Learning Plants Online

I've been working on a Java program to teach people what the different plants of the South Florida region look like. I'll give them a quiz based on the pictures and then they'll get a "Certification" based on how well they do!

They can print the certification.

Effective Teachers...

Important notes from "The First Days of School" by Wong.

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• Focus on research.
• HIGH Expectations for your students!
• Discussions during films add to comprehension.
• Frequent exchanges between teacher and student have increased learning!
• Students need large blocks of time to spend reading. While reading they need to be writing down questions!
• Increase the time given to students to answer questions. One second should not suffice.
• Teachers direct the attitude of the class!
• "I am a good teacher, and I am proud that I am a professional educator."
• Say, "This will be an exciting class, and you are going to have the most memorable year you have ever had; as a result, you will do very well!"
• I do agree with p. 48, school is NOT a place to do "worksheets." Rather it's better to imagine it as a place to learn and enhance their lives.
• "YOU ARE TREATED AS YOU ARE DRESSED!"
• "Would you want to be in your class?"...walk with confidence!
  
• "It is MY personal approach that creates the climate."
• "If only the finest birds in the forest dared sing, how quiet the forest would be...."
• We need an invitational attitude toward learning!
• "Love what you teach, love whom you teach."
• "Love is the reason for teaching."
• "Manage a classroom"
• Students want security: NO yelling, NO surprises.
• Students need to know assignments are based on OBJECTIVES!
• Teacher has assignments posted.
• Effective teachers know how to get student attention.
• A well-managed classroom is a TASK-oriented environment.
• "Power comes when you make life predictable for people."
• Not being ready -> Confusion -> Problems -> Misbehavior -> Fighting.
• The first week of school should stress student procedures.
• Don't bother with a "Learning Center" until student procedures are in effect.
• Classroom behavioral problems will occur but THEY WILL BE DEALT WITH.
• Students who misbehave need to sit elsewhere...this is a last resort.
• YOUR REPUTATION PRECEDES YOU!
• Seven things a student wants to know:
  
  1. Am I in the right room?
  2. Where am I supposed to sit?
  3. What are the rules in the classroom?
  4. What will I be doing this year?
  5. How will I be graded?
  6. Who is the teacher as a person?
  7. Will the teacher treat me as a human being?
• Stand at the door with a handshake. That is how you would meet someone at a car dealership.
• If students walk in INAPPROPRIATELY firmly ask them to return to the door and enter properly.
• The more students know about you, the more likely they are to respect you. You are someone to be respected!
• There will be an assignment at the very beginning. Hand each student paper and have them complete an assignment!
• "My name is Mr. Freer. It is spelled F-R-E-E-R. I would like to be addressed as Mr. Freer please. This is my sixth year as a teacher.
  
  Outside of class, I go to workshops. I teach at Miami Dade College. I love to teach! You are in good hands with me this year!
  
  You are going to have one of the greatest educational experiences of your life. We will not only learn history but we will learn 'life-skills' that will help you your entire life."
  
• Begin your sentences with "YOU WILL..." during the first week. "YOU WILL", "YOU WILL".
• Entering the room according to a PROCEDURE is important. There is no alternative.
• Personally, assigned seating will begin on the second or maybe third day.
• "You will find an assignment on the board. Begin immediately. Take a sheet of paper and begin."
• The board will always have assignments and OBJECTIVES written down. "You will copy them down in your notebook."
• The teacher is the only responsible person in an INEFFECTIVE classroom.
• Effective teachers HAVE THE ASSIGNMENT POSTED DAILY!!!!!!!!
• Take roll AFTER the class has started their assignments.
• RULES ARE EXPECTATIONS! POST THEM ON THE FIRST DAY!
• "Review the rules on the first day!"
• Possible rules:
  
  1. Follow directions the first time they are given.
  2. Raise your hand and wait for permission to speak.
  3. Stay in your seat unless you have permission to do otherwise.
  4. Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
  5. No cursing or teasing.
  6. No cell phones, iPods or electronics.
     
• Discipline has consequences. Come tardy the second time and you get detention!!! This is the key!
• The best consequences are logical and reasonable.
• Use chalkboard for students who are misbehaving....Don't stop instruction or lesson to give out penalties.
  
• Have rule NUMBERS. Refer to rule #1 or rule #2, etc.
  
• Procedures are how you want something to be done. Make a journal entry in your notebook, get an international article from the computer...
• Students want to know WHAT to do when the bell rings, if you finish work early, what to do when you need to go to the restroom.
• Procedures must become routine. Spend the first weeks of school introducing, teaching, modeling, and rehearsing procedures.
  
• When I need your attention, I will ask for it. I expect you to give it to me.
• All procedures need to be rehearsed.
• Praise the deed!!!!
• Students will start the day with a journal entry and copying down the objectives. There will be required reading as well.
  
• Consider how many times a student interrupts the students when they are working.
• Students should pass their papers across the rows, not up the rows. THIS IS IMPORTANT. Students will then pass the papers up the row once they reach the side. The student in the front will bring it up to my desk.
• I will have a box where students will put their papers.
• The class must be able to run itself without YOU. The procedures are what's important.
• Rehearse the following behaviors with students

1. Entering the classroom.
2. Getting to work immediately.
3. When you are tardy.
4. End - of -period dismissal.
5. Coming to attention.
6. When you are absent. GET INFO FROM WEB OR FROM FELLOW STUDENT.
7. Keeping your notebook.
8. Going to the office.
9. Finding assignments.
10. Passing in papers.
11. Exchanging papers.
12. Returning student work.
13. Moving about the room.
14. Getting materials out without distracting others.
15. Using the restroom.
16. Going to the library.
17. Asking a question.
18. Responding to a fire drill.
19. If I'm out of the classroom.
20. Saying "thank you."

Ideas.

I am in the process of writing a guide to Java for beginners with an emphasis being on getting the reader to DO programming. Perhaps there can be a way for people to comment on coding projects? Places for them to upload their code and discuss?

That might be a job for moodle...

http://programmingwithjava.googlepages.com/

There's the URL.

I was pretty thrilled with my Miami Dade classes. I loved the majority of Java students. One was incredibly ignorant and whiny. BUT you gotta roll with the punches.

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I'm looking forward to teaching at Killian. It's going to be a great year :)

Last year I wanted to focus on philosophy. Did I? No more than any other year.

What I need is dedication to organization. Get those papers back quickly as possible! Get those kids writing as much as possible.

It's discipline plain and simple. When you are teaching World History, fun is important, but discipline is important as well. That goes for me as well.

I'm going to look my best and have their papers ready. THAT'S THE KEY!

Of course, I'd love to throw in current events, philosophy, economics, science...but to get there I need discipline and order. It's only reality.

On the Dade front, I'll be teaching 'Introduction to Office' and 'Introduction to Java' once again.