Engaging The Invisible Student
TeachersTeacher CafeThere are a number of factors that might make a student fly under the radar. It's important that the teacher uses classroom management techniques to get to know this student, learn what makes them tick, and understands where they are coming from. It is also important that the teacher not try to change who their student is.
5 Ways to Help Your Students Become Better Questioners
TeachersTeacher CafeWorking within an answer-based education system, and with cultures where questioning may be considered a sign of weakness, teachers must go out of their way to create conditions conducive to inquiry. Here are some suggestions on how to encourage more questioning in the classroom and hopefully beyond it.
Why Should Students Collaborate?
TeachersTeacher CafeThe word 'collaborate' is derived from the Latin - to labour together. It means 'to co-operate; esp. in literary, artistic, or scientific work' (Onions, 1973). A collaborator is one who works in conjunction with another or others. Students, when collaborating, are actively engaged in discussing their individual and collective work.
Resources for Responding to Trauma and Tragedy
TeachersMental HealthTeacher CafeReview approaches to support student who have experienced trauma, learn how to help grieving students, and find guidance on coping with violence and disaster.
The Best Websites For Creating Online Learning Games
TeachersGamingTeacher CafeGames are a great way for language learners to develop their English. Here are a few different websites for creating games to review content that was covered in class.
Syrian Refugee Integration Initiative: Meet Mohammed
TeachersCultureTeacher CafeLanguages Canada presents the story of Mohammed, and his integration to Canada as a refugee. Learn more about the Languages Canada Syrian Refugee Integration Initiative.
The Mystery Over The @ Sign
TeachersHistoryTeacher CafeThe @ Character is the symbol of the internet age, and crucial for emails and social networking. But no-one really knows where it came from, writes Claire Bates. Read on to learn more.
How to Use Social Media to Strengthen Student Writing
TeachersTeacher CafeWritingThe more we write, the better we become as writers. Social media can be a tool where students are encouraged to use their creativity combined with personal expression to improve and strengthen their writing. Blogging, Twitter and Instagram are a few outlets which can be used to strengthen student writing.
ESL Multilevel Activities
TeachersTeacher CafeAll ESL classes have multilevel students to a degree. Obviously, this can be a planning nightmare and a lot of extra work for teachers. The good news is that even extreme differences in language levels can be successfully managed so that students progress.
The Power of Music
TeachersMusicTeacher CafeWhen students make a major breakthrough in learning, it is music to the teacher's ears. There is nothing more rewarding for a teacher, than seeing their students smile and laugh while they learn. Using music in the classroom is a great way for teachers to achieve success with L2 learners.
7 Baffling Phenomena of the Teaching World
TeachersTeacher CafeMany things about teaching are unexplainable. Who started the trend of wearing rubber bands bracelets? How do senior students fit inside of cabinets? Here are seven more phenomena that continue to mystify teachers every year.
5 Reasons You Should Seek Your OWN Student Feedback
TeachersSelfTeacher CafeAs teacher evaluation system become more complex and intense, many of us ignore the richest source of information about our teaching. And it's right under our noses. If you've never asked students for serious, honest feedback, you're missing something. If you ask the right questions and give students the time and encouragement to supply quality answers, student feedback can benefit you in so many ways.
13 Strategies to Improve Student Classroom Discussions
TeachersReadingTeacher CafeAs teachers know well, finding and using textual evidence is challenging for students- choosing a solid piece of evidence or creating a clear interpretation can be overwhelming. These 13 teacher and expert-tested strategies will strengthen your students' ability to find and use evidence from any text.
Useful Tips for Teaching Listening Comprehension
TeachersListeningTeacher CafeStudents often have difficulty in listening tasks for a variety of reasons. One of the most common problems for language learners is that they often stop listening if they hear something that they do no know. This is where teaching specific listening strategies can help develop their listening comprehension skills.
30 Techniques to Quiet a Noisy Class
TeachersTeacher CafeHow do you get your students' attention? Most teachers use silencing methods, such as flicking the lights or ringing a bell. Here are several techniques categorized by grade level.
7 Superb Speaking Activities
TeachersSpeakingTeacher Cafe"All right everyone, pair up!" It's no secret, getting students to work well in pairs can be hard, and it doesn't stop with just having them pair up. It can be tough making sure sure that the students who are actually working are speaking correctly. Here you will find the ultimate guide to perfect pair work.
Edueto - Create Your Own Exercises
TeachersTeacher CafeA free and simple to use website for creating your own class exercises. You can create, send and share material with your class. Try it out today!
The Behavior Battle: High and Low Tech Solutions
TeachersTeacher CafeStudent behavior can eat up precious classroom time and for most, they start out strong and dwindle down over time. Strategies are complex and need a lot of dedicated personnel and time. Here are some of the best methods from high tech to low tech teachers are trying today.
Podcast: Teaching Languages, Tips and Techniques
TeachersListeningTeacher CafeCarla Arena a language educator joins Vicki Davis the @coolcatteacher in a discussion on sharing advice on teaching languages. Do you struggle with students with different learner abilities or levels in one class? - how do you handle this? Carla has some great advice.
Pen Pals in the 21st Century
TeachersTeacher CafeWritingPen pals provide an opportunity to break down classroom walls. Whether you connect your class with another state or another country, it serves the same purpose. It gives students the chance to see things outside of their walls. Take advantage of some of the great options available.
Is Stress in the Classroom Contagious?
TeachersMental HealthTeacher CafeWhen teachers feel stressed they may not be the only ones paying the price. Students' stress levels are being elevated as a result of their teacher's exhaustion, and maybe vice versa. A new UBC study has found a strong "stress contagion"- between teacher's occupational stress and student's psychological strain.