped countries. Proponents laude the MIT group who pioneered this, claiming that Read More...
2 Comments

5 easy steps to classroom management

Posted Saturday, June 30, 2007 7:56 AM by jtspencer
The following are five easy steps to managing a classroom: It's blank for a reason. I don't think there is that magical formula. There aren't five easy steps. We don't teach in Hogwarts and we don't have a magic wand to make it all better. Moreover, I Read More...
3 Comments