Christina's Blog – August 2009 Archive (4)

Most teachers like to use multiple choice, T/F, and matching on tests. It may be easier for teachers to create; however, this does not really tell us if students really understood the concepts. Most look for answers that student have seen in the same section in their text/notes. The T/F questions leave students with a 50% chance of getting it right or wrong. Using short answers and essays, where students actually describe a process or how something works will show exactly what students know or… Continue

In past and present generations, many or most teachers have used the “traditional” teaching method. This method usually includes lectures, worksheets, and testing, which creates a passive learner. I remember how teachers have taught middle and high school classes, usually via lectures. Even some college professors do the same thing.



This leaves most teachers and students bored out of their mind.



More teachers need to put students in more active role of learning not only… Continue

We need to teach students how to read a textbook - since most only know how to read a novel. There are numerous ways to review the chapter/section prior to students actually reading the text.

Introduce the topic and look for background knowledge and misconceptions. .



One option is to use a strategy known as PLAN (Predict-Locate-Add-Note). First, students scan the chapter’s title, subtitles, key words, graphs/tables, etc. Next, students create a concept map and make note on which… Continue

I have recently completed a research paper that included the problem of illiteracy rates in the country.



As most know, across the country, literacy rates have dropped, as fewer and fewer people never learn to read or only have a basic reading level. According to an article in the USA Today (2009), U.S. Education Department has released a study, which found that 32 million adult Americans are unable to read basic text. We all know that literacy rates in the US have been dropping over… Continue