TESOL CALL-IS's List: Pedagogical Articles/Blogs/Websites/Online Journals

"A week or so ago, someone in the Macmillan marketing department took it upon themselves to send out this tweet. What grabbed my attention was the claim that it is ‘a well-known fact’ that teaching students a growth mindset makes them perform better academically over time. The easily demonstrable reality (which I’ll come on to) is that this is not a fact. It’s fake news, being used for marketing purposes. " The article looks at several research projects -- pro and con -- to come to this conclusion. A good read for those sceptical of simplistic, but vague, solutions to the broad, complex problem of school success.

"Students classed as less able are being hindered by being grouped into ability-based sets, according to new research published today in the Cambridge Journal of Education."
This is something I have always suspected -- good to see some research out there. Project-based learning (with careful supervision and formative assessments along the way) is a much better idea. While the study is based on secondary students, I think it applies equally across all grade levels.

"In a political climate where sharing fake news has become commonplace, it’s more important than ever to rely on trustworthy and dogged fact-checking services to vet information. " Sites mentioned also include some top Internet fake-trackers, like Snopes.

A cute infographic (?) of the what and why. Visual notetaking is encouraged for lectures and readings, and may help students make the material their own. I would recommend a combination with text notes, as students do need practice in all kinds of writing.

Some very good advice on how to use flipping successfully. Begins with a video, but also in the blog entry.

Why it works and why it doesn't work. And how "flipping" may not be so new after all.

"Teaching in the 21st Century demands instructors adapt their methods and learn new skills. In an effort to support best practices, we’ve compiled resources for current and future online educators to help generate quality online education."
A list of references on various aspects of online teaching, including authentication of student work, flipping classes, developing engaging courses, best practices, etc.

"I have taken all the conventional desks out and replaced them with mostly tables and a number of different kinds of chairs; I’ve used garage sales and the generosity of friends to furnish my room this way. My classroom looks like a college apartment. But I also build in transitions every 15 minutes or so that require movement (to get into groups, turn something in, write on a paper-covered wall, etc). I have little to no fidgeting problems or issues with attention loss.”"
This is a whole section of a teacher blog devoted to pictures and descriptions of flexible seating environments.

"In 2007, my co-teacher and I noticed that students felt increasingly like the world was "happening to them," as if they had no ability to affect positive change. This, coupled with the question "When am I going to use this?" led to the inspiration which has become the Fifth-Grade Environmental Project.
"Our goal was to create an educational model in which students' passions are the driving force, empowering them as global citizens. While we have limited time to cover required curriculum, we are committed to finding ways of embedding curriculum in "real-life" applications within the project.
"While the project's topic changes each year, the roots (or required elements) are the same, and the work evolves based on student passions, allowing each individual to find and contribute his or her gift to the whole, and reaffirming our belief that together we are smarter."
Explains how service learning can inspire student passion, critical thinking, and learning to affect change. Describes partnerships with community nonprofits, and products that students can create to inspire others.

"One of the most important information literacy skills for students is learning how to critically evaluate information found on the Web. This page includes forms for teaching the process, articles for learning about the aspect of literacy, and a list of bogus sites to use to showcase that all things on the Web are not real."

"By revealing his own numerate inadequacies, this author describes a grading system where students accumulate points over a semester of assignment submissions and re-drafting. He claims it offers students more autonomy in controlling their “earned” grade as well as incentivizes their investments in the revision process. In contrast to the normative percentages approach to grading, this point accrual system not only gives students a less ambivalent form of grading but, also, moves them past surface-level revision and into rhetorical re-structuring."
This article shows how to "gamify" the writing process.

Please join me on my blog at Scoop It: I consider new tools and uses for technology and try to give them a pedagogical consideration, not just what works and what doesn't, but why and how.

One of many articles from this prolific educational blog. You are invited to add your own favorite YouTube Channel to the collection here. Shake Up Learning also has occasional articles on pedagogy. The list of 20 includes professional development (ISTE) and various Google help sites, richard Byrne and other bloggers, and the Office Ed Tech at the U.S. Dept of Education.

"For most students, assessment can be a bit of a mystery, which is really unfortunate given how much a student’s future depends on how a teacher assesses his or her achievement. In Ontario, we’ve been working hard to make assessment explicit to students and parents. One of the expectations is that educators and students co-construct success criteria and rubrics so that students have a thorough understanding of what is expected of them."
Shows how a class of 6th-graders creates their own holistic rubrics for a difficult class project using ideas from the Ontario Achievement Chart.

A good demonstration of how teachers at one school are implementing the Common Core across several states using tools provided by EQuIP This video helps make clear how teachers can individual and in teams make Common Core work to improve education.

The teacher uses questions and activities to build a "Culture of Learning" that empowers students to ask questions, not just fulfill a task. Video of real classes with sidebar food for thought. From the Teaching Channel.

Defines 3 types of bilinguals. Helpful in defining what your students needs might be.
Bilingualism makes your brain healthier. The growth and density of the brain, especially the pre-fontal cortex can be seen in scans. Bilinguals may seem a little slower to begin with, as they process across vocabularies, but eventually there is a big advantage in things like focusing on tasks, switching tasks, and brain health.
The TedEd site includes the video, questions to get your thinking, reference, and discussion (sign-on required).

"Web-based games can prove to be a treasure trove of learning opportunities, and there are a variety of content-areas, age ranges, and skill levels to choose from. The true pay dirt for browser-based learning games can be found on large online digital game hubs. Here are 10 game hubs players that teachers can use to as one tool in their arsenal." By R. Schaaf.
Includes PBS Kids and BBC Schools: Games. Mostly explores K-6, but some sites have activities for older kids too.

Google is offering Add-ons that will make this online tool more comparable to the features of MS Word or Excel. For example, use Gliffy for charts and diagrams, Track Changes in four colors (without resort to the font formatting toolbar), grammar check, and use templates and bibliography styles. This article highlights and describes some of the apps.

Has brief descriptions for each grade, K-12, short suggestions for things parents can do to help children learn at home, and topics for possible parent-teacher conferences.