Education Lane
Cathleen Weber PhD | April 2022
Personalized Learning Days
5th grade co-teachers came up with a way to give students personalized learning days (PLDs) where they could choose from a list of tasks to complete on their own time throughout the day. While students worked, the teachers conferenced with all students about their learning and met with small intervention groups. Teaching methods were adjusted to reflect what they learned about students during PLDs. By the end of the year, they were shocked by their students’ growth.
Elementary Morning Tubs
PhET
PhET Interactive Simulations is an excellent free tool to help support student learning. Lab experiments and demonstrations are a staple of math and science classrooms because they promote lasting retention of otherwise difficult-to-understand concepts. PhET was developed at the University of Colorado and provides fun, interactive activities to help demonstrate math and science concepts for the K-12 classroom.
There are too many simulations to list, but here are a few that may interest you:
K-5
- What is a Fraction?
- Building a Molecule
- Ladybug Motion
- Area and Perimeter
- Why do Iceberg's Float
- Gravity and Orbits
6-12
- Exploring Circuits
- Scaling Shapes
- Linear Equations
- Chemistry Theater
- Pendulum Investigation
- Projectile Motion
The videos below will provide a brief introduction into what PhET can do for your science and math classrooms.
A Brief Introduction to PhET
Transforming Math Classrooms with PhET Simulations
Improving Grammar with NoRedInk
Teachers across all subject and grade levels are frustrated with student grammar. NoRedInk combines student interest with supplemental grammar lessons. Their interest-based curriculum prompts students to write about TV shows, sports, artists, and actors that are interesting to them. The curriculum is adaptive and personalized.
A majority of their content is free...it might be worth a look.
NoRedInk
Education Lane LLC
To provide equitable educational opportunities, we must ensure that the current school system is designed for success.
Email: cweber@educationlane.net
Website: educationlane.net
Location: PO Box 122, Cooksville, IL 61730
Phone: (309)825-3512