Free website for science simulations and tools for teaching middle school and high school science.

Here's a tool that I haven't seen posted on here that I'm using in my class this year. It's a nonprofit owned tool (and not self promotion).

What I was looking for:

• I wanted something like Anki for individual student daily review. But I wanted a way to grade the quick practice (for the start of class). I also wanted a way to give them credit for doing their reviews in class or as homework.

Why I like it:

• I can make the cards
• Students get individual reviews based on how they did on that card in the past.
• Students can be given a grade for doing their reviews, no matter how they preform on them. (Making low stakes practice get points)
• Cards can be tied to standards

What I don't necessarily like:

• I have to make all cards (there is an AI tool, but I haven't gotten wide success with it)
• There's not a cloze type card (Multiple fill-in-the-blanks get converted to multiple cards)

Hey all!

Not sure if this is the right community since it's geared towards private lessons, but I thought in my experience it's helpful to have resources of different exercises you can give to a student when learning an instrument.

Some walk aways I've had-

Direct the lesson towards a practice plan. A student's progress does not happen in the lesson, it happens when they practice. My job as a teacher is to make practicing as easy, accessible, and fun as possible. Always begin the lesson asking "how was practice this week?" and if they say "I didn't practice", do not shame them. I start with "Hey, that's okay, it happens. What do you think made it difficult to get practice in?" Sometimes it's lack of motivation, sometimes they have competing schedules like school and math homework, sometimes it's something else altogether. I had a 6 year old ukulele student who said she didn't practice and when I asked why not, she pointed to the wall where her ukulele was hanging on a hanger *8 fe

As we wrap up the school year I've been thinking about gamifying my classroom next year. Does anyone have any experience with it?

Season 1 of the Galactic Cow launched in 2023, and we're starting work on Season 2. It's a great time to revisit your favorite episodes, or listen for the first time. If you are interested in what role education could play in our growth as a species ♥

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Do you make a weekly newsletter for your parents? If so, what do you put in it?

First year teacher? Veteran teacher with good advice? This is the post for you.

I think it would be helpful if we have a few posts this time of year to help new teachers.

So, what are some of your favorite procedures?

With all the upheaval at #reddit I've been looking for #teacher-related groups in the #lemmy / #kbin #fediverse. Two I've found are :
@teaching
and
@australianteachers

Have you found any others?

@edutooters #australia #teaching

Any interesting manipulatives that you recommend in your teaching? I've recently got excited waiting for these Magnetic White Board Blocks from Bozeman Science: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bozemanscience/switch-its-magnetic-dry-erase-blocks

I really like a game I made up called Hot Seat (although it's not special or anything)

Here's how you play:

1. Randomly pick one student to come up to the front of the room to fill the "Hot Seat"
2. Randomly pick another student to ask the Hot Seat a question.
3. If the Hot Seat student gets the question right I reward them with a piece of candy or something and they stay in the seat.
4. If the Hot Seat student gets the question wrong they have to leave the seat and the questioner sits in the hot seat.

I have students write their own questions and it becomes a great review tool.

What are your favorite methods for review?

Usually using flashcards is quite isolated activity: you compile your own list of terms, you study it, and that's it. There's very little engagement with either your teacher/mentor or peers.

Could it be different? Do you know how to share flashcard studying with others? Any tips how to encourage your peers in their flashcard progress?

Bonus question: do you know a card game that utilizes flashcards?

I've been looking for a couple of books to read this summer to change up my practice. I'd love some recommendations.

Here's a few that I recommend from previous summers:

• Make it Stick https://www.retrievalpractice.org/make-it-stick - Making learning "sticky" for students
• Teach Like a Champion 2.0 https://teachlikeachampion.org/books/teach-like-champion-2-0 - A great book for sample procedures (the book also comes with a little video for each procedure so you can watch it in action)

Here's what I'm reading so far this summer:

• Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics https://buildingthinkingclassrooms.com/

I really like digital labs they're no mess and it's really easy for students to make them up when they're absent.

Here's a few places that I get mine:

• whscience.org - I especially like the Bug in the Meadow lab. Since I started using it, I haven't had to clean up bits of paper off my carpet. I also really like his Pedigree Tree Diagram Maker
• PhET - Great simulations for students to try things out without blowing things up.

What are some other great ones?